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Beef & Sheep UpdateCattleCattle PricesSheepSheep Prices

Beef & Sheep Update 14th March

Cattle and Sheep in field, Wicklow, Ireland

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices edge upwards by 10c/kg to 20c/kg as factories dig in for supplies. He said factories are leaving no cattle behind and are have to pay 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes to secure cattle. Factories are offering deals up to €7.00kg and €7.10kg for steers and heifers with flat deals up to €7.70kg available for suitable lots. Cow prices have also increased with prices from €6.30kg to €6.90kg depending on the grade available to sellers this week. Young bulls R and U grades are ranging from €7.00kg to €7.30kg. He said prices paid by factories agents in marts for finished cattle and cows are regularly above what some factories are quoting. The mart trade is very much a credible alternative for farmers particularly those selling smaller numbers to secure higher prices. Supplies in our key markets are strong contributing to strong and upwards of prices in these destinations and factories must continue this upward momentum in prices to keep pace with prices in our key markets.

Beef Price Update 13/03/2025

Base Steer €6.85/7.00kg. Heifers €6.90/7.10kg. Flat prices up to €7.70kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.00/7.30Kg. Cows €6.30/6.90kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)

AnimalNumberChange prev wk% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls2,352▲496%29,271▲447
Bull571▲751%3,834▼-8 
Steer14,210▲2437%125,347▲2,472
Cow8,633▼-302 22%83,479▼-7,367 
Heifer12,274▼-533 32%118,864▲11,744
Veal-V410▲41%1,303▼-6,449 
Veal-Z78▲00%992▲377
Total38,528▼-683 100%363,090▲3,665

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Change prev wk
Steers716▲14711▲16705▲14676▲17
Heifers724▲18713▲17708▲13666▲17
Y Bulls712▲14702▲14686▲15674▲18
Cows0▲0658▲17624▲15612▲17

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
01/03/2025648.7652.4646.5650.9634.8629.4502.5
08/03/2025662.6666.5660.0663.2646.6644.8505.1
Change▲14▲14▲4▲12▲12▲15▲3
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)833.0837.9829.7833.7812.9810.6635.0

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

Country & Type31.12.202230.12.202304.01.2025
EU + Y Bulls€ 5.21€ 4.97€ 5.61
IE + Steers€ 5.00€ 5.03€ 5.64
UK + Steers € 5.12€ 5.64€ 6.65

Live Cattle Exports 24th February

Source: Bord Bia

Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher has criticised the actions of factories and stated that is will have serious long-term implications for the sheep sector. Sheep producers are facing renewed price pressure this week with hogget quotes pulled by 20c/kg compared to last week. Base quotes are in the region of €8.60kg in most plants with quality assured hogget’s offered returns of €8.70kg to €8.90kg. The price pressure comes following the recent cuts to carcass weights from 24kg to 23kg. Adrian Gallagher has criticised what he describes as unjustified and unacceptable cuts. He said the combination of cuts to paid carcase and now price has taken €20/hogget directly from the farmers pockets. He said we heard stories in recent weeks of factories being concerned about the fall off in ewe numbers and longer-term supplies and looking for initiatives to maintain numbers but they turn around and introduce unjustified cuts which is irresponsible and if not reversed immediately will have serious long term implications.

Lamb Price Update 13/03/2025

Lambs €8.90kg/9.10kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.90/5.20/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets44,542▼-75 347,957▼-96,132 
Spring Lambs0▲017,278▲8,707
Ewes and Rams3,347▼-777 33,920▼-16,779 
Light Lambs13▲1032▲3
TOTAL47,902▼-842 399,187▼-104,201 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)This week Change prev. wk2024Change prev. yr
National Avg Price878.14▼-3 790.58▲88
YTD Avg879.14▼-0 701.06▲178

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
01/03/2025743.8738.0New season Lamb
08/03/2025745.3738.9New season Lamb
Change▲2▲1 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)915.2907.31

Live Sheep Exports 2024

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