Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden has strongly criticised attempts by factories to reduce beef prices. UK prices are steadily increasing and prices in our other key export markets remain strong and steady.  Supplies of finished cattle are tight with further reductions in numbers expected over the coming weeks and months, based on the Bord Bia supply projections. “The number of prime cattle is extremely tight and there’s no flush of grass cattle expected in the coming weeks due to the late spring, with further reductions in numbers anticipated in the coming weeks,” he said. He said demand for beef is strong and will increase further over the coming months as supplies tighten both here and in our key export markets. “Farmers are selling the most expensive cattle to produce at this time of year and must be rewarded for the investment they have made in ensuring factories have a consistent year-round supply of finished cattle,” he said. Brendan Golden said the attempts by factories to stop price increases by talking down the trade are not justified and are a cynical attempt to take confidence out of the trade.
Beef Price Update 25/05/2023
Base Quotes Steer €5.15/5.25kg. Heifers €5.20/5.30kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.20/5.40Kg. Cows €4.50/5.00kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (21.05.2023)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2845 | â–˛497 | 9% | 50402 | â–Ľ-8,731 |
| Bull | 693 | â–Ľ-5 | 2% | 10297 | â–Ľ-397 |
| Steer | 12272 | â–Ľ-167 | 38% | 239648 | â–Ľ-12,886 |
| Cow | 7192 | â–˛206 | 23% | 148881 | â–Ľ-4,486 |
| Heifer | 8920 | â–Ľ-249 | 28% | 192934 | â–Ľ-10,396 |
| Veal-V | 1 | â–Ľ-3 | 0% | 30380 | â–˛2,550 |
| Veal-Z | 31 | â–˛9 | 0% | 872 | â–Ľ-11 |
| Total | 31954 | â–˛288 | 100% | 673414 | â–Ľ-34,357 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (21.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Changeprev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 564 | â–˛1 | 550 | â–Ľ-3 | 539 | â–Ľ-4 | 505 | â–Ľ-4 |
| Heifers | 569 | â–Ľ-1 | 554 | â–Ľ-3 | 544 | â–Ľ-5 | 495 | â–Ľ-3 |
| Y Bulls | 549 | â–Ľ-3 | 538 | â–˛0 | 514 | â–Ľ-8 | 503 | â–Ľ-6 |
| Cows | 0 | â–˛0 | 496 | â–Ľ-5 | 465 | â–Ľ-5 | 449 | â–Ľ-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 |
| 13/05/2023 | 499.7 | 502.9 | 499 | 502.1 | 494.4 | 495.3 | 409.2 |
| 20/05/2023 | 501.5 | 505.3 | 493.9 | 499.9 | 503.8 | 491.1 | 495.6 |
| Change | â–˛2 | â–˛2 | â–˛1 | â–˛2 | â–˛1 | â–Ľ-1 | â–˛2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 608.7 | 613.3 | 606.8 | 611.5 | 601.6 | 599.9 | 499.1 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week  (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 08.05.2021 | 2022 | 13.05.2023 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 3.81 | Figures | € 5.07 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.11 | Not | € 5.27 |
| UK + Steers | € 4.69 | Available | € 5.70 |
Live Exports W/C 08.05.2023
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said hogget prices remain steady and as numbers tighten demand from factories for spring lamb will increase further.
He said hogget’s are trading between €7.20kg and 7.60kg with factories offering deals up to €8.10kg for spring lamb on weights to 23kg.
He said supplies of spring lamb are extremely tight running over 21,000/head or 25% behind last year’s levels to date with overall throughput fallen for the second consecutive week.
Cull ewes are making from €3.30kg to €3.80kg.
He said market conditions for sheep meat are strong and farmers should sell hard while moving hogget’s as they become fit.
Lamb Price Update 25/05/2023
Hogget €7.20/7.60/kg. Spr Lamb €7.90/8.10/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.30/3.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (21.05.2023)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 24151 | â–Ľ-1,785 | 901506 | â–˛49,403 |
| Spring Lambs | 19454 | â–˛3,889 | 65151 | â–Ľ-21,970 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4642 | â–Ľ-902 | 105234 | â–˛327 |
| Light Lambs | 4 | â–˛1 | 103 | â–˛50 |
| TOTAL | 48251 | â–˛1,203 | 1071994 | â–˛27,810 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 20 (21.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | WK 20 | Changeprev wk | 2022 | Change prev yr |
| National Avg Price | 748.99 | â–Ľ-2 | 765.48 | â–Ľ-16 |
| YTD Avg | 660.53 | â–˛5 | 704.01 | â–Ľ-43 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 13/05/2023 | 679.9 | 671.5 | Old season lamb |
| 20/05/2023 | 741.4 | 742.9 | Old season lamb |
| Change | â–˛62 | â–˛71 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 899.9 | 901.7 |
Live Sheep Exports 01.04.2023
