Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said the tightening of beef supplies across all of our key export markets is creating ample opportunity for beef price increases. He said prices in our key markets remain significantly above ours and this gap underlines the clear potential for Irish beef prices to strengthen further as supply constraints intensify across the EU. Cattle throughput across the EU is forecasted to decline by more than 4% in the second half of 2026, with UK throughput to fall over 1% throughout 2026. Irish cattle throughput is currently running over 80,000 head behind the same period in 2025 with projections indicating a further decline as the year progresses. He said this tightening supply situation is beginning to be reflected in factory activity with deals being done at 10c/kg to 20c/kg above initial base quotes. He said farmers should be aware of the strength of demand for beef and the capacity in the marketplace for further beef price rises. Declan Hanrahan said farmers with cattle to sell should not be misled by some factories offering quotes well below what is available, shop around and sell hard is vital to force factories to close the gap with the EU and UK price. Factories need cattle and they will have to move to the reality of the marketplace to get them.
Beef Price Update 23/04/2026
Base Steer €6.60/6.80kg. Heifers €6.70/6.90kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.80/7.00Kg. Cows €6.10/6.70kg
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 16 (19.04.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,391 | ▲38 | 4% | 39,639 | ▲296 |
| Bull | 554 | ▲12 | 2% | 6,494 | ▼-766 |
| Steer | 12,963 | ▲858 | 41% | 181,152 | ▼-26,210 |
| Cow | 6,768 | ▲254 | 22% | 104,452 | ▼-25,679 |
| Heifer | 9,741 | ▼-257 | 31% | 159,614 | ▼-27,350 |
| Veal-V | 36 | ▲0 | 0% | 341 | ▼-1,928 |
| Veal-Z | 21 | ▼-13 | 0% | 1,778 | ▲544 |
| Total | 31,474 | ▲892 | 100% | 493,470 | ▼-81,093 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 16 (19.04.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 713 | ▲6 | 698 | ▲1 | 688 | ▲4 | 652 | ▲1 |
| Heifers | 719 | ▲2 | 706 | ▲3 | 696 | ▲1 | 647 | ▼-5 |
| Y Bulls | 704 | ▲2 | 687 | ▲0 | 665 | ▼-3 | 652 | ▼-2 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 652 | ▲1 | 618 | ▲2 | 607 | ▲2 |
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 |
| 11/04/2026 | 638.8 | 642.9 | 639.4 | 643.6 | 629.3 | 626.3 | 553.5 |
| 18/04/2026 | 637.0 | 638.9 | 635.9 | 640.5 | 624.6 | 621.6 | 548.3 |
| Change | ▼-2 | ▼-4 | ▲0 | ▼-3 | ▼-5 | ▼-5 | ▼-5 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 782.2 | 784.5 | 780.8 | 786.5 | 767.0 | 763.3 | 673.3 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 13.04.2024 | 12.04.2025 | 11.04.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | € 5.04 | € 6.37 | €7.14 |
| IE + Steers R3 | € 5.19 | € 7.73 | € 6.67 |
| UK + Steers R3 | € 5.69 | € 8.07 | €7.28 |
Live Cattle Export 13th April 2026
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said prices continue to rise as factories struggle to match supplies with market demand, lifting prices by up to 20c/kg this week. He said supplies on the ground are notably constrained with hogget throughput running 9% behind the same period last year. This reduced availability has significantly tightened the market, a similar situation in the UK and EU contributing to upward pressures on prices across these regions. Prices in France are making upwards of €10.70kg while UK prices remain strong at €9.70kg. This week Quotes for hogget’s are starting at €9.60kg but factories are being forced to pay more with deals as high as €9.90kg to €10.00kg secured for selected lots of hoggets on weights to 23.5kg. Spring lamb prices are making from €10.10kg to €10.30kg on weights 21kg. Cull ewe prices have also strengthened with prices ranging from €5.50kg to €5.80kg. The IFA Sheep Chairman said factories are very active sourcing hoggets and lambs and farmer should sell hard as they become fit.
Lamb Price Update 23/04/2026
Hoggets €9.60/10.00kg. Weights to 23.5kg. Spring Lamb €10.10/10.30kg. Weights to 21kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.50/5.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 16 (19.04.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 29,834 | ▼-2,455 | 538,508 | ▼-46,983 |
| Spring Lambs | 2,025 | ▲1,028 | 36,418 | ▲15,141 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4,878 | ▲312 | 70,982 | ▲21,147 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-66 |
| TOTAL | 36,737 | ▼-1,115 | 645,908 | ▼-10,761 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 16 (19.04.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 917.06 | ▲21 | 904.54 | ▲13 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲8 | 879.76 | ▼-81 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 11/04/2026 | 853.7 | 846.7 | New season Lamb |
| 18/04/2026 | 850.4 | 846.7 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-3 | ▲0 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 1044.2 | 1039.7 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
