Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said market conditions for beef are favorable in our key export markets and factories must start reflecting this with higher beef prices. He said the latest prime export benchmark price has increased further to €7.27c/kg widening the gap to 35ckg with the prime Irish composite price. He said cattle throughput is back over 15% to date and is projected to contract further in the coming weeks and months. A similar supply pattern is projected across the EU where supplies are project to decline by up to 4% this year. Declan Hanrahan said factories trying to dampen the expectations on beef prices shows no regards for beef farmers who have made substantial investments in finishing cattle over the winter period and is unacceptable and must stop immediately.
Beef Price Update 27/03/2026
Base Steer €6.60/6.80kg. Heifers €6.70/6.90kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.80/7.10Kg. Cows €6.10/6.70kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 12 (22.03.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,913 | ▼-361 | 6% | 33,219 | ▲212 |
| Bull | 471 | ▼-32 | 2% | 4,389 | ▼-724 |
| Steer | 12,627 | ▲575 | 41% | 130,938 | ▼-20,205 |
| Cow | 6,189 | ▼-767 | 20% | 77,855 | ▼-21,247 |
| Heifer | 9,717 | ▼-493 | 31% | 120,002 | ▼-20,978 |
| Veal-V | 14 | ▼-19 | 0% | 182 | ▼-1,640 |
| Veal-Z | 110 | ▲26 | 0% | 1,556 | ▲508 |
| Total | 31041 | ▼-1,044 | 100% | 368141 | ▼-64,074 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 12 (22.03.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 724 | ▼-8 | 714 | ▼-7 | 703 | ▼-10 | 670 | ▼-9 |
| Heifers | 741 | ▼-1 | 722 | ▼-8 | 714 | ▼-7 | 671 | ▲1 |
| Y Bulls | 717 | ▼-8 | 702 | ▼-10 | 686 | ▼-13 | 674 | ▼-16 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 663 | ▼-20 | 627 | ▼-11 | 615 | ▼-9 |
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 |
| 14/03/2026 | 640.1 | 642.3 | 639.1 | 643.7 | 625.2 | 621.0 | 546.0 |
| 21/03/2026 | 638.4 | 642.4 | 638.2 | 643.2 | 624.7 | 623.4 | 551.6 |
| Change | ▼-2 | ▲0 | ▲0 | ▼-1 | ▼-1 | ▲2 | ▲6 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 783.9 | 788.8 | 783.7 | 789.8 | 767.1 | 765.5 | 677.3 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 11.03.2024 | 15.03.2025 | 14.03.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 5.17 | € 6.27 | €7.28 |
| IE + Steers | € 5.25 | € 6.91 | € 6.92 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.46 | € 7.83 | €7.36 |
Live Cattle Exports 16th March
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said factories continue to increase quotes as supplies tighten. He said factories are offering prices up to €9.30kg for hogget’s on weights to 23.5kg this week. Opening spring lamb quotes are strong with prices from €10.00kg to €10.20kg on weights to 21kg available this week. Cull ewe prices range from €5.00kg to €5.20kg. He said demand for all categories of sheep is extremely strong as factories actively fill orders for the upcoming easter festival. Hogget throughput continues to remain below last years levels back 7% to date in 2026. Adrian Gallagher said factories must continue this upward momentum in sheep prices to restore confidence in the sector.
Lamb Price Update 27/03/2026
Hoggets €9.00/9.30kg. Weights to 23.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.00/5.30/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 12 (22.03.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 36857 | ▲2,840 | 393857 | ▼-28,913 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 32697 | ▲15,368 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3947 | ▼-938 | 52646 | ▲12,927 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-42 |
| TOTAL | 40804 | ▲1,902 | 479308 | ▼-552 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 12 (22.03.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 807.27 | ▲0 | 847.17 | ▼-40 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲0 | 874.72 | ▼-118 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 07/03/2026 | 761.2 | 756.5 | New season Lamb |
| 14/03/2026 | 802.8 | 799.7 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲42 | ▲43 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 985.8 | 982.0 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
