Beef Update
IFA National Livestock Chair Brendan Golden is reminding farmers that the closing date for the SCEP is next Mon, May 22nd. Brendan Golden 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 has made significant progress in ensuring the requirements of the scheme are attainable for suckler farmers. 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 application levels to date are strong and it is vital for the sector and the delivery of additional supports for suckler farmers that all farmers apply to this scheme. He met yesterday and discussed the scheme. He said every opportunity should be provided to maximise participation including, if necessary, extending the closing date to ensure all farmers who want to participate in the scheme are facilitated. Brendan Golden said there is nothing for farmers to fear in this scheme and he strongly urged all suckler farmers to make their applications.
Beef Price Update 18/05/2023
Base Quotes Steer €5.15/5.25kg. Heifers €5.20/5.30kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.30/5.40Kg. Cows €4.50/5.00kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2348 | ▲145 | 7% | 47557 | ▼-8,400 |
| Bull | 698 | ▲4 | 2% | 9604 | ▼-383 |
| Steer | 12439 | ▲105 | 39% | 227376 | ▼-11,966 |
| Cow | 6986 | ▲45 | 22% | 141689 | ▼-4,243 |
| Heifer | 9169 | ▲844 | 29% | 184014 | ▼-10,686 |
| Veal-V | 4 | ▼-34 | 0% | 30379 | ▲2,553 |
| Veal-Z | 22 | ▼-1 | 0% | 841 | ▲17 |
| Total | 31666 | ▲1,108 | 100% | 641460 | ▼-33,108 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 563 | ▲0 | 553 | ▼-1 | 543 | ▼-2 | 509 | ▲1 |
| Heifers | 570 | ▼-4 | 557 | ▼-2 | 549 | ▲2 | 498 | ▲2 |
| Y Bulls | 552 | ▼-3 | 538 | ▼-2 | 522 | ▲3 | 509 | ▲3 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 501 | ▼-9 | 470 | ▼-4 | 451 | ▼-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 |
| 06/05/2023 | 499.2 | 502.3 | 498.2 | 500.7 | 494 | 492.6 | 408.3 |
| 13/05/2023 | 499.7 | 502.9 | 493.4 | 499.0 | 502.1 | 489.9 | 494.4 |
| Change | ▲1 | ▲1 | ▲1 | ▲1 | ▲0 | ▲3 | ▲1 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 606.5 | 610.4 | 605.7 | 609.4 | 600.1 | 601.2 | 496.7 |
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 the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has to step up for sheep farmers. The IFA Chairman said the income crisis on sheep farms is there for everybody to see, with Teagasc figures clearly showing the extent of the problem for sheep farmers last year where incomes collapsed by over 80% to just €7/ewe, which included the Sheep Welfare payment. Since the turn of the year the situation has been compounded by weak market prices, a scenario that shouldn’t be a surprise to the Minister either, as he is well aware of the market predictions published by Bord Bia for the sheep sector. “The failure of factories and the market place to-date this year to return prices to sheep farmers is compounding the problem. What seems to be lacking here is a will from the Minister to support our second largest farm sector,” he said.
Lamb Price Update 18/05/2023
Hogget €7.20/7.60/kg. Spr Lamb €7.90/8.10/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.30/3.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 25936 | ▼-6,308 | 877355 | ▲41,815 |
| Spring Lambs | 15565 | ▲4,864 | 45697 | ▼-15,500 |
| Ewes and Rams | 5544 | ▲589 | 100592 | ▲1,994 |
| Light Lambs | 3 | ▼-4 | 99 | ▲51 |
| TOTAL | 47048 | ▼-859 | 1023743 | ▲28,360 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | WK 19 | Change prev wk | 2022 | Change prev yr |
| National Avg Price | 750.68 | ▲19 | 744.22 | ▲6 |
| YTD Avg | 655.87 | ▲16 | 700.78 | ▼-45 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 06/05/2023 | 678.6 | 669.3 | Old season lamb |
| 13/05/2023 | 679.9 | 671.5 | Old season lamb |
| Change | ▲1 | ▲2 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 825.3 | 815.1 |
Live Sheep Exports 01.04.2023
