Beef & Sheep Update 26th June
Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said factories are struggling to secure numbers for weekly kills as throughput continues to tighten. He said throughput for the most recent week was back just under 3,000 head and 1,500 head lower from the corresponding week in 2025. This was the fourth consecutive week the kill has fallen leaving the total kill running 77,824 head behind the same period last year. He said despite factories offering lower quotes, they are openly paying above quoted prices to secure cattle particularly for larger and specialised lots. Declan Hanrahan said farmers with cattle to sell should not be misled by some factories offering quotes below what is available, shop around and sell hard to force factories to close the gap with the key markets we are selling into. Factories need cattle and they will have to move to the reality of the marketplace to get them.
Beef Price Update 26/06/2026
Base Steer €6.20/6.40kg. Heifers €6.30/6.50kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.50/6.70Kg. Cows €5.70/6.30kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 25 (21.06.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,537 | ▼-352 | 9% | 58,845 | ▼-445 |
| Bull | 753 | ▼-19 | 3% | 12,340 | ▲70 |
| Steer | 10,144 | ▼-764 | 37% | 288,136 | ▼-19,979 |
| Cow | 6,050 | ▼-513 | 22% | 160,726 | ▼-29,504 |
| Heifer | 7,666 | ▼-1,152 | 28% | 242,378 | ▼-26,475 |
| Veal-V | 26 | ▼-13 | 0% | 712 | ▼-1,959 |
| Veal-Z | 24 | ▼-1 | 0% | 1,995 | ▲468 |
| Total | 27,200 | ▼-2,814 | 100% | 765,132 | ▼-77,824 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 25 (21.06.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 667 | ▲1 | 661 | ▲3 | 651 | ▲2 | 618 | ▲3 |
| Heifers | 680 | ▼-3 | 668 | ▲4 | 661 | ▲6 | 601 | ▼-8 |
| Y Bulls | 666 | ▼-1 | 652 | ▲3 | 635 | ▲2 | 626 | ▲15 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 623 | ▲13 | 585 | ▲7 | 572 | ▲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 |
| 13/06/2026 | 596.8 | 601.6 | 595.9 | 604.0 | 581.9 | 581.5 | 512.1 |
| 20/06/2026 | 599.9 | 602.5 | 598.8 | 603.0 | 584.6 | 583.6 | 511.5 |
| Change | ▲3 | ▲1 | ▲0 | ▼-1 | ▲3 | ▲2 | ▼-1 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 736.6 | 739.8 | 735.3 | 740.4 | 717.8 | 716.6 | 628.1 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 22.06.2024 | 21.06.2025 | 20.06.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | € 5.07 | € 6.68 | €6.61 |
| IE + Steers R3 | € 5.22 | € 7.31 | € 6.35 |
| UK + Steers R3 | € 5.67 | € 7.45 | €6.85 |
Live cattle exports 8th June
Sheep Update
Following a Sheep committee visit to the Ulster Wool plant in Muckamore, Co. Antrim, IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher has welcomed the continued improvement in wool prices internationally and domestically, describing recent market trends as an encouraging development for sheep farmers who have endured years of poor returns from wool. He said recent wool auctions in Bradford achieved almost a 100% clearance rate, with average greasy wool prices reaching £1.82/kg, an increase of 9.7% on the previous sale Irish wool prices have increased by over 300% compared to last year, with the most recent reported prices now exceeding 80c/kg. New Zealand wool prices rose by between 8% and 11% at the latest auctions, with prices ranging from NZ$6.47/kg to NZ$6.80/kg and premium-coloured lots exceeding NZ$7.00/kg. Adrian Gallagher said the recovery is being driven by stronger international demand, particularly from China, along with growing interest in natural and sustainable fibres. He said strong demand and almost complete clearances at recent auctions show that confidence is returning to the wool sector and that international markets are strengthening. While this improvement is very welcome, wool prices still do not cover the cost of shearing. Shearing is an essential animal welfare practice and support through the Sheep Welfare Scheme remains vital to help offset these costs and ensure farmers can continue to maintain the highest welfare standards on farms. The IFA Sheep Chair said recent market improvements offer grounds for optimism after years of exceptionally poor returns. There is still some way to go before wool provides an economic return that covers costs, but the direction of travel is positive and gives renewed confidence to sheep farmers.
Lamb Price Update 25/06/2026
Hoggets €8.50/8.80kg. Weights to 23kg. Spring Lamb €9.50/9.80kg. Weights to 21.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.10/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 25 (21.06.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 4,134 | ▼-793 | 690,388 | ▼-58,149 |
| Spring Lambs | 27,775 | ▲4,390 | 161,767 | ▼-14,151 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4,554 | ▼-1,902 | 119,615 | ▲39,546 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-104 |
| TOTAL | 36,463 | ▲1,695 | 971,770 | ▼-32,858 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 25 (21.06.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 938.44 | ▼-4 | 821.38 | ▲117 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲4 | 866.51 | ▼-21 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 13/06/2026 | 938.2 | 938.3 | New season Lamb |
| 20/06/2026 | 907.0 | 906.4 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-31 | ▼-32 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 1113.7 | 1113.0 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
