Beef Update
IFA President Francie Gorman said advancing a trade deal with Australia is another major concern for farmers. This is another deal with a large exporting nation with lower production standards and significant economies of scale. The proposed deal also includes sensitive products such as beef and sheep meat.” Francie Gorman said the cumulative impact of these trade deals is not being properly assessed and farmers feel they are being used as a sacrificial lamb. “The Australians walked away from an offer of 23k tonnes of beef in 2023. Now we are hearing that the EU Commission is likely to give further ground by offering an increase to 30k tonnes of beef and 20k tonnes of sheep meat as part of the revised draft,” he said. Francie Gorman said the increased volatility in production costs of key inputs is also a critical factor that must be considered before opening the door to products from regions with lower standards and production costs. He said the Commission should hold the line on their previous draft. “The last proposal was concerning, but now we are hearing about more concessions. The Commission must ensure a fair and balanced trade deal that has European farmers’ livelihoods and production standards as a priority,” he said.
Beef Price Update 19/03/2026
Base Steer €6.70/6.90kg. Heifers €6.80/7.00kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.90/7.00Kg. Cows €6.10/6.70kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (15.03.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,274 | ▲110 | 7% | 31,276 | ▼-69 |
| Bull | 503 | ▼-21 | 2% | 3,902 | ▼-612 |
| Steer | 12,052 | ▼-314 | 38% | 118,346 | ▼-21,215 |
| Cow | 6,956 | ▼-325 | 22% | 71,704 | ▼-20,379 |
| Heifer | 10,210 | ▼-361 | 32% | 110,259 | ▼-20,314 |
| Veal-V | 33 | ▲27 | 0% | 168 | ▼-1,365 |
| Veal-Z | 84 | ▼-49 | 0% | 1,446 | ▲430 |
| Total | 32,085 | ▼-960 | 100% | 337,101 | ▼-63,524 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (15.03.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 732 | ▼-11 | 721 | ▼-11 | 713 | ▼-9 | 679 | ▼-13 |
| Heifers | 742 | ▼-12 | 730 | ▼-10 | 721 | ▼-10 | 670 | ▼-13 |
| Y Bulls | 725 | ▼-7 | 712 | ▼-12 | 699 | ▼-11 | 690 | ▲4 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 683 | ▲0 | 638 | ▼-12 | 624 | ▼-15 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| Steers | Steers | Heifers | Heifers | Y bull | Y bull | Cow | |
| p/kg | R3 | R4L | R3 | R4L | R3 | R4L | -O4L |
| 07/03/2026 | 640.6 | 645.1 | 640.6 | 645.1 | 626.2 | 616.2 | 540.1 |
| 14/03/2026 | 640.1 | 642.3 | 639.1 | 643.7 | 625.2 | 621.0 | 546.0 |
| Change | ▼-1 | ▼-3 | ▲0 | ▼-1 | ▼-1 | ▲5 | ▲6 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 786.0 | 788.7 | 784.8 | 790.4 | 767.7 | 762.5 | 670.4 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 02.03.2024 | 01.03.2025 | 28.02.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 5.10 | € 6.61 | €7.04 |
| IE + Steers | € 5.04 | € 6.22 | € 7.37 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.78 | € 7.62 | €7.33 |
Live Cattle Exports 9th March
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said hogget prices jump further as factories struggle to secure supplies. He said competition at mart sales has intensified between wholesalers, butchers and factory agents and prices remain well above what factories are quoting in most cases. Supplies of suitably finished lambs are extremely tight on the ground as weekly hogget throughput continues to fall. Total hogget throughput is currently back 8% to date in 2026. Sheep throughput across the EU and UK is also down this year and factories must take full advantage of this and return higher prices to sheep farmers. Factories are offering deals on hoggets up to €9.00kg on weights to 23kg. Cull ewe prices have also increased with prices starting at €5.00kg. Adrian Gallagher said its important factories continue this upward trajectory in prices to maintain confidence in the sector.
Lamb Price Update 19/03/2026
Hoggets €8.70/9.00kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.00/5.20/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (15.03.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 34,017 | ▼-1,966 | 357,108 | ▼-30,956 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 32,697 | ▲15,419 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4,885 | ▲817 | 48,699 | ▲11,339 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-41 |
| TOTAL | 38,902 | ▼-1,149 | 438,504 | ▼-4,239 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (15.03.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 807.27 | ▲42 | 857.97 | ▼-51 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲5 | 877.22 | ▼-120 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 07/03/2026 | 761.2 | 756.5 | New season Lamb |
| 14/03/2026 | 802.8 | 799.7 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲42 | ▲43 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 985.8 | 982.0 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
