Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said beef prices in our key export markets have started to increase as supplies tighten and import demand increases. He said tighter UK supplies have increased demand for beef there by an estimated 6% compared to last year with Irish beef best placed to fill this gap. Declan Hanrahan said UK production will be down 5% year on year with most of this evident in the coming months. Critically, it will happen for the very lucrative Christmas trade which factories must take full advantage of to return higher beef prices. It’s a similar story in the EU beef market where production is estimated to be down 8%, with some countries down almost 14% creating further opportunities for Irish beef and for stronger returns to beef farmers.” UK prices stabilised over the past few weeks. As supplies tighten, prices increased last week to the equivalent of €7.87/kg for R4L steers. EU beef prices have risen by 20c/kg since early August and are expected to continue to strengthen. Declan Hanrahan said factories must reflect the improving market conditions in our key markets in higher beef prices.
Beef Price Update 25/09/2025
Base Steer €7.20/7.40kg. Heifers €7.30/7.40kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.30/7.50Kg. Cows €6.60/7.40kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (21.09.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,065 | ▼-45 | 4% | 80,993 | ▼-1,249 |
| Bull | 437 | ▲6 | 1% | 18,414 | ▼-3,676 |
| Steer | 13,697 | ▲192 | 46% | 451,251 | ▼-29,889 |
| Cow | 5,856 | ▲376 | 20% | 262,180 | ▼-50,569 |
| Heifer | 8,441 | ▲104 | 29% | 368,142 | ▲3,968 |
| Veal-V | 39 | ▲19 | 0% | 2,988 | ▼-17,171 |
| Veal-Z | 15 | ▼-16 | 0% | 1,798 | ▲387 |
| Total | 29,550 | ▲636 | 100% | 1,185,766 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (21.09.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 769 | ▼-12 | 760 | ▼-13 | 745 | ▼-16 | 712 | ▼-22 |
| Heifers | 781 | ▼-11 | 767 | ▼-11 | 757 | ▼-13 | 714 | ▼-15 |
| Y Bulls | 758 | ▼-18 | 751 | ▼-16 | 732 | ▼-22 | 736 | ▼-13 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 720 | ▼-17 | 695 | ▼-12 | 697 | ▲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 |
| 13/09/2025 | 647.8 | 651.5 | 645.4 | 648.6 | 637.9 | 639.3 | 540.6 |
| 20/09/2025 | 648.1 | 651.4 | 645.7 | 6501.0 | 640.3 | 637.5 | 538.8 |
| Change | ▲0 | ▼-0 | ▲0 | ▲5,852 | ▲2 | ▼-2 | ▼-2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 795.8 | 799.9 | 792.9 | 7982.6 | 786.2 | 782.8 | 661.6 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 09.09.2025 | 14.09.2025 | 13.09.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 4.84 | € 5.17 | € 6.95 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.62 | € 5.06 | € 7.36 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.44 | € 5.96 | € 7.46 |
Live Cattle Exports 8th September
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said factory demand for lamb is strengthening as supplies continue to slip. He said lamb throughput for the most recent week was back 17,234 head compared to the same week in 2024 bringing the total kill back to 341,977 head or -19% to date. The IFA Sheep Chair said trade in the UK has improved over the past week with prices rising by 10p/kg to £6.70p/kg, while French prices remain strong at over €8.50kg. Factories are offering prices from €7.80kg to €8.10kg with the higher prices becoming a lot easier to negotiate. Factories continue to offer paid weights up to 22kg. Adrian Gallagher said factories must start reflecting this reality in prices offered to sheep farmers and reverse the recent cuts they have implemented.
Lamb Price Update 25/09/2025
Spring lambs €7.80/8.10kg. Weights to 22kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.40/5.20/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (21.09.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 195 | ▼-81 | 759,320 | ▼-137,538 |
| Spring Lambs | 32,580 | ▲285 | 615,600 | ▼-162,298 |
| Ewes and Rams | 5,288 | ▼-534 | 138,666 | ▼-61,633 |
| Light Lambs | 1 | ▼-1 | 129 | ▲21 |
| TOTAL | 38,064 | ▼-331 | 1,513,715 | ▼-361,448 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (21.09.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 747.11 | ▲0 | 712.93 | ▲34 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-2 | 781.08 | ▲55 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 13/09/2025 | 662.5 | 660.1 | New season Lamb |
| 20/09/2025 | 671.4 | 670.2 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲9 | ▲10 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 824.4 | 822.9 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 02/07/2025
