Beef & Sheep UpdateCattleCattle PricesSheepSheep Prices

Beef & Sheep Update 1st October

Sheep and Cattle in Wicklow

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said beef prices have remained steady this week as a result of strong farmer resistance to lower quotes. He said factories are paying €4.20-€4.30/kg base price to get steers this week, with up to €4.35/kg available for heifers. Supplies of cattle for the remainder of the year are predicted by Bord Bia to be back up to 40,000 head compared to last year.  Brendan Golden said factories know supplies will be extremely tight for the year. Demand for Irish beef will be strong and prices must reflect this favourable market situation. Young bulls are ranging from €4.15 to €4.30Kg for R and U grades and cows are making €3.60 to €4.00/kg.

Beef Price Update 30/09/21

Steer Base €4.20/4.30kg. Heifers €4.25/4.35kg. Higher deals larger lots. Y Bulls R/U €4.15/4.30Kg. Cows €3.60/4.00kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM  – Week 38 (20.09.2021)

AnimalNumberChange prev. wk.% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls1654▲1705%93891▼-1,654 
Bull591▼-23 2%19817▼-591 
Steer17214▼-396 48%465935▼-17,214 
Cow6234▲017%244177▼-6,234 
Heifer10250▲33228%333790▼-10,250 
Veal-V16▼-33 0%20739▼-16 
Veal-Z8▼-15 0%1176▼-8 
Total35967▲35100%1179525▼-35,967 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 38 (20.09.2021)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Changeprev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Changeprev wk
Steers453▲1441▲1424▲1395▲1
Heifers458▲1445▲0433▲0393▲2
Y Bulls436▲2425▲4410▲2401▼-3 
Cows0▲0395▼-1 373▲2360▲2

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
18.09.2021417.1420.6417.7420.2409.4405.7306.8
25.09.2021417.1420.4411.7418.0420.2409.8409.8
Change▲0▼-0 ▲0▲0▲0▲4▼-5 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)512.2516.2513.3516.0503.2503.4370.7

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

Country & Type21.09.201919.09.202018.09.2021
EU + Y Bulls€ 3.52€ 3.51€ 3.99
IE + Steers€ 3.42€ 3.63€ 4.17
UK + Steers € 3.70€ 4.06€ 4.84

Live Exports W/C 13.09.2021

Source: Bord Bia

Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said demand for lamb is strong from factories this week. He said market conditions remain strong and the number of suitable lambs available are tight. Last week’s sheep throughput was back 3,012 head from the previous week and overall throughput is running 103,055 head behind the corresponding date in 2020. Factories are paying €6.20kg to €6.35/kg, with higher deals available for groups and larger lots. Weights to 22kg are also available to farmers in factories. Mart trade is performing very strong with finished and store lambs in high demand.  Cull ewes are making from €3.00kg to €3.30kg. He said farmers should sell hard in this positive market environment, while moving lambs as they become fit to maximize returns.

Lamb Price Update 30/09/21

Lamb €6.20/6.35kg. Weights 22kg. Higher deals groups and larger lots. Sell Hard. Ewes €3.00/3.30kg. 

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 38 (20.09.2021)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets59▼-38 696802▼-91,375 
Spring Lambs48271▼-4,117 1006352▲1,688
Ewes and Rams10640▲1,142253199▼-13,432 
Light Lambs1▲1118▲64
TOTAL58971▼-3,012 1956471▼-103,055 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 38 (20.09.2021)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)WK 38 Change prev. wk2020Change prev. yr
National Avg Price595.76▼-11 503.74▲92
YTD Avg662.76▼-4 522.71▲140

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
18/09/2021508.4508.4New season
25/09/2021494.1494.0New season
Change▼-14 ▼-14  
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)606.7606.6 
Source: Bord Bia

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