Beef & Sheep UpdateCattleCattle PricesSheepSheep Prices

Beef & Sheep Update 18th February

Cattle and Sheep in field, Wicklow, Ireland

Beef Update

IFA Livestock committee chairman Brendan Golden said demand for beef in our key export markets is strong.

Prices in the UK are steady with EU young bull prices rising over the past few weeks. 

He said factory agents are very active on the ground and offering deals 10c to 15c/kg above quotes to secure supplies. 

Brendan Golden said beef prices must continue to push on to of set the increased production costs on farms, farmers should shop around and sell hard as prices continue to rise in a very strong market for beef. 

He said mart prices for forward store and finished cattle and cows is extremely strong and providing a real competitive alternative for farmers unable to secure the higher end of factory prices.

Beef Price Update 17/02/2022

Steer Base €4.40/4.50kg. Heifers €4.45/4.55kg. Higher deals for larger lots. Y Bulls R/U €4.40/4.60Kg. Cows €3.60/4.20kg

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 6 (07.02.2022)

AnimalNumberChange prev. wk.% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls4,135▲44411%23,296▲2,226
Bull469▲1401%2,661▲729
Steer12,700▲4533%69,240▲3,985
Cow8,052▲9721%42,197▲4,537
Heifer11,051▼-276 29%63,117▲1,646
Veal-V1,773▲1,6145%1,994▲325
Veal-Z40▼-32 0%298▲75
Total38,220▲2,032100%202,803▲13,523

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 6  (07.02.2022)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Changeprev wk
Steers472▲6462▲3449▲3417▲3
Heifers480▲23467▲6458▲2408▲6
Y Bulls447▲0443▲6429▲5417▲1
Cows0▲0410▼-3 385▲4371▲5

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
05.02.2022412.6413.5412.6414.2403.8398294.6
12.02.2022412.4412.3404.4412.5412.9404.7404.9
Change▼-0 ▼-1 ▼-0 ▼-1 ▲1▲2▲8
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)524.7524.6524.8525.3515.1508.9384.6

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

Country & Type08.02.202006.02.202105.02.2022
EU + Y Bulls€ 3.62€ 3.71€ 4.57
IE + Steers€ 3.66€ 3.82€ 4.35
UK + Steers € 4.00€ 4.37€ 4.91

Live Exports W/C 31.01.2022

Source: Bord Bia

Sheep Update

IFA Sheep committee chairman Kevin Comiskey said the sheep trade is steady with supplies and demand well balanced which has provided stability on price.

He said selling hoggets only when fit is vital to maximise returns and avoid penalties by factories.

Mart sales are providing real competition to trade with hoggets and in particular cull ewes a stronger trade than what some factories are offering.

The IFA sheep chairman said prospects are good for sheep meat demand for the year and with the increased costs sheep farmers will incur the positive market conditions must come through in price to farmers.

Lamb Price Update 17/02/2022

Hogget/lamb €6.80/7.00/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.30/3.60/kg. Sell hard.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 6 (07.02.2022)

AnimalFigureChangeYTD 
Lambs/Hoggets49,814▲3,368269,115▲22,201
Spring Lambs0▲00▲0
Ewes and Rams5,803▼-504 36,211▲2,346
Light Lambs1▲120▼-2 
TOTAL55,618▲2,865305,346▲24,545

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 6  (07.02.2022)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)WK 06 Changeprev wk2021Change prev yr
National Avg Price674.27▼-0 613.94▲60
YTD Avg678.13▼-1 593.05▲85

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
05.02.2022590.0587.4Old season
12.02.2022591.3587.9Old season
Change▲1▲1 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)752.3748.0 
Source: Bord Bia

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