Beef & Sheep Update 31st March

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said beef prices remain firm as factories actively seek suitable cattle on the ground. 

He said the low level of throughput continues leaving supplies of cattle extremely tight with the overall kill to date back 5,038 head in 2023. He said this is leading to more intense competition between factories for cattle and ensuring prices continue to improve.

Factories are paying €5.20kg to €5.30kg for steers and €5.25kg to €5.40kg for heifers. Cows range from €4.50 to €5.10kg. Young bulls are making from €5.10 to €5.60kg.

The IFA Livestock Chairman said farmers should shop around and sell hard while considering the mart outlet where prices for forward store, finished cattle and cows continue to compete and surpass what factories are offering in some instances.

Beef Price Update 30/03/2023

Base Quotes Steer €5.20/5.30kg. Heifers €5.25/5.40kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.10/5.60Kg. Cows €4.50/5.10kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 12 (26.03.2023)

Animal	Number	Change prev wk	% of total	YTD	YTD Change
Y Bulls	2,038	▼-7	6%	34,728	▼-4,245
Bull	632	▲173	2%	5,403	▲181
Steer	11,257	▼-315	34%	140,706	▼-3,813
Cow	7,304	▲550	22%	92,867	▲4,563
Heifer	9,118	▲126	27%	121,015	▼-2,915
Veal-V	2,852	▼-14	9%	23,448	▲1,095
Veal-Z	42	▲0	0%	613	▲96
Total	33,243	▲513	100%	418,780	▼-5,038

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 12 (26.03.2023)

c/kg(Incl. VAT)	U3	Change prev wk	R3	Change prev wk	O3	Change prev wk	P+3	Change prev wk
Steers	562	▲0	553	▲2	542	▲2	509	▲1
Heifers	570	▲1	556	▲1	547	▼-1	498	▲2
Y Bulls	549	▲1	538	▲1	520	▲1	505	▼-3
Cows	0	▲0	508	▲7	476	▲4	456	▲1

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
18/03/2023	491.8	493.6	492.4	493.5	481.2	479.1	405.4
25/03/2023	494.7	495.6	488.0	494.6	496.6	486.7	483.1
Change	▲3	▲2	▲2	▲3	▲2	▼-1	▲0
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)	593.6	594.7	593.5	595.9	579.7	574.2	486.8

Euro Price for the Most Recent Week  (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)

Country & Type	13.03.2021	12.03.2022	18.03.2023
EU + Y Bulls	€ 3.74	€ 4.88	€ 5.15
IE + Steers	€ 3.80	€ 4.65	€ 5.25
UK + Steers	€ 4.49	€ 4.98	€ 5.54

Live Exports W/C 06.03.2023

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Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said the stronger regulations on dog controls that will go before Cabinet today will go some way to address the growing problem of dog attacks on livestock. “IFA had looked for a centralised database, larger fines and more dog wardens to enforce stricter controls. The authorities have been slow to bring in what was needed, but this would appear to be a step in the right direction,” he said. “Far too many farmers, particularly sheep farmers, are in fear of a dog attack and the devastation it can leave. I would hope the resources are made available to bring about changes,” he said “The recent incident in Wicklow would suggest there is still an issue among some recreational users,” he said. IFA began the ‘No Dogs Allowed’ campaign in 2021. He said all dog owners should take heed that they are fully liable for all damage and suffering caused to farmers and their sheep by their dogs. 

Lamb Price Update 30/03/2023

Lamb €6.70/7.00/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.30/3.60/kg.

Euro Price for the Most Recent Week  (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)

Animal	Figure	Change	YTD	YTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets	62,115	▲12,398	570,179	▲24,700
Spring Lambs	587	▲571	810	▼-430
Ewes and Rams	4,377	▲927	67,112	▲4,949
Light Lambs	6	▲4	44	▲18
TOTAL	67,085	▲13,900	638,145	▲29,237

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 12 (26.03.2023)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)	WK 12	Change prev wk	2022	Change prev yr
National Avg Price	654.49	▲14	705.22	▼-51
YTD Avg	620.57	▲3	681.85	▼-61

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

	R3L	Overall SQQ*	Type of lamb
18/03/2023	526.6	522.5	Old season lamb
25/03/2023	551.2	548.2	Old season lamb
Change	▲25	▲26
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)	661.4	657.8

Live Sheep Exports 18.01.2023