Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices are steady this week but factories remain very anxious for cattle as supplies drop. He said factories are having to pay up to 20c.kg above quotes to secure cattle this week. Supplies of beef in the EU and UE are remain tight which is contributing to prices in these destinations remaining strong. Factories are offering base prices from €7.50kg to €7.70kg and €7.60kg to €7.80kg for heifers. Flat prices up to €8.20kg has been secured for selected lots of cattle this week. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €7.40kg to €7.80kg. Cull cows remain strong with prices ranging from €6.60kg to €7.50kg depending on the grade. The IFA Livestock Chair said farmers should sell hard and consider the mart outlet when selling stock as prices are comparable to and above what factories are offering in cases.
Beef Price Update 22/05/2025
Base Steer €7.50/7.70kg. Heifers €7.60/7.80kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.40/7.80Kg. Cows €6.60/7.50kg
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (18.05.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,992 | ▲338 | 7% | 46,369 | ▼-1,250 |
| Bull | 541 | ▼-92 | 2% | 9,529 | ▼-421 |
| Steer | 10,924 | ▼-559 | 39% | 255,218 | ▲10,427 |
| Cow | 5,631 | ▼-485 | 20% | 156,758 | ▼-11,090 |
| Heifer | 9,191 | ▼-629 | 32% | 226,598 | ▲24,251 |
| Veal-V | 37 | ▲12 | 0% | 2,439 | ▼-16,073 |
| Veal-Z | 28 | ▼-5 | 0% | 1,371 | ▲386 |
| Total | 28,344 | ▼-1,420 | 100% | 698,282 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (18.05.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 799 | ▲0 | 794 | ▲1 | 786 | ▲1 | 751 | ▲2 |
| Heifers | 811 | ▲3 | 796 | ▲0 | 791 | ▲4 | 739 | ▲0 |
| Y Bulls | 791 | ▲3 | 772 | ▲0 | 759 | ▲5 | 738 | ▼-1 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 739 | ▼-2 | 699 | ▲7 | 682 | ▲7 |
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 |
| 10/05/2025 | 703.7 | 709.6 | 700.8 | 708.4 | 695.3 | 696.2 | 565.9 |
| 17/05/2025 | 694.4 | 699.7 | 692.6 | 698.2 | 685.7 | 688.7 | 563.6 |
| Change | ▼-9 | ▼-10 | ▲4 | ▼-10 | ▼-10 | ▼-8 | ▼-2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 873.0 | 879.6 | 870.7 | 877.7 | 862.0 | 865.8 | 708.5 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 2022 | 2023 | 10.05.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | not available | not available | € 6.57 |
| IE + Steers | not available | not available | € 7.55 |
| UK + Steers | not available | not available | € 8.24 |
Live cattle exports 5th April
Sheep Market
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said the cuts applied by sheep factories to hogget prices is unnecessary and highly irresponsible. He said store finishers have incurred their costs in producing these hoggets for factories. This gives the factories a consistent supply of sheep meat for their key customers, but their reckless behaviour is decimating their returns. “Store finishers are now a key part of the sector, providing a vital outlet for hill sheep farmers and maintaining a year-round supply of sheep meat. We are all acutely aware of the contraction in sheep numbers and the broader concerns for the longer- term viability of the sector if the decline continue,” he said. He said this latest attempt at undermining the confidence of farmers risks huge knock-on impacts for store finishers and hill sheep producers. Adrian Gallagher said factories can and must do more in the marketplace to maintain sustainable prices for sheep farmers and reverse these price cuts.
Lamb Price Update 22/05/2025
Hoggets €7.70kg/8.10kg. Spring lambs €9.20kg to €9.50kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.30/5.70/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (18.05.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 19,460 | ▼-5,469 | 690,196 | ▼-128,106 |
| Spring Lambs | 10,810 | ▲1,877 | 48,601 | ▼-681 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,007 | ▲407 | 61,278 | ▼-31,830 |
| Light Lambs | 2 | ▼-5 | 80 | ▲9 |
| TOTAL | 33,279 | ▼-3,190 | 800,155 | ▼-160,608 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (18.05.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 858.82 | ▼-13 | 916.31 | ▼-57 |
| YTD Avg | 876.99 | ▼-1 | 794.02 | ▲83 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 10/05/2025 | 684.2 | 673.9 | New season Lamb |
| 17/05/2025 | 677.1 | 665.4 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-7 | ▼-9 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 831.4 | 817.0 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
