Beef & Sheep Update 23rd October

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said markets for beef are extremely strong as we head into the key Christmas buying period. UK beef prices have increased by almost 50c/kg in the last six weeks to now sit 80c/kg above our price, driven by very tight supplies and strong demand for beef, rising over 8p/kg in the last two weeks alone. Declan Hanrahan said the latest Bord Bia Prime Export Benchmark price is 20c/kg above our price, showing the capacity for further beef price increases here.

“Against this backdrop of tight supplies in our key markets and very strong demand for beef heading into the lucrative Christmas trade, factories must follow suit and increase price offerings.” He said the age-old tactic of agents trying to talk down prices was never more unjustified. Farmers should sell hard and demand higher prices that reflect the reality of the marketplace.

Beef Price Update 23/10/2026

Base Steer €6.70/6.90kg. Heifers €6.80/7.00kg. Flat deals up to €7.30kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.80/7.10Kg. Cows €6.10/6.70kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 42 (18.10.2026)

Animal	Number	Change prev wk	% of total	YTD	YTD Change
Y Bulls	1,279	▲34	4%	87,104	▲1,683
Bull	388	▼-13	1%	20,890	▲867
Steer	15,617	▼-14	45%	508,498	▲5,739
Cow	7,129	▲116	20%	278,238	▼-6,691
Heifer	10,339	▼-416	30%	390,170	▼-9,107
Veal-V	38	▼-19	0%	2,010	▼-1,120
Veal-Z	19	▼-40	0%	2,347	▲487
Total	34,809	▼-342	100%	1,289,257	▼-8,142

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 42 (18.10.2026)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)	U3	Change prev wk	R3	Change prev wk	O3	Change prev wk	P+3	Change prev wk
Steers	714	▲2	704	▼-1	692	▼-2	667	▼-2
Heifers	720	▲1	709	▲0	704	▲2	665	▼-3
Y Bulls	706	▲5	698	▲1	686	▼-1	671	▼-10
Cows	0	▲0	661	▼-5	634	▼-2	620	▲0

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
10/10/2026	651.9	651.6	649.4	651.7	638.0	631.6	505.6
17/10/2026	652.1	653.5	651.9	653.7	640.3	635.8	505.1
Change	▲0	▲2	▲0	▲2	▲2	▲4	▼-1
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)	800.7	802.4	800.5	802.7	786.2	780.7	620.2

Euro Price for the Most Recent Week  (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)

Country & Type	12.10.2024	11.10.2025	10.10.2026
EU + Y Bulls R3	5.31	7.10	6.46
IE + Steers R3	5.05	7.23	6.74
UK + Steers R3	6.11	7.47	7.57

Sheep Market

IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices remain steady but higher prices are becoming a lot easier to negotiate with factories. He said factories are paying 10c/kg to 15c/kg above quotes to secure supplies this week with deals on paid weights up to 23kg also been secured. Prices are making from €8.10kg to €8.40kg with cull ewe prices ranging from €4.50kg to €5.00.

Strong factory demand is feeding through to mart sales where prices are comparable to and above what factories are offering in most instances. He said it’s a critical time of the year for sheep farmers and factories must return strong viable prices that reflect production costs on farm to ensure store lamb buyers remain active in marts. Adrian Gallagher said factories are very anxious for lambs and farmers should sell hard as they become fit.

Lamb Price Update 23/10/2026

Spring lamb €8.10/8.40kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.50/5.00/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 42 (18.10.2026)

Animal	Figure	Change	YTD	YTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets	168	▼-269	699,803	▼-60,065
Spring Lambs	34,010	▲1,181	755,657	▼-433
Ewes and Rams	6,357	▼-1,223	241,674	▲80,953
Light Lambs	0	▲0	2	▼-128
TOTAL	40,535	▼-311	1,697,136	▲20,327

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 42 (18.10.2026)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)	This week	Change prev. wk	2025	Change prev. yr
National Avg Price	787.45	▼-3	747.98	▲39
YTD Avg	847.95	▼-1	827.34	▲7

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

	R3L	Overall SQQ*	Type of lamb
10/10/2026	726.5	723.7	New season Lamb
17/10/2026	721.8	719.4	New season Lamb
Change	▼-5	▼-4
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)	886.3	883.4	1