Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said attempts by factories to reduce beef prices is unacceptable and must stop. He said there is no justification for downward pressure as prices in our key export markets remain strong driven by tight supplies and strong demand for beef. Factories trying to dampen beef prices show no regard to winter finishers who have made huge investments in finishing cattle over the winter period. Beef finishers should not be misled by these unjustified attempts and farmers should dig in and sell hard the IFA Livestock Chairman said. This week steers prices are making from €5.15kg to €5.30kg while heifers are making from €5.20 to 5.35kg. Young Bulls R/U are making from €5.25kg to €5.50kg. The cull cow trade is very strong with prices ranging from €4.30kg up to €5.00kg for quality U grade cows.
Beef Price Update 18/04/2024
Base Quotes Steer €5.15/5.30kg. Heifers €5.20/5.35kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.25/5.40Kg. Cows €4.30/5.00kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (14.04.2024)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,949 | ▲291 | 6% | 37,874 | ▼-1,685 |
| Bull | 613 | ▲54 | 2% | 6,704 | ▼-165 |
| Steer | 12,801 | ▲1,509 | 37% | 182,640 | ▼-1,588,159 |
| Cow | 8,116 | ▲489 | 24% | 130,534 | ▲16,672 |
| Heifer | 9,946 | ▲578 | 29% | 155,362 | ▲7,327 |
| Veal-V | 962 | ▼-847 | 3% | 15,510 | ▼-13,408 |
| Veal-Z | 38 | ▲1 | 0% | 827 | ▲96 |
| Total | 34,425 | ▲2,075 | 100% | 529,451 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (14.04.2024)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 554 | ▲2 | 546 | ▲2 | 535 | ▼-5 | 501 | ▼-2 |
| Heifers | 565 | ▲1 | 551 | ▲0 | 540 | ▼-1 | 489 | ▲2 |
| Y Bulls | 543 | ▼-1 | 532 | ▼-1 | 518 | ▲1 | 512 | ▲10 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 488 | ▼-1 | 443 | ▲0 | 424 | ▲0 |
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 |
| 06/04/2024 | 495.3 | 495 | 494 | 494.6 | 481.3 | 481.5 | 380.2 |
| 13/04/2024 | 493.4 | 494.8 | 492.5 | 494.8 | 482.8 | 480.9 | 380.9 |
| Change | ▼-2 | ▼-0 | ▼-2 | ▲0 | ▲2 | ▼-1 | ▲1 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 605.8 | 607.6 | 604.7 | 607.6 | 592.8 | 590.5 | 467.7 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 02.04.2022 | 01.04.2023 | 06.04.2024 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 5.16 | € 5.06 | € 5.03 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.76 | € 5.26 | € 5.21 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.08 | € 5.57 | € 5.69 |
Live Cattle Exports W/C 08.04.2024
Sheep Update
Following a number of dog attacks on sheep this week IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher is again highlighting the urgent need for intervention to address the escalating issue of dog attacks on livestock. The attacks that occurred in Roscommon, Sligo and Tipperary this week resulted in significant losses for the effected farmers involved. He said these are not isolated incidents but part of a concerning trend that continues to devastate sheep farmers nationwide. IFA has continuously called for a centralised data base for all dogs correlating licensing and microchipping to identify the owner of the dog and to increase the number of dog wardens on the ground but this hasn’t happened. He said the lack of robust enforcement of existing laws continues to allow dogs to run riot on farms across the country. The Government and various state agencies with responsibilities in this area have failed to put appropriate sanctions in place to deal with irresponsible dog ownership and its unacceptable.
Lamb Price Update 18/04/2024
Hogget’s €9.40/9.60/kg up to €9.80kg. Weights to 24kg. Spring Lamb €9.50/9.80kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.00/4.40/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (14.04.2024)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 40,321 | ▼-2,570 | 685,283 | ▼-42,440 |
| Spring Lambs | 1,339 | ▲582 | 11,894 | ▲5,667 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4,307 | ▲750 | 73,678 | ▼-5,708 |
| Light Lambs | 4 | ▼-1 | 53 | ▼-21 |
| TOTAL | 45,971 | ▼-1,239 | 770,908 | ▼-42,502 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (14.04.2024)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2023 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 861.14 | ▲9 | 675.73 | ▲173 |
| YTD Avg | 733.19 | ▲9 | 624.81 | ▲118 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 06/04/2024 | 837.2 | 829.5 | Old season lamb |
| 13/04/2024 | 856.6 | 850.7 | Old season lamb |
| Change | ▲19 | ▲21 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 1051.8 | 1044.6 |
Live Sheep Exports March 31st 2024
