Beef Update
An IFA delegation led by IFA President Francie Gorman travelled to Brussels this week to meet with farm leaders from across Europe to step up the campaign against the Mercosur trade deal. This comes after EU Commission President Von Der Leyen agreed a trade deal with the Mercosur countries in Uruguay. This sell out deal needs to be ratified by the EU Council of Member States; the European Parliament; and should also have to be ratified by national Parliaments. The Commission may have sold out European farmers, but there is a distance to travel yet. Essentially, we are back to where we were in 2019 with an EU Commission-agreed deal without a democratic mandate. The IFA President, who is also the Vice-President of COPA, the European farmer representative body, said that COPA will be co-ordinating the next steps of the campaign to oppose the deal, with a flash action protest in Brussels on Monday morning. Simon Harris as Taoiseach and Micheál Martin as Tánaiste told the IFA National Council during the General Election campaign that they were opposed to the Mercosur deal. They must carry this commitment forward and oppose this deal tooth and nail. IFA is also in complete opposition to any splitting of the trade and political aspects of a potential Mercosur deal. The role of national Parliaments in relation to trade deal ratification must be respected and honoured by the EU Commission.
Beef Price Update 12/12/2024
Base Quotes Steer €5.50/5.70kg. Heifers €5.60/5.80kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.70/5.90Kg. Cows €4.80/5.60kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (08.12.2024)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,441 | ▲253 | 6% | 99,949 | ▼-10,352 |
| Bull | 475 | ▲0 | 1% | 27,186 | ▲622 |
| Steer | 12,842 | ▼-502 | 32% | 654,077 | ▼-8,735 |
| Cow | 11,815 | ▲603 | 30% | 421,973 | ▲28,584 |
| Heifer | 11,924 | ▼-342 | 30% | 492,345 | ▲26,832 |
| Veal-V | 51 | ▼-23 | 0% | 20,753 | ▼-10,003 |
| Veal-Z | 66 | ▲0 | 0% | 1,920 | ▲240 |
| Total | 39,614 | ▲45 | 100% | 1,718,203 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (08.12.2024)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 579 | ▲8 | 574 | ▲9 | 567 | ▲10 | 534 | ▲8 |
| Heifers | 588 | ▲8 | 578 | ▲8 | 575 | ▲8 | 527 | ▲9 |
| Y Bulls | 575 | ▲7 | 571 | ▲9 | 559 | ▲15 | 554 | ▲20 |
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 |
| 30/11/2024 | 545.9 | 549.7 | 542.9 | 546.6 | 534.4 | 537.0 | 389.6 |
| 07/12/2024 | 550.9 | 554.6 | 547.2 | 552.5 | 534.4 | 531.6 | 394.0 |
| Change | ▲5 | ▲5 | ▲4 | ▲6 | ▲0 | ▼-5 | ▲4 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 692.6 | 697.2 | 687.9 | 694.6 | 671.8 | 668.3 | 495.3 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 26.11.2022 | 25.11.2023 | 30.11.2024 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 5.12 | € 4.92 | € 5.58 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.67 | € 4.72 | € 5.39 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.11 | € 5.52 | € 6.44 |
Live Cattle Exports 25th November
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices continue upwards as factories struggle to secure suitable numbers of lambs. He said demand for sheep meat is intensifying each week against a backdrop of tight supplies. Throughput for spring lamb is back over 190,000 head from the same period last year and in expected to tighten further in the coming weeks as supplies continue to drop off. Factories have increased prices by 30c/kg this week and are offering deals from €8.50kg to €8.80kg on weights to 24kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. This demand is also reflected in our key markets with UK sheep meat prices rising by a further 5c/kg to 10c/kg this week. Cull ewe prices have also increased by up to 20c/kg to 30c/kg with prices ranging from €4.30kg to €4.50kg available to sellers. Adrian Gallagher said demand for all types of sheep are very strong in marts and is a viable alternative for sellers unable to secure the higher factory prices. Adrian Gallagher said factories are very anxious for lambs and farmers should sell hard while moving lambs as they become fit.
Lamb Price Update 12/12/2024
Spring Lamb €8.50kg/8.80kg. Weights to 24kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.30/4.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (08.12.2024)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 842 | ▼-246 | 902,112 | ▼-84,647 |
| Spring Lambs | 37,394 | ▲4,185 | 1,214,528 | ▼-191,798 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,029 | ▲101 | 258,963 | ▼-58,775 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▼-2 | 122 | ▼-33 |
| TOTAL | 41,265 | ▲4,038 | 2,375,725 | ▼-335,253 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (08.12.2024)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2023 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 755.07 | ▲27 | 630.58 | ▲172 |
| YTD Avg | 774.29 | ▲1 | 662.54 | ▲115 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (08.12.2024)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2023 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 755.07 | ▲27 | 630.58 | ▲172 |
| YTD Avg | 774.29 | ▼-76,631 | 662.54 | ▲115 |
Live Sheep Exports 15th October
