Beef Update
IFA Livestock chairman Declan Hanrahan said there is strong push back from farmers to attempts by factories to drop beef prices this week. The IFA livestock chairman said factories need the cattle to fill lucrative long term contracts with key customers and despite offering lower quotes are actively sourcing cattle and paying 10 to 15c/kg above base quotes with flat prices also on the table to tie down deals. Declan Hanrahan said farmers should not be misled by the unjustified negativity from factories and their agents, market conditions are strong, beef prices in the UK continue to rise and numbers will be extremely tight for the remainder of the year. He said the behaviour of factories is irresponsible, unnecessary, risks undermining a strong beef market in the UK and must stop. The IFA livestock chairman said the grass is growing, cattle are thriving and demand can only increase over the coming weeks and months as numbers tighten, farmers should push back strongly when offered these lower quotes and consider the mart outlet for forward store and finished cattle if necessary.
Beef Price Update 01/05/2025
Base Steer €7.40/7.60kg. Heifers €7.50/7.70kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.40/7.80Kg. Cows €6.50/7.40kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 17 (27.04.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,601 | ▲90 | 5% | 40,944 | ▼-549 |
| Bull | 555 | ▲48 | 2% | 7,815 | ▼-205 |
| Steer | 12,961 | ▼-575 | 39% | 220,323 | ▲12,719 |
| Cow | 7,654 | ▲69 | 23% | 137,785 | ▼-8,422 |
| Heifer | 10,344 | ▼-396 | 31% | 197,308 | ▲22,197 |
| Veal-V | 59 | ▲43 | 0% | 2,328 | ▼-14,790 |
| Veal-Z | 33 | ▼-1 | 0% | 1,267 | ▲389 |
| Total | 33,207 | ▼-722 | 100% | 607,770 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 17 (27.04.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 802 | ▼-11 | 795 | ▼-12 | 789 | ▼-11 | 754 | ▼-15 |
| Heifers | 812 | ▼-13 | 797 | ▼-15 | 790 | ▼-14 | 744 | ▼-12 |
| Y Bulls | 796 | ▼-13 | 781 | ▼-9 | 760 | ▼-13 | 751 | ▼-22 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 741 | ▼-15 | 700 | ▼-17 | 681 | ▼-22 |
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 |
| 19/04/2025 | 709 | 712.7 | 707.6 | 712.2 | 697.9 | 697.5 | 551.5 |
| 26/04/2025 | 708.9 | 712.1 | 706.3 | 712.2 | 698.9 | 690.4 | 557.1 |
| Change | ▼-0 | ▼-1 | ▲4 | ▲0 | ▲1 | ▼-7 | ▲6 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 891.2 | 895.2 | 887.9 | 895.3 | 878.6 | 867.9 | 700.4 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 2022 | 2023 | 19.04.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | not available | not available | € 6.40 |
| IE + Steers | not available | not available | € 7.69 |
| UK + Steers | not available | not available | € 8.16 |
Live Cattle Exports 21st April
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said sheep prices remain steady as supplies tighten. He said the tightening of numbers is reflected in the latest kill with throughput falling almost 13,000 head brining overall throughput for 2025 back just over 150,000 head in comparison to the same period in 2024. The tight supply of lambs has not only been confined to Ireland but across the UK also which operates over 3% behind the same period in 2024 for hoggets and lambs. EU sheepmeat throughput is projected to be back 9.3% in the second half of 2025 leaving supplies extremely tight across our key export markets. Adrian Gallagher said despite factories trying to dampen prices in recent weeks the availability of lambs are not on the ground and factories are having to above quoted prices to secure supplies. He said factories are offering prices from €8.70kg to €9.10kg for hogget’s while spring lambs are making from €9.20kg to €9.50kg. Cull ewes are making from €5.50kg to €5.80kg.
Lamb Price Update 01/05/2025
Hoggets €8.70kg/9.10kg. Spring lambs €9.20kg to €9.50kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.50/5.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 17 (27.04.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 28,591 | ▼-12,076 | 614,082 | ▼-128,009 |
| Spring Lambs | 1,976 | ▼-251 | 23,253 | ▲6,277 |
| Ewes and Rams | 2,314 | ▼-497 | 52,149 | ▼-28,877 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▼-3 | 66 | ▲9 |
| TOTAL | 32,881 | ▼-12,827 | 689,550 | ▼-150,600 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 17 (27.04.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 904.54 | ▼-41 | 943.25 | ▼-80 |
| YTD Avg | 879.76 | ▲1 | 773.00 | ▲106 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 19/04/2025 | 713.0 | 702.9 | New season Lamb |
| 26/04/2025 | 699.0 | 686.1 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-14 | ▼-17 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 858.3 | 842.5 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
