Beef & Sheep UpdateCattleCattle PricesSheepSheep Prices

Beef & Sheep Update 6th May

Cattle and Sheep in Wickow Field

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said the strong performance of beef prices in our key export markets highlights the demand for beef. 

Brendan Golden said “beef prices are currently lagging 17c below the prime export benchmark price”. 

The IFA Livestock Chairman said “in current market conditions this price differential is unjustified and factories must move prices on to close the gap.”

Beef Price Update 05/05/2022

Steer Base €4.90/5.05kg. Heifers €4.95/5.10kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €4.90/5.10Kg. Cows €4.30/5.00kg

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 17  (01.05.2022)

AnimalNumberChange prev. wk.% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls2,622▲6537%47,652▲1,187
Bull818▲2102%8,468▲1,250
Steer13,829▲1,20137%198,838▲17,143
Cow8,558▲31623%122,232▲22,498
Heifer10,668▲1,19129%164,712▲11,613
Veal-V891▲4462%26,967▲6,874
Veal-Z39▼-1 0%680▼-17 
Total37,425▲4,016100%569,549▲60,548

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 17  (01.05.2022)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Changeprev wkR3Changeprev wkO3Changeprev wkP+3Changeprev wk
Steers525▲4517▲5505▲5477▲8
Heifers532▲5520▲5511▲4467▲8
Y Bulls511▲3499▲2482▲6473▲11
Cows0▲0472▲6443▲5429▲7

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
23.04.2022443.4446.1444.2447.2439.5435.7375.2
30.04.2022444.1447.9439.2445.6448.2439.3439.2
Change▲1▲2▲1▲1▼-0 ▲2▲3
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)545.3550.0547.2550.3539.3537.0464.3

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

Country & Type02.05.202001.05.202130.04.2022
EU + Y Bulls€ 3.42€ 3.82€ 5.14
IE + Steers€ 3.43€ 4.09€ 4.90
UK + Steers € 3.76€ 4.68€ 5.21

Live Exports W/C 18.04.2021


Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Committee Chairman Kevin Comiskey said “hogget supplies are tightening and spring lamb numbers are slow to come forward, tipping the supply demand situation in farmers’ favour”. 

The Sheep Committee Chairman said “current hogget and lamb prices offered by factories are not reflecting the input cost exposure on sheep farms and factories must reflect these costs in price increases”. 

Lamb Price Update 05/05/2022

Hogget €7.20/7.50/kg. Spr lamb €8.00/8.40/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.80/4.00/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 17  (01.05.2022)

AnimalFigureChangeYTD YTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets43904▲5,247785463▲142,593
Spring Lambs10859▲4,74926873▼-5,973 
Ewes and Rams6388▲1,43286539▼-4,181 
Light Lambs1▲042▼-54 
TOTAL61152▲11,428898917▲132,385

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM –  Week 17  (01.05.2022)

c/kg(Incl. VAT)WK 17 Change prev wk2021Change prev yr
National Avg Price736.75▲3730.66▲6
YTD Avg695.95▲3671.92▲24

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
23/04/2022602.9597.9Old season
30/04/2022612.1605.9Old season
Change▲9▲8 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)808.0799.8 

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