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Beef & Sheep Update 15th November

Cattle and Sheep in field, Wicklow, Ireland

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said beef prices have moved on 5c/kg this week on the back of tight supplies and strong market demand. He said factories are having to pay up to 10c/kg above quotes this week to secure cattle as farmers dig in and demand stronger returns from the marketplace. Despite the rising movement in beef prices, the prime Irish composite price continues to lag 47/kg behind the prime export benchmark price and this is unacceptable. He said factories must move to close this gap with our key markets immediately and return prices that reflect the markets we are selling into. This week steers are making from €5.20kg to €5.35kg and heifers €5.25kg to €5.40kg. Young bulls R and U grades are ranging from €5.30kg to €5.50kg. Cow prices remain firm and are ranging from €4.50kg to €5.20kg depending on the grade.

Beef Price Update 15/11/2024

Base Quotes Steer €5.20/5.35kg. Heifers €5.25/5.40kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.30/5.50Kg. Cows €4.50/5.20kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 45 (10.11.2024)

AnimalNumberChange prev wk% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls1,576▲3864%91,483▼-8,761 
Bull479▲591%25,448▲648
Steer14,636▲1,46838%598,474▼-11,901 
Cow10,056▲1,06126%378,495▲343,889
Heifer11,957▲1,94731%443,433▲20,266
Veal-V50▲240%20,412▼-10,284 
Veal-Z37▲20%1,608▲182
Total38,791▲4,947100%1,559,353▲3,665

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 45 (10.11.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Change prev wk
Steers566▲15546▲7533▲6506▲6
Heifers562▲5552▲5545▲5498▲2
Y Bulls550▲6541▲2525▲3512▲4
Cows0▲0506▲2476▲3455▲3

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
02/11/2024522.7526.6519.9525.2505.2511.3373.2
09/11/2024527.8526.6525.852.1516.1516.4375.3
Change▲5▲0▲512▼-473 ▲11▲5▲2
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)663.5662.0661.065.5648.8649.2471.8

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

Country & Type05.11.202204.11.202309.11.2024
EU + Y Bullsnot available€ 4.87€ 5.44
IE + Steers€ 4.51€ 4.59€ 5.21
UK + Steers € 5.51€ 5.52€ 6.22

Live Cattle Exports 28th October

Source: Bord Bia

Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices continue upwards increasing a further 10c/kg this week. He said lambs are making from €7.70kg to €8.00kg with some factories offering deals up to €8.25kg on weights to 24kg to secure supplies. Demand is also reflected in our key markets with UK sheep meat prices also increasing a further 10p/kg this week. He said factories are struggling to match supplies with market demand in the run up to the Christmas period and its vital they continue this upward trajectory aligning our prices with the markets we are exporting into. Strong factory demand is feeding through to mart sales where prices are comparable to and above what factories are offering in cases making it a viable alternative for sellers unable to achieve the higher prices. He said farmers should sell hard given the very strong rising markets.  

Lamb Price Update 15/11/2024

Spring Lamb €7.70kg/8.00kg. Up to €8.25 paid. Weights to 24kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.80/4.20/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 45 (10.11.2024)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets64▼-82 897,861▼-84,463 
Spring Lambs36,534▼-739 1,079,708▼-119,403 
Ewes and Rams4,441▼-255 246,091▼-47,102 
Light Lambs2▲2114▼-35 
TOTAL41,041▼-1,074 2,223,774▼-251,003 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 45 (10.11.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)This week Change prev. wk2023Change prev. yr
National Avg Price755.07▲13630.58▲123
YTD Avg774.29▼-1 662.54▲112

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
02/11/2024616.9614.0New season Lamb
09/11/2024626.7625.2New season Lamb
Change▲10▲11 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)769.5767.71

Live Sheep Exports 15th October 

Source: Bord Bia

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