Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said beef farmers should continue to bargin hard with factories as the beef trade remains underpinned by tight supplies of finished cattle. He said despite factory quotes steading this week, factories continue to pay 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quoted prices to secure suitable stock, reflecting the ongoing competition for finished cattle. The live trade remains very strong, with factory agents and exporters very active in marts. Demand has been particularly strong for well-fleshed finished cattle that are fit for immediate slaughter, with these animals in very short supply both on farms and around mart rings He said cattle throughput remains tight and supplies of finished cattle are expected to remain limited in the weeks ahead. Cattle throughput remains over 80,000 head behind the same period last year. Factories are offering deals from €6.60kg to €6.80kg for steers and €6.70kg 6.90kg for heifers. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €6.70kg to €6.90kg. Cull cow prices €6.10kg to €6.60kg depending on the grade. The IFA Livestock Chair said factories are very anxious for cattle and are sourcing stock for next day processing. Factories are willing to pay above quotes prices to secure cattle and farmers should reject any lower quotes offered by factories.
Beef Price Update 23/07/2026
Base Steer €6.60/6.80kg. Heifers €6.70/6.90kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Flat deals over €7.40kg. Y Bulls R/U €6.70/6.90Kg. Cows €6.10/6.60kg
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 29 (19.07.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,761 | ▲202 | 7% | 66,972 | ▼-1,656 |
| Bull | 471 | ▲15 | 2% | 14,169 | ▼-20 |
| Steer | 9,543 | ▲701 | 35% | 322,594 | ▼-22,176 |
| Cow | 7,689 | ▲1,717 | 29% | 188242 | ▼-26,834 |
| Heifer | 7,376 | ▲460 | 27% | 269,524 | ▼-30,462 |
| Veal-V | 90 | ▲52 | 0% | 882 | ▼-1,915 |
| Veal-Z | 8 | ▼-18 | 0% | 2,044 | ▲426 |
| Total | 26,938 | ▲3,129 | 100% | 864,427 | ▼-82,637 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 29 (19.07.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 709 | ▲6 | 701 | ▲8 | 692 | ▲4 | 659 | ▲2 |
| Heifers | 720 | ▲13 | 703 | ▲7 | 700 | ▲8 | 653 | ▲6 |
| Y Bulls | 706 | ▲10 | 697 | ▲14 | 672 | ▲0 | 661 | ▲2 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 667 | ▲14 | 635 | ▲5 | 627 | ▲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 |
| 11/07/2026 | 606 | 606.5 | 604.2 | 609.7 | 591.7 | 591.7 | 521.5 |
| 18/07/2026 | 607.3 | 610.7 | 607.5 | 613.4 | 597.6 | 596.1 | 519.4 |
| Change | ▲1 | ▲4 | ▲0 | ▲4 | ▲6 | ▲4 | ▼-2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 745.7 | 749.9 | 746.0 | 753.2 | 733.8 | 732.0 | 637.8 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 13.07.2024 | 12.07.2025 | 11.07.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | € 5.06 | € 6.80 | €6.41 |
| IE + Steers R3 | € 5.12 | € 7.22 | € 6.63 |
| UK + Steers R3 | € 5.73 | € 7.38 | €7.04 |
Live cattle exports 6th June
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said factory demand remains strong for all categories of sheep. He said tight supplies of finished lambs, combined with steady demand from our key export markets in the UK and France where prices continue to trade above €9.50/kg, highlighting the strength of the European sheep market. These are helping to underpin prices and should ensure the current trade is maintained in the weeks ahead. The tightening of supplies is at evident at mart sales where there is good competition between factory agents, butchers and wholesalers offering a viable alternative for heavier lambs and this should be considered. The live cull ewe trade is also very strong this week, with buyers for the live export and domestic markets actively competing for supplies. Prices this week are making from €9.00kg to €9.30kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. Factories have also increased there offering on weights to 22kg this week. Hogget prices and ranging from €8.00kg to €8.30kg. Cull ewes are making from €5.10kg to €5.50kg. The IFA Sheep Chairman said farmers should sell lambs as they become fit, shop around and sell hard as supplies of suitable lambs are tight on the ground.
Lamb Price Update 16/07/2026
Hoggets €8.00/8.30kg. Weights to 23kg. Spring Lamb €9.00/9.30kg. Weights to 21.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.20/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 29 (19.07.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 733 | ▼-658 | 696174 | ▼-58,457 |
| Spring Lambs | 32394 | ▼-612 | 288727 | ▼-23,926 |
| Ewes and Rams | 5248 | ▲170 | 140083 | ▲45,863 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-111 |
| TOTAL | 38375 | ▼-1,100 | 1124984 | ▼-36,631 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 29 (19.07.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 870.42 | ▲10 | 784.86 | ▲86 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲1 | 857.94 | ▼-7 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 11/07/2026 | 803.2 | 803.7 | New season Lamb |
| 18/07/2026 | 806.4 | 806.4 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲3 | ▲3 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 990.2 | 990.2 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
