Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Brendan Golden said the closing date for the SCEP is Monday, May 22nd. He said this is a very important scheme for suckler farmers, returning €150 on the first 22 cows and €120 on all remaining cows in the herd. He said while the targets in the scheme are challenging there is a good level of flexibility each year to ensure they can be met.
He said IFA have made significant progress in ensuring the requirements of the scheme are attainable for suckler farmers and given the level of supports available, extending to €3,000 for a 20-cow herd, it is important these monies are drawn down. He said there is nothing for farmers to fear in this scheme and he strongly urged all suckler farmers to make their applications before the closing date of Monday, May 22nd.
Beef Price Update 11/05/2023
Base Quotes Steer €5.20/5.30kg. Heifers €5.25/5.35kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.10/5.60Kg. Cows €4.50/5.20kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 18 (07.05.2023)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2203 | ▲442 | 7% | 45209 | ▼-7,614 |
| Bull | 694 | ▲30 | 2% | 8906 | ▼-315 |
| Steer | 12334 | ▼-238 | 40% | 214937 | ▼-10,631 |
| Cow | 6941 | ▲106 | 23% | 134703 | ▼-3,226 |
| Heifer | 8325 | ▼-1,122 | 27% | 174845 | ▼-9,807 |
| Veal-V | 38 | ▼-579 | 0% | 30375 | ▲2,554 |
| Veal-Z | 23 | ▼-4 | 0% | 819 | ▲62 |
| Total | 30558 | ▼-1,365 | 100% | 609794 | ▼-28,977 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 18 (07.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 563 | ▼-1 | 554 | ▲0 | 545 | ▲3 | 508 | ▼-3 |
| Heifers | 574 | ▲2 | 559 | ▲1 | 547 | ▼-2 | 496 | ▼-6 |
| Y Bulls | 555 | ▲5 | 540 | ▼-1 | 519 | ▼-7 | 506 | ▼-10 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 510 | ▲6 | 474 | ▲0 | 456 | ▼-3 |
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 |
| 29/04/2023 | 498.1 | 499.5 | 498.5 | 501.4 | 491.2 | 491.5 | 406.2 |
| 06/05/2023 | 499.2 | 502.3 | 492.6 | 498.2 | 500.7 | 490.4 | 494.0 |
| Change | ▲1 | ▲3 | ▼-0 | ▼-1 | ▲3 | ▲1 | ▲2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 605.9 | 609.7 | 604.7 | 607.7 | 599.6 | 597.9 | 495.6 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 01.05.2021 | 30.04.2022 | 06.05.2023 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 3.82 | € 5.14 | € 5.07 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.09 | € 4.90 | € 5.27 |
| UK + Steers | € 4.68 | € 5.21 | € 5.60 |
Live Exports W/C 01.05.2023
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said hogget and lamb prices strengthen as factories actively source suitable lambs for slaughter. He said prices up to €7.50kg is available for hogget’s with deals on weights and transport also available to secure numbers. Spring lambs range from €8.00kg to €8.20kg with higher deals for larger and specialised lots. Cull ewes are making from €3.30kg to €3.70kg in general.
He said factory agents, butchers and wholesalers are very active in marts where prices are comparable to or above what factories are offering in some cases providing a real competitive alternative for farmers. He said spring lamb throughput for the most recent week fell 4,529 head highlighting the tightening of lambs on the market. The IFA Sheep chairman said farmers should shop around and sell hard as supplies of suitable lambs are tight.
Lamb Price Update 11/05/2023
Hogget €7.20/7.50/kg. Spring Lamb €8.00/8.20/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.30/3.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 18 (07.05.2023)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 32244 | ▼-5,869 | 851419 | ▲39,214 |
| Spring Lambs | 10701 | ▲2,366 | 30132 | ▼-11,971 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4955 | ▼-622 | 95048 | ▲3,060 |
| Light Lambs | 7 | ▼-1 | 96 | ▲52 |
| TOTAL | 47907 | ▼-4,126 | 976695 | ▲30,355 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 18 (07.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | WK 18 | Change prev wk | 2022 | Change prev yr |
| National Avg Price | 731.70 | ▲27 | 733.33 | ▼-2 |
| YTD Avg | 640.23 | ▲6 | 693.40 | ▼-53 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 29/04/2023 | 665.0 | 654.9 | Old season lamb |
| 06/05/2023 | 678.6 | 669.3 | Old season lamb |
| Change | ▲14 | ▲14 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 823.7 | 812.4 |
Live Sheep Exports 01.04.2023
