Beef Update
IFA President Tim Cullinan said the rollout of the Genotyping and DNA testing scheme is a positive development for the sector. “The rollout of this scheme will help us identify and breed from bovines that emit less methane; it will assist farmers in breeding better beef-merit calves; and it will also better inform farmers purchasing livestock by providing verified genetic proofs on the stock they are buying. Ultimately, it will also allow us to verify the origin of Irish beef no matter where it is being sold in the world,” he said. “There are issues about how the funding model has been constructed and the fact that this funding is coming from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) when the Department has ruled so many other valid proposals to be ineligible for BAR support. The Minister must ensure that the full BAR funding is spent before the end of 2023 deadline or the Government must seek an extension to that deadline,” he said. “However, looking at the bigger picture for the sector, this is a very positive step. Our livestock and dairy sector is the most sustainable in the world, but we must stay ahead of the game,” he said. “We can use innovations like this to reduce our emissions, while contributing to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of farm families in rural Ireland,” he said.
Beef Price Update 01/06/2023
Base Quotes Steer €5.10/5.20kg. Heifers €5.15/5.25kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.10/5.40Kg. Cows €4.40/4.90kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (28.05.2023)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 3010 | ▲165 | 9% | 53408 | ▼-8,795 |
| Bull | 605 | ▼-88 | 2% | 10905 | ▼-547 |
| Steer | 11629 | ▼-643 | 37% | 251278 | ▼-12,516 |
| Cow | 7615 | ▲423 | 24% | 156496 | ▼-5,402 |
| Heifer | 8844 | ▼-76 | 28% | 201778 | ▼-9,963 |
| Veal-V | 3 | ▲2 | 0% | 30383 | ▲2,520 |
| Veal-Z | 41 | ▲10 | 0% | 913 | ▼-5 |
| Total | 31747 | ▼-207 | 100% | 705161 | ▼-34,708 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (28.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Changeprev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 560 | ▼-4 | 548 | ▼-2 | 535 | ▼-4 | 503 | ▼-2 |
| Heifers | 567 | ▼-2 | 552 | ▼-2 | 542 | ▼-2 | 491 | ▼-4 |
| Y Bulls | 549 | ▲0 | 532 | ▼-6 | 514 | ▲0 | 493 | ▼-10 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 487 | ▼-9 | 455 | ▼-10 | 441 | ▼-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 |
| 20/05/2023 | 501.5 | 505.3 | 499.9 | 503.8 | 495.6 | 494.2 | 411.2 |
| 27/05/2023 | 499.7 | 503.9 | 493.7 | 499.6 | 503.2 | 491.0 | 495.5 |
| Change | ▼-2 | ▼-1 | ▼-0 | ▼-1 | ▼-0 | ▲2 | ▲1 |
| Price in c/kg(Incl VAT) | 613.6 | 618.7 | 613.5 | 617.9 | 608.4 | 609.8 | 505.8 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 22.05.2021 | 2022 | 27.05.2023 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 3.81 | Figures | € 5.07 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.11 | Not | € 5.27 |
| UK + Steers | € 4.69 | Available | € 5.70 |
Live Exports W/C 08.05.2023
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said factory demand for spring lamb is increasing as hogget supplies drop off. He said hogget numbers dropped 5,778/head last week and continues to drop leaving supplies tight on the ground.
Spring lamb throughput remains ordinarily low back 3,558/head from the corresponding date in 2022 and back 25,528/head from year to date. He said the strength of demand is evident in the prices paid live in marts for lambs as factory agents compete strongly with bitchers and wholesalers for the limited supplies of suitable lamb available.
Demand will increase for live lamb in the coming weeks as we approach the upcoming EID festival he said. The IFA Sheep Chairman said farmers should sell hard and only sell lambs as they become fit to maximise returns.
Lamb Price Update 01/06/2023
Hogget €7.20/7.60/kg. Spr Lamb €7.80/8.00/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.30/3.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (28.05.2023)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 18373 | ▼-5,778 | 919879 | ▲54,422 |
| Spring Lambs | 25659 | ▲6,205 | 90810 | ▼-25,528 |
| Ewes and Rams | 5494 | ▲852 | 110728 | ▼-267 |
| Light Lambs | 3 | ▼-1 | 106 | ▲43 |
| TOTAL | 49529 | ▲1,278 | 1121523 | ▲28,670 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (28.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | WK 21 | Change prev wk | 2022 | Change prev yr |
| National Avg Price | 752.52 | ▲4 | 773.11 | ▼-21 |
| YTD Avg | 664.91 | ▲4 | 707.30 | ▼-42 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 20/05/2023 | 741.4 | 742.9 | New season lamb |
| 27/05/2023 | 732.3 | 732.9 | New season lamb |
| Change | ▼-9 | ▼-10 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 888.9 | 889.6 |
Live Sheep Exports 01.04.2023
