Beef Update
IFA National Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said a combination of tight supplies and strong demand is driving the beef trade.
He said prices for steers have moved to a base of €5.10-5.20/kg with heifers selling off a base of €5.20-5.30/kg.
Cow prices have also strengthened and are ranging from €4.20/kg to €4.80/kg with deals being done for select lots of younger and better-quality cows. The young bull trade has also moved on with R/U grading bulls making €5.00 to €5.40/kg.
He said “The mart trade is off to a positive start for 2023 and factory agents remain very active on the ground and in marts trying to fill orders,” he said.
Brendan Golden said farmers should give consideration the mart trade, where factory agents have been active for finished cattle over the past week.
Beef Price Update 12/01/2023
Base Quotes Steer €5.10/5.20kg. Heifers €5.20/5.30kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.00/5.40Kg. Cows €4.20/4.80kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (08.01.2023)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 3579 | ▲1,473 | 12% | 3579 | ▲549 |
| Bull | 222 | ▲94 | 1% | 222 | ▲8 |
| Steer | 9813 | ▲1,678 | 34% | 9813 | ▲263 |
| Cow | 5635 | ▲2,198 | 19% | 5635 | ▲833 |
| Heifer | 9852 | ▲3,871 | 34% | 9852 | ▲666 |
| Veal-V | 1 | ▼-1 | 0% | 1 | ▼-2 |
| Veal-Z | 30 | ▲19 | 0% | 30 | ▲5 |
| Total | 29132 | ▲9,332 | 100% | 29132 | ▲2,322 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (08.01.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 538 | ▲2 | 530 | ▲2 | 520 | ▲2 | 489 | ▲1 |
| Heifers | 550 | ▲6 | 536 | ▲4 | 529 | ▲5 | 483 | ▲2 |
| Y Bulls | 524 | ▲2 | 516 | ▲3 | 502 | ▲4 | 496 | ▲6 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 481 | ▼-9 | 450 | ▲3 | 433 | ▲5 |
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 |
| 31/12/2022 | 454.6 | 456.9 | 454.3 | 456.5 | 444.4 | 437.1 | 361.8 |
| 07/01/2023 | 456.3 | 458.7 | 449.4 | 454.7 | 456.3 | 447.0 | 446.5 |
| Change | ▲2 | ▲2 | ▲0 | ▼-0 | ▲2 | ▲0 | ▲5 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 541.4 | 544.3 | 539.5 | 541.4 | 529.8 | 519.1 | 434.7 |
Avg R3 Prime Male Cattle Prices (€/kg deadweight, excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 3.53 | € 3.92 | € 4.96 |
| IE + Steers | € 3.63 | € 4.06 | € 4.78 |
| UK + Steers | € 4.02 | € 4.67 | € 5.11 |
Sheep Update
IFA President Tim Cullinan said IFA will hold a public meeting for sheep farmers in Athlone on Mon, Jan 23rd.
It takes place at a critical time for the sheep sector, with falling prices and rising costs placing huge pressure on farmers.
The meeting in Radisson Blu, Athlone at 8pm will hear presentations from Teagasc on the costs of production; Bord Bia will give an update on the market outlook for lamb, with the processor perspective from Irish Country Meats.
IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said in addition to cutting prices, factories are imposing weight cuts on lambs in an attempt to flatten prices. This is sending negative messages to farmers committed to finishing lambs.
He said farmers are becoming increasingly unviable with current prices and the failure of the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to provide meaningful direct supports is adding to this. “There is real concern within the sector for the spring trade and action needs to be taking immediately to support farmers to maintain a year-round supply of lamb,” he concluded.
Lamb Price Update 12/01/2023
Lamb €6.10/6.40/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.20/3.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (08.01.2023)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 46292 | ▲39,587 | 46292 | ▲5,596 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▼-26,706 | 0 | ▲0 |
| Ewes and Rams | 5465 | ▲2,594 | 5465 | ▲1,693 |
| Light Lambs | 3 | ▲3 | 3 | ▼-4 |
| TOTAL | 51760 | ▲15,478 | 51760 | ▲7,285 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (08.01.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | WK 01 | Changeprev wk | 2022 | Change prev yr |
| National Avg Price | 651.89 | ▲2 | 702.82 | ▼-51 |
| YTD Avg | 651.89 | ▼-28 | 702.82 | ▼-51 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 31/12/2022 | 543.7 | 541.3 | New season lamb |
| 07/01/2023 | 539.4 | 534.9 | Old season lamb |
| Change | ▼-4 | ▼-6 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 640.0 | 634.7 |
