Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said factories and their agents continue to actively source cattle for slaughter as number remain tight. He said factories are offering deals from €7.50kg to €7.70kg for steers and €7.60kg to €7.80kg for heifers. Declan Hanrahan said factories are not leaving any cattle behind them and are offering deals up to €20c/kg above initial quotes to secure cattle. Young bulls R and U grades range from €7.60kg to €7.80kg. Cow prices are starting off at €6.60 for P grades up to €7.50kg for quality U grade cows. He said factories are very anxious for cattle which is visible in marts where prices paid by factory agents for finished cattle are well above quotes prices. The IFA Chairman said farmers should not listen to negative messaging from factories and their agents talking down the trade and resist any attempts by factories to buy cattle at the lower quotes.
Beef Price Update 05/06/2025
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 22 (01.06.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,395 | ▲386 | 8% | 50,773 | ▼-2,540 |
| Bull | 413 | ▼-126 | 1% | 10,481 | ▼-844 |
| Steer | 11,438 | ▲189 | 39% | 277,905 | ▲10,646 |
| Cow | 6,470 | ▲411 | 22% | 169,287 | ▼-13,069 |
| Heifer | 8,429 | ▼-516 | 29% | 243,972 | ▲23,770 |
| Veal-V | 106 | ▲84 | 0% | 2,567 | ▼-16,115 |
| Veal-Z | 19 | ▼-13 | 0% | 1,422 | ▲364 |
| Total | 29,270 | ▲415 | 100% | 756,407 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 22 (01.06.2025)
| 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 | ▲0 | 788 | ▼-1 | 794 | ▲46 |
| Heifers | 805 | ▼-6 | 796 | ▼-2 | 790 | ▼-1 | 738 | ▼-4 |
| Y Bulls | 793 | ▲1 | 781 | ▲2 | 759 | ▼-2 | 746 | ▲4 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 742 | ▼-1 | 703 | ▲0 | 690 | ▲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 |
| 24/05/2025 | 684.5 | 689.9 | 683.6 | 690.1 | 675.0 | 677.5 | 563.3 |
| 31/05/2025 | 673.7 | 678.8 | 668.8 | 676.6 | 661.5 | 661.8 | 554.0 |
| Change | ▼-11 | ▼-11 | ▲4 | ▼-14 | ▼-14 | ▼-16 | ▼-9 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 846.9 | 853.3 | 840.8 | 850.6 | 831.6 | 832.0 | 696.5 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 2022 | 2023 | 31.05.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | not available | not available | € 6.23 |
| IE + Steers | not available | not available | € 7.52 |
| UK + Steers | not available | not available | € 7.92 |
Live Cattle Exports 19th May
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said the downward pressure factories are applying on hogget prices could have long term implication for the sheep sector. Hogget finishers have seen prices cut by up to 30c/kg this week and said its unjustified and must be reversed immediately. He said finishers have incurred the costs of producing these hogget’s while providing factories a consistent supply of sheep meat to supply key market but their behaviour is decimating their returns. Factories are paying up €7.50kg for hoggets and €9.30kg for spring lambs this week. Cull ewes are making from €5.10kg to €5.50kg. Adrian Gallagher said factories undermining the sector poses a serious knock-on effects further down the line for supplies at critical times of the year. He said factories must do more to support sheep farmers in the prices offered for hoggets.
Lamb Price Update 05/06/2025
Hoggets €7.20kg/7.50kg. Spring lambs €9.00kg to €9.30kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.10/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 22 (01.06.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 13,929 | ▼-2,074 | 720,128 | ▼-132,087 |
| Spring Lambs | 23,996 | ▲9,125 | 87,468 | ▼-1,144 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,764 | ▲332 | 68,474 | ▼-33,422 |
| Light Lambs | 7 | ▲3 | 91 | ▲9 |
| TOTAL | 41,696 | ▲7,386 | 876,161 | ▼-166,644 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 22 (01.06.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 820.73 | ▼-23 | 912.28 | ▼-92 |
| YTD Avg | 872.94 | ▼-2 | 805.27 | ▲68 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 24/05/2025 | 753.2 | 753.0 | New season Lamb |
| 31/05/2025 | 713.7 | 716.8 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-40 | ▼-36 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 876.4 | 880.2 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
