Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanarahan said cattle supplies remain tight as factories dig in hard to secure supplies. He said prices have edged up by 10c/kg this week as factories actively seek cattle for next day slaughter paying 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes to secure cattle. Factories are finding it difficult to balance the supply and demand situation as supplies are slow coming to market with no surge of cattle expected in the coming weeks. Factories are offering deals on steers from €6.70kg to €6.80kg and €6.80kg to €6.90kg for heifers.
Young bull prices, R and U grades have also increased with prices ranging from €6.70kg to €7.00kg. Cull cow prices are making from €6.10kg for P grades up to €6.60kg for well-fleshed U grade cows. Declan Hanrahan said factories are very anxious for stock for next day processing. Factories are willing to pay above quotes to secure cattle and farmers should reject any lower quotes offered by factories.
Beef Price Update 01/10/2026
Base Steer €6.70/6.80kg. Heifers €6.80/6.90kg. Flat deals up to €7.30kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.70/7.00Kg. Cows €6.10/6.60kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 39 (27.09.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,921 | ▲345 | 6% | 83,196 | ▲1,141 |
| Bull | 486 | ▲6 | 1% | 19,649 | ▲818 |
| Steer | 14,711 | ▼-96 | 44% | 461,269 | ▼-3,878 |
| Cow | 6,660 | ▼-120 | 20% | 257,079 | ▼-10,924 |
| Heifer | 9,644 | ▲353 | 29% | 359,614 | ▼-17,351 |
| Veal-V | 48 | ▲32 | 0% | 1,731 | ▼-1,280 |
| Veal-Z | 23 | ▲11 | 0% | 2,245 | ▲438 |
| Total | 33,493 | ▲531 | 100% | 1,184,783 | ▼-31,036 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 39 (27.09.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 698 | ▲7 | 691 | ▲6 | 682 | ▲5 | 664 | ▲11 |
| Heifers | 705 | ▲5 | 696 | ▲6 | 692 | ▲7 | 652 | ▲5 |
| Y Bulls | 693 | ▲2 | 688 | ▲0 | 681 | ▲4 | 669 | ▲15 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 655 | ▲2 | 626 | ▲2 | 610 | ▲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 |
| 19/09/2026 | 628 | 633.8 | 626.5 | 632.4 | 614.6 | 610.1 | 487.2 |
| 26/09/2026 | 635.3 | 637.5 | 633.3 | 637.2 | 622.7 | 620.7 | 496.2 |
| Change | ▲7 | ▲4 | ▲0 | ▲5 | ▲8 | ▲11 | ▲9 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 780.1 | 782.8 | 777.6 | 782.4 | 764.6 | 762.2 | 609.3 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 14.09.2024 | 03.09.2025 | 12.9.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | 5.17 | 6.95 | 6.38 |
| IE + Steers R3 | 5.06 | 7.36 | 6.53 |
| UK + Steers R3 | 5.96 | 7.46 | 7.13 |
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said the Government must use next week’s Budget to support the sheep sector through increased direct payments and a commitment to ensure farmers receive full payments under the current Sheep Welfare Scheme. He said there must be no linear cuts applied to the Sheep Welfare Scheme payments in 2026. “Any additional funding required to pay farmers in full for the actions carried out on farms this year must be secured to ensure there are no cuts to payments under the scheme.” IFA is seeking an increase in the Sheep Scheme payment to €23/ewe, which when combined with the Sheep Improvement Scheme, would bring total direct support to €35/ewe.
An additional €10/ewe must also be provided for hill sheep farmers, while the scheme must be maintained and strengthened to support farmers lambing ewes. We are losing sheep and we are losing production. The Budget must provide a clear increase in direct support to stabilise the national flock and give farmers the confidence to continue producing lambs. The Minister must also provide greater financial support for labour-saving equipment and farm infrastructure to support the viability of sheep enterprises,” he said. He said action is also required on dog control, with resources and funding needed for an effective dog warden service in every county, and sufficient staffing to enforce the obligations on dog owners. This Budget must mark a change in direction and provide the targeted support needed to stabilise the national flock and give sheep farmers a viable future,” he said.
Lamb Price Update 01/10/2026
Spring lamb €8.10/8.40kg. Weights to 22.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.50/5.00/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 39 (27.09.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 221 | ▼-126 | 698,996 | ▼-60,498 |
| Spring Lambs | 34,287 | ▼-683 | 655,332 | ▲5,441 |
| Ewes and Rams | 7,825 | ▼-165 | 220,573 | ▲75,773 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 2 | ▼-128 |
| TOTAL | 42,333 | ▼-974 | 1,574,903 | ▲20,588 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 39 (27.09.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 783.81 | ▲9 | 747.19 | ▲37 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-1 | 833.39 | ▲4 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 19/09/2026 | 725.5 | 724.0 | New season Lamb |
| 26/09/2026 | 732.8 | 731.7 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲7 | ▲8 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 899.8 | 898.5 | 1 |
