Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle supplies remain tight as factories dig in hard to secure cattle. He said factories are offering deals 10ckg to 15ckg above quotes to secure cattle but are finding it difficult to balance the supply and demand situation. Throughput remains ordinarily low and with grass cattle slow coming to market no surge of cattle are expected in the coming weeks to meet last years levels. Factories are offering deals from €7.50kg to €7.60kg for steers and €7.60kg to €7.80kg for heifers. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €7.70kg to €8.00kg. Cull cow prices are ranging from €7.00kg to €7.70kg depending on the grade. Declan Hanrahan said factories are very anxious for cattle and are sourcing stock for next day processing. Processors are willing to pay above quotes to secure cattle and farmers should reject any lower quotes offered by factories.
Beef Price Update 21/08/2025
Base Steer €7.50/7.70kg. Heifers €7.60/7.80kg. Flat prices €8.20/8.40kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.60/8.00Kg. Cows €7.00/7.70kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (17.08.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,886 | ▲219 | 7% | 75,280 | ▼-1,624 |
| Bull | 476 | ▼-53 | 2% | 16,187 | ▼-2,956 |
| Steer | 11,249 | ▲1,315 | 44% | 386,594 | ▼-9,933 |
| Cow | 4,643 | ▼-310 | 18% | 235,275 | ▼-38,246 |
| Heifer | 7,218 | ▲33 | 28% | 328,894 | ▲14,827 |
| Veal-V | 25 | ▼-2 | 0% | 2,870 | ▼-16,844 |
| Veal-Z | 12 | ▼-8 | 0% | 1,707 | ▲393 |
| Total | 25,509 | ▲1,194 | 100% | 1,046,807 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (17.08.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 801 | ▼-1 | 795 | ▼-1 | 790 | ▲1 | 756 | ▼-4 |
| Heifers | 811 | ▼-1 | 799 | ▲1 | 796 | ▲0 | 752 | ▲6 |
| Y Bulls | 801 | ▲2 | 793 | ▲6 | 776 | ▲9 | 761 | ▲9 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 759 | ▲6 | 727 | ▲2 | 714 | ▲4 |
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 |
| 09/08/2025 | 650.3 | 655.1 | 648 | 652.0 | 640.4 | 636.0 | 537.6 |
| 16/08/2025 | 650.2 | 654.4 | 647.6 | 653.2 | 639.1 | 639.0 | 540.1 |
| Change | ▼-0 | ▼-1 | ▲0 | ▲1 | ▼-1 | ▲3 | ▲3 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 817.4 | 822.7 | 814.1 | 821.2 | 803.4 | 803.3 | 679.0 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 06.08.2025 | 05.08.2025 | 09.08.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 4.98 | € 4.74 | € 6.78 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.72 | € 4.72 | € 7.58 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.22 | € 5.36 | € 7.28 |
Live Cattle Exports 11th August
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said factory prices for lambs remain unchanged this week. Factories are very anxious for lambs and are competing very strongly in marts for the limited numbers on offer. He said supplies of sheep meat produced across the EU and UK will be down this year and factories must stand firm and maximize returns from the market place to farmers. This week lamb prices are making from €8.00kg to €8.30kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. Factories have increased paid weights to 22kg. Cull ewes are making from €4.60kg to €5.30kg. Adrian Gallagher said factories should shop around and sell hard as supplies remain tight.
Lamb Price Update 21/08/2025
Spring lambs €8.00/8.30kg. Weights to 22kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.60/5.30/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (17.08.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 590 | ▲177 | 757586 | ▼-137,276 |
| Spring Lambs | 33114 | ▲2,712 | 442493 | ▼-85,345 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4472 | ▲313 | 110161 | ▼-50,163 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▼-3 | 126 | ▲23 |
| TOTAL | 38176 | ▲3,199 | 1310366 | ▼-272,761 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (17.08.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 769.32 | ▲2 | 719.83 | ▲49 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-2 | 791.08 | ▲57 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 09/08/2025 | 755.8 | 754.7 | New season Lamb |
| 16/08/2025 | 753.5 | 755.9 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-2 | ▲1 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 925.2 | 928.2 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 02/07/2025
