Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices remain firm as supplies remain tight. He said throughput for the third consecutive week remains below 30,000 head with throughput for the latest week back over 2,500 head from the same week in 2024. Throughput is projected to tighten further in the coming weeks and months with numbers expected to fall 7% in Q2 and 2% in Q3 2025. The total kill is projected to fall over 87,000 head in 2025 which is made up of up of over 64,000 head of prime cattle. Declan Hanrahan said factories are very anxious for cattle and are having to pay up to 20c/kg above quotes to secure supplies. Steers are making from €7.50kg to €7.70kg while heifers make from €7.60kg to €7.80kg. Young bulls R and U grades are ranging from €7.60kg to €7.80kg. Factories remain active sourcing cows to fill kills and are paying €6.60kg to €7.50kg depending on the grade. Declan Hanrahan said farmers should shop around and sell hard. Factories need cattle and are willing to pay above quotes to secure supplies.
Beef Price Update 29/05/2025
Base Steer €7.50/7.70kg. Heifers €7.60/7.80kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.60/7.80Kg. Cows €6.60/7.50kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (25.05.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,009 | ▲17 | 7% | 48,378 | ▼-2,020 |
| Bull | 539 | ▼-2 | 2% | 10,068 | ▼-519 |
| Steer | 11,249 | ▲325 | 39% | 266,467 | ▲10,432 |
| Cow | 6,059 | ▲428 | 21% | 162,817 | ▼-12,226 |
| Heifer | 8,945 | ▼-246 | 31% | 235,543 | ▲23,843 |
| Veal-V | 22 | ▼-15 | 0% | 2,461 | ▼-16,195 |
| Veal-Z | 32 | ▲4 | 0% | 1,403 | ▲393 |
| Total | 28,855 | ▲511 | 100% | 727,137 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (25.05.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 799 | ▲0 | 792 | ▼-2 | 789 | ▲3 | 748 | ▼-3 |
| Heifers | 811 | ▲0 | 798 | ▲2 | 791 | ▲0 | 742 | ▲3 |
| Y Bulls | 792 | ▲1 | 779 | ▲7 | 761 | ▲2 | 742 | ▲4 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 743 | ▲4 | 703 | ▲4 | 690 | ▲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 |
| 17/05/2025 | 694.4 | 699.7 | 692.6 | 698.2 | 685.7 | 688.7 | 563.6 |
| 24/05/2025 | 684.5 | 689.9 | 683.6 | 690.1 | 675.0 | 677.5 | 563.3 |
| Change | ▼-10 | ▼-10 | ▲4 | ▼-8 | ▼11 | ▼11 | ▼-0 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 860.5 | 867.3 | 859.4 | 867.6 | 848.6 | 851.7 | 708.1 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 2022 | 2023 | 17.05.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | not available | not available | € 6.58 |
| IE + Steers | not available | not available | € 7.56 |
| UK + Steers | not available | not available | € 8.13 |
Live cattle exports 12th May
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher has critised factories for the latest cuts on hogget and lamb prices. He said this behavior of undermining the sheep trade at a critical time of the year is unacceptable and must be halted immediately. Store finishers have finished these hoggets at the most expensive time of the year and cannot absorb this level of cuts. Store finishers along with spring lamb producers have an important role to play in supplying a consistent supply of sheep meat during a period when supplies are low and are now been penalized for this. He said processors should be more responsible in their pricing of lambs and hogget’s and reflect the costs on farms instead of slashing prices. Hogget and spring lamb number remain extremely tight on the ground and buying is currently taking place for the important EID festival in early June. One of the main markets we export into the UK have seen prices increase by up 70p/kg in the past week signifying the strength of the market. He said factories must and can and must do more in the marketplace to maintain strong prices for sheep farmers and reverse these cuts.
Lamb Price Update 29/05/2025
Hoggets €7.60kg/8.00kg. Spring lambs €9.00kg to €9.40kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.10/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (25.05.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 16003 | ▼-3,457 | 706199 | ▼-130,321 |
| Spring Lambs | 14871 | ▲4,061 | 63472 | ▼-2,241 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3432 | ▲425 | 64710 | ▼-32,965 |
| Light Lambs | 4 | ▲2 | 84 | ▲13 |
| TOTAL | 34310 | ▲1,031 | 834465 | ▼-165,514 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 21 (25.05.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 844.12 | ▼-15 | 923.23 | ▼-79 |
| YTD Avg | 875.42 | ▼-2 | 800.17 | ▲75 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 17/05/2025 | 677.1 | 665.4 | New season Lamb |
| 24/05/2025 | 753.2 | 753.0 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲76 | ▲88 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 924.9 | 924.6 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
