Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said the ban on Brazilian beef entering the EU from today creates a real opportunity for higher beef prices as EU customers fill the void that will be left. This ban has come about following the extensive investigation carried out jointly between IFA and the IFJ in October and November last year and the intensive lobbying campaign of key EU officials and MEPs by IFA afterwards. The EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi committed to a thorough examination of the issues we raised. “IFA compiled a comprehensive report of the findings from our investigation. This report left Commission officials with no alternative but to implement a ban on Brazilian beef entering the EU due to its failings in meeting even the most basic antibiotic usage and AMR requirements set down by the EU. Declan Hanrahan said we must now start seeing the benefits of this huge success by IFA for Irish and EU beef farmers in higher farm gate beef prices
Beef Price Update 03/08/2026
Base Steer €6.40/6.50kg. Heifers €6.50/6.60kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.40/6.70Kg. Cows €5.90/6.50kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 35 (30.08.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,504 | ▼-174 | 5% | 77,024 | ▼-776 |
| Bull | 564 | ▼-44 | 2% | 17,550 | ▲466 |
| Steer | 14,217 | ▼-859 | 44% | 402,790 | ▼-8,027 |
| Cow | 6,719 | ▼-73 | 21% | 229,605 | ▼-16,057 |
| Heifer | 9,233 | ▲605 | 29% | 322,002 | ▼-21,707 |
| Veal-V | 2 | ▼-80 | 0% | 1,603 | ▼-1,311 |
| Veal-Z | 12 | ▼-1 | 0% | 2,188 | ▲450 |
| Total | 32,251 | ▼-626 | 100% | 1,052,762 | ▼-46,962 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 35 (30.08.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 682 | ▼-2 | 672 | ▼-1 | 661 | ▲1 | 634 | ▲5 |
| Heifers | 693 | ▼-3 | 680 | ▲2 | 670 | ▲2 | 629 | ▲4 |
| Y Bulls | 682 | ▼-2 | 674 | ▲8 | 653 | ▼-4 | 642 | ▲1 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 639 | ▼-4 | 610 | ▲5 | 596 | ▲3 |
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 |
| 22/08/2026 | 614.9 | 618.6 | 613.6 | 618.3 | 603.1 | 610.2 | 485.8 |
| 29/08/2026 | 616.9 | 621.9 | 614.5 | 622.0 | 604.2 | 605.8 | 482.9 |
| Change | ▲2 | ▲3 | ▲0 | ▲4 | ▲1 | ▼-4 | ▼-3 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 757.5 | 763.6 | 754.5 | 763.8 | 741.9 | 743.9 | 593.0 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 24.08.2024 | 23.08.2025 | 22.08.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | 5.13 | 6.83 | 6.38 |
| IE + Steers R3 | 5.05 | 7.58 | 6.44 |
| UK + Steers R3 | 5.90 | 7.48 | 7.10 |
Live cattle exports 24th August
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices remain steady this week with strong apatite from factories for finished lambs. He said supplies remain considerably tight on the ground with factories and their agents active at mart sales sourcing suitable supplies of lambs for slaughter. This week factories are offering deals for lambs from €7.90kg to €8.10kg on weights to 22kg. Cull ewe prices are ranging from €4.50kg to €5.00 in general. He said demand for sheep meat in our key export markets remains strong and factories must ensure these positive market conditions are reflected with continued strong prices paid to sheep farmers. The sheep chairman said it is also important that factories maintain strong lamb prices to ensure store lamb buyers remain active in marts in the coming weeks. Grass growth has started to recover, which will enable store lamb buyers to return to the market in areas where drought conditions impacted grass growth. A strong finished lamb price will be important in giving buyers the confidence to continue purchasing store lambs and supporting the trade through the autumn.
Lamb Price Update 03/08/2026
Spring lamb €7.90/8.20kg. Weights to 22kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.60/5.30/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 35 (30.08.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 476 | ▲174 | 698,122 | ▼-60,294 |
| Spring Lambs | 38,310 | ▼-20 | 511,184 | ▼-4,626 |
| Ewes and Rams | 9,537 | ▲1,166 | 186,818 | ▲66,267 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-126 |
| TOTAL | 48,323 | ▲1,320 | 1,396,124 | ▲1,221 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 35 (30.08.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 766.08 | ▼-12 | 761.76 | ▲4 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-2 | 843.23 | ▲1 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 22/08/2026 | 711.4 | 723.5 | New season Lamb |
| 29/08/2026 | 707.1 | 705.4 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-4 | ▼-18 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 868.3 | 866.2 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
