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Beef & Sheep Update 23rd August

Cattle and Sheep in Wicklow Field, Ireland

Beef Update

IFA National Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said suckler farmers in SCEP should seriously consider joining the National Genotyping Programme (NGP) to simplify compliance with the SCEP requirements.

Declan Hanrahan said suckler farmers who join the National Genotyping Programme will be completing their Genotyping requirements in SCEP at the time of tagging their calves which is the most labour efficient time to carry out this action and avoids the issues with waiting for genotype tags later in the year and having to gather specific animals for this task. Farmers in the National Genotype Programme will be provided with double tissue tags, one for BVD testing and one for the Genomic testing when ordering their identification tags for next year. He said the 70% of calves will be paid for in the normal way through SCEP with the additional 30% of calves on the farm incurring the reduced total charge of €6/calf for the programme, all current non-genotyped breeding animals in the herd will be genotyped free of charge when farmers enter the programme. Declan Hanrahan said in addition to simplifying the genotyping aspect of SCEP the National Genotyping Programme also resolves the parentage identification issue for suckler farmers who are running more than one bull with their cows.

Beef Price Update 23/08/2024

Base Quotes Steer €5.00/5.10kg. Heifers €5.05/5.15kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.10/5.30Kg. Cows €4.30/4.90kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (18.08.2024)

AnimalNumberChange prev wk% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls1,257▲2084%76,904▼-5,964 
Bull707▲592%19,143▲621
Steer14,783▲89446%396,527▼-13,006 
Cow6,636▼-139 21%273,521▲25,210
Heifer8,653▲34927%314,067▲7,179
Veal-V20▲40%19,714▼-10,768 
Veal-Z9▼-9 0%1,314▲144

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (18.08.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Change prev wk
Steers535▲0526▲2514▲2486▲7
Heifers543▼-1 531▲2522▲4480▲7
Y Bulls531▼-9 520▲0504▲4490▲6
Cows0▲0490▲15451▲10436▲6

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
10/08/2024495.5496.7493.3496.6484.9485.3380.8
17/08/2024499.5501.9493.1500.7488.1489.7381.8
Change▲4▲5▲5▲4▲3▲4▲1
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)613.3616.3612.4614.8599.3601.3468.8

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

Country & Type30.07.202229.07.202303.08.2024
EU + Y Bulls€ 4.96€ 4.76€ 5.05
IE + Steers€ 4.83€ 4.79€ 5.00
UK + Steers € 5.23€ 5.44€ 5.69

LIVE EXPORTS W/C 05.08.2024


Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said spring lamb prices remain steady this week. He said lambs are trading from €7.30kg to €7.60kg on weights to 22kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. Cull ewes remain unchanged with prices ranging from €4.00kg to €4.40kg in general. He said demand for sheep meat in our key export markets is positive and factories must ensure these positive market conditions are reflected in higher prices paid to famers. The IFA Sheep Chairman said farmers should sell hard and be mindful of the mart outlet where prices remain very competitive to what factories are offering in cases. 

Lamb Price Update 23/08/2024

Spring Lamb €7.30kg/7.60kg. Weights to 22kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.00/4.40/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (18.08.2024)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets428▲34894862▼-84,004 
Spring Lambs47277▲6,809527838▼-79,638 
Ewes and Rams7210▲505160324▼-23,375 
Light Lambs0▼-1 103▼-25 
TOTAL54915▲7,3471583127▼-187,042 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 33 (18.08.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)This week Change prev. wk2023Change prev. yr
National Avg Price861.14▲2675.73▲101
YTD Avg733.19▼-2 624.81▲113

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
10/08/2024668.6667.3New season Lamb
17/08/2024665.9664.8New season Lamb
Change▼-3 ▼-3  
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)817.7816.31

Live Sheep Exports 30th June 2024

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