Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices have steadied and started to rise as supplies tighten and demand remains strong in our key markets. He said factories are having to pay up to 10c/kg above quotes to secure cattle this week as current supplies are falling short of factory demand which are set to tighten further in the coming weeks. The IFA Livestock Chair said global cattle supplies are critically low and all projections are for strong beef prices which factories must reflect in prices offered to farmers.
Beef Price Update 22/01/2026
Base Steer €7.00/7.20kg. Heifers €7.10/7.30kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.20/7.50Kg. Cows €6.30/7.00kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 03 (18.01.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 3,329 | ▲174 | 11% | 8,791 | ▲2,267 |
| Bull | 250 | ▲32 | 1% | 721 | ▲176 |
| Steer | 10,244 | ▼-407 | 33% | 29,755 | ▲6,166 |
| Cow | 6,168 | ▲205 | 20% | 15,560 | ▲1,171 |
| Heifer | 10,800 | ▲54 | 35% | 29,271 | ▲6,045 |
| Veal-V | 8 | ▼-40 | 0% | 61 | ▼-3 |
| Veal-Z | 145 | ▼-157 | 0% | 492 | ▲283 |
| Total | 30,944 | ▼-139 | 100% | 84,651 | ▲16,105 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 03 (18.01.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 749 | ▼-13 | 740 | ▼-16 | 729 | ▼-18 | 698 | ▼-20 |
| Heifers | 759 | ▼-15 | 747 | ▼-17 | 739 | ▼-15 | 694 | ▼-22 |
| Y Bulls | 744 | ▼-8 | 733 | ▼-15 | 717 | ▼-14 | 711 | ▼-13 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 693 | ▼-11 | 655 | ▼-12 | 641 | ▼-8 |
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 |
| 10/01/2026 | 653.1 | 656.5 | 651.2 | 655.9 | 641.9 | 645.3 | 525.0 |
| 17/01/2026 | 649.6 | 652.4 | 649.0 | 652.8 | 638.5 | 633.7 | 528.0 |
| Change | ▼-4 | ▼-4 | ▲0 | ▼-3 | ▼-3 | ▼-12 | ▲3 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 797.6 | 801.1 | 796.9 | 801.6 | 784.0 | 778.1 | 648.3 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 13.01.2024 | 11.01.2025 | 10.01.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 5.03 | € 5.61 | €7.26 |
| IE + Steers | € 5.16 | € 5.72 | € 7.14 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.69 | € 6.67 | €7.46 |
Live Cattle Exports 12th January
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said factories must take a longer-term view on sheep prices and reverse the recent price cuts they are attempting. He said lamb supplies are extremely tight with numbers expected to remain tight in the coming weeks as demand increases for the upcoming Ramadan festival. Supplies in our key export markets the UK and EU are also down and this supply demand balance must be utilised to benefit Irish lamb producers. Factories are paying from €7.70kg to €8.05kg for lambs up to 23kg. Cull ewes are making from €4.40kg to €5.00kg. Adrian Gallagher said farmers should sell hard while moving lambs as they become fit.
Lamb Price Update 22/01/2026
Lambs €7.80/8.05kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.40/5.00/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 03 (18.01.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 35,727 | ▲32,300 | 74,757 | ▼-10,226 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▼-32,697 | 32,697 | ▲15,419 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,312 | ▲1,095 | 9,543 | ▲1,129 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-3 |
| TOTAL | 39,039 | ▲698 | 116,997 | ▲80,693 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 03 (18.01.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 760.57 | ▲10 | 904.76 | ▼-144 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲5 | 880.79 | ▼-125 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 10/01/2026 | 722.9 | 720.2 | New season Lamb |
| 17/01/2026 | 718.3 | 713.6 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-5 | ▼-7 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 882.0 | 876.2 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
