Beef Update
IFA livestock chairman Declan Hanrahan said beef sales in UK retail for the latest 12-week period shows sales volumes holding firm despite further increases in price. The IFA livestock chairman said UK beef prices continue to strengthen and with supplies tight our factories must do more in this marketplace and return higher beef prices. Declan Hanrahan said the market share lost in this key market to cheaper southern hemisphere beef is a real concern and Bord Bia have job of work to do. Clearly these deals are driven by price, and the increased volumes coincide with the record price gap between Irish, UK and Southern Hemisphere beef with volumes likely to continue to grow. The displacement of Irish beef, produced to the highest welfare and environmental standards, by beef from Australia, NZ and Brazil, which does not meet any of the standards we are told are demanded by UK customers rightly raises questions among Irish farmers as to why we are continually told we must do more to stay in the marketplace when the market is so easily undermined by cheap southern hemisphere beef with none of our credentials.
Beef Price Update 06/08/2026
Base Steer €6.40/6.60kg. Heifers €6.50/6.70kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.30/6.60Kg. Cows €5.80/6.40kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 31 (02.08.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1652 | ▼-163 | 5% | 70482 | ▼-1,245 |
| Bull | 489 | ▼-10 | 2% | 15157 | ▼-25 |
| Steer | 12432 | ▲1,427 | 41% | 346034 | ▼-19,377 |
| Cow | 7044 | ▼-659 | 23% | 202870 | ▼-22,807 |
| Heifer | 8660 | ▲161 | 28% | 286664 | ▼-27,829 |
| Veal-V | 290 | ▲199 | 1% | 1263 | ▼-1,555 |
| Veal-Z | 18 | ▼-58 | 0% | 2138 | ▲481 |
| Total | 30585 | ▲897 | 100% | 924068 | ▼-72,915 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 31 (02.08.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 700 | ▼-7 | 693 | ▼-6 | 685 | ▼-6 | 653 | ▼-4 |
| Heifers | 711 | ▼-9 | 699 | ▼-5 | 691 | ▼-10 | 646 | ▼-3 |
| Y Bulls | 698 | ▼-8 | 685 | ▼-12 | 665 | ▼-11 | 655 | ▼-10 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 654 | ▼-10 | 626 | ▼-8 | 616 | ▼-9 |
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 |
| 25/07/2026 | 611.4 | 614.4 | 610.8 | 614.9 | 600.4 | 600.4 | 522.8 |
| 01/08/2026 | 613.1 | 616.3 | 611.0 | 619.9 | 603.1 | 601.6 | 523.1 |
| Change | ▲2 | ▲2 | ▲0 | ▲5 | ▲3 | ▲1 | ▲0 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 752.8 | 756.8 | 750.3 | 761.2 | 740.6 | 738.7 | 642.3 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 03.08.2024 | 02.08.2025 | 01.08.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | 4.76 | 6.76 | 6.32 |
| IE + Steers R3 | 4.79 | 7.56 | 6.63 |
| UK + Steers R3 | 5.44 | 7.44 | 7.12 |
Live cattle exports 6th June
Sheep Update
IFA sheep committee chairman Adrian Gallagher said the sheep sector is at a critical juncture, and factories have a key role to play in returning confidence to the sector.
He said strong long term meaningful support will be crucial, but these must be accompanied by viable market returns.
The IFA sheep chairman said as we approach the breeding season decisions will be made on farms that will determine the extent of the lamb crop for next year and factories must do more on price to provide confidence to farmers to breed lambs for the coming season.
Adrian Gallagher said hill farmers are key part of the industry with significant numbers selling store lambs at this time of year which provide the lambs for a year-round supply of sheep meat.
He said store buyers must have confidence in the trade to invest in these lambs and continual price cuts from factories at this crucial time of year risks pushing more farmers out of the sector.
Lamb Price Update 06/08/2026
Spring lamb €8.50/8.70kg. Weights to 22kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.00/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 31 (02.08.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 270 | ▼-225 | 696939 | ▼-59,644 |
| Spring Lambs | 35869 | ▲287 | 360178 | ▼-18,799 |
| Ewes and Rams | 6709 | ▼-59 | 153560 | ▲52,030 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-123 |
| TOTAL | 42848 | ▲3 | 1210677 | ▼-26,536 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 31 (02.08.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 0.00 | ▼-874 | 784.86 | ▼-785 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-852 | 857.94 | ▼-858 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 25/07/2026 | 811.4 | 809.2 | New season Lamb |
| 01/08/2026 | 783.3 | 781.4 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-28 | ▼-28 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 961.8 | 959.5 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
