Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said the phased re-opening of the food service sector in the UK will increase demand for Irish beef and must translate into higher beef prices. “The food service sector in the UK is a key outlet for Irish beef and the phased re-opening from next Monday is a significant development for beef sales,” he said. He said prices continue to edge upwards, but are not closing the gap with the Prime Export Benchmark price, which is at 11c/kg. The food service sector in the UK is scheduled for full reopening in May. This will increase demand for beef in the coming weeks and must return meaningful beef price increases,” he said. Prices for next week have increased by a further 5c/kg.
Beef Price Update
Steer base €3.85/3.95kg. Heifers €3.90/4.00kg. Higher deals. Market strong. Y Bulls R/U €3.85/4.00kg. Cows €3.20/3.70kg
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 13 (29.03.2021)
| Animal | Number | Change prev. wk. | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2245 | ▼-425 | 7% | 39936 | ▼-14,962 |
| Bull | 602 | ▲113 | 2% | 5463 | ▼-1,989 |
| Steer | 11696 | ▼-586 | 38% | 147224 | ▼-12,587 |
| Cow | 6185 | ▲491 | 20% | 80449 | ▼-6,853 |
| Heifer | 9525 | ▼-163 | 31% | 126580 | ▼-20,023 |
| Veal-V | 848 | ▼-293 | 3% | 18395 | ▼-4,270 |
| Veal-Z | 23 | ▼-13 | 0% | 535 | ▲31 |
| Total | 31124 | ▼-876 | 100% | 418582 | ▼-60,653 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 13 (29.03.2021)
| c/kg(Incl. VAT) | U3 | Changeprev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Changeprev wk | P+3 | Changeprev wk |
| Steers | 418 | ▲1 | 407 | ▲3 | 390 | ▲2 | 363 | ▲3 |
| Heifers | 425 | ▲2 | 412 | ▲2 | 399 | ▲3 | 360 | ▲4 |
| Y Bulls | 402 | ▲3 | 391 | ▲5 | 375 | ▲4 | 367 | ▲12 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 352 | ▲2 | 330 | ▲4 | 318 | ▲2 |
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 |
| 03.04.2021 | 402.9 | 406.9 | 402.4 | 406.8 | 394.1 | 393.6 | 287.9 |
| Change | ▲5 | ▲6 | ▲4 | ▲5 | ▲4 | ▲4 | ▲3 |
| Price in c/kg(Incl. VAT) | 489.0 | 493.9 | 488.4 | 493.8 | 478.4 | 477.7 | 349.5 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 30.03.2019 | 28.03.2020 | 27.03.2021 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 3.67 | € 3.52 | € 3.74 |
| IE + Steers | € 3.64 | € 3.65 | € 3.83 |
| UK + Steers | € 3.97 | € 3.74 | € 4.58 |
Sheep Update
IFA National Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said the demand for hoggets, lambs and cull ewes is stronger again this week. He said the combination of the start of Ramadan next week and supermarket demand is driving the trade. Sean Dennehy said hoggets are making up to €8.00/kg, with higher deals available for larger lots. Spring lamb is making €8.20/kg, with deals available for groups and larger lots. He said the cull ewe trade is strong, with prices of €3.50/kg paid. Sean Dennehy said the mart trade is providing a real competitive alternative, where prices are comparable, or in some instances, above what factories are offering. There’s a particularly strong trade for fleshed cull ewes.
Lamb Price Update
QA Hoggets €7.70/8.00kg Spring Lamb €8.00/8.20kg. Higher deals for groups and larger lots. Strong demand. Ewes €3.20/3.50kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 13 (29.03.2021)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 36426 | ▼-8,515 | 528298 | ▼-43,721 |
| Spring Lambs | 1390 | ▲1,390 | 1390 | ▲1,390 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4532 | ▼-371 | 69081 | ▼-11,542 |
| Light Lambs | 6 | ▲4 | 82 | ▲64 |
| TOTAL | 42354 | ▼-7,492 | 598851 | ▼-53,809 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 13 (29.03.2021)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | Week 13 | ChangePrev wk | 2020 | Change prev yr |
| National Avg Price | 723.63 | ▼-1 | 510.75 | ▲213 |
| YTD Avg | 645.23 | ▲7 | 508.47 | ▲137 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 27.03.2021 | 630.3 | 626.5 | Old season |
| 03.04.2021 | 624.7 | 619.3 | Old season |
| Change | ▼-6 | ▼-7 | |
| Price in c/kg | 758.3 | 751.7 |
