Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said beef prices continue to rise by 5 to 10c/kg as factories struggle to match supplies with market demand. He said farmers would be well advised to shop around with up to 20c/kg difference between quoted and paid prices for all types of cattle. Brendan Golden said factory agents are also competing strongly for finished and forward store types in the marts and paying prices that leave some factory quotes well off the pace. The livestock chairman said demand for beef in our key UK and EU markets is driving the trade a situation that will continue into the summer months and must be availed of to return higher beef prices to farmers as supplies tighten.
Beef Price Update 19/05/2022
Steer Base €5.05/5.25kg. Heifers €5.10/5.30kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.20/5.50Kg. Cows €4.50/5.10kg
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 19 (15.05.2022)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 3,134 | ▲595 | 9% | 55,957 | ▲1,796 |
| Bull | 766 | ▲125 | 2% | 9,987 | ▲983 |
| Steer | 13,774 | ▲1,588 | 38% | 239,342 | ▲26,245 |
| Cow | 8,003 | ▲513 | 22% | 145,932 | ▲25,540 |
| Heifer | 10,048 | ▲1,305 | 28% | 194,700 | ▲16,512 |
| Veal-V | 5 | ▲2 | 0% | 27,826 | ▲7,371 |
| Veal-Z | 67 | ▲29 | 0% | 824 | ▲43 |
| Total | 35,797 | ▲4,157 | 100% | 674,568 | ▲78,490 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 19 (15.05.2022)
| c/kg(Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Changeprev wk |
| Steers | 539 | ▲6 | 531 | ▲7 | 522 | ▲10 | 492 | ▲7 |
| Heifers | 544 | ▲7 | 533 | ▲9 | 527 | ▲8 | 480 | ▲6 |
| Y Bulls | 530 | ▲15 | 518 | ▲11 | 497 | ▲9 | 483 | ▲8 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 490 | ▲10 | 463 | ▲12 | 450 | ▲12 |
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 |
| 07.05.2022 | 444.9 | 447.2 | 445.8 | 448.7 | 438.8 | 440 | 377.8 |
| 07.05.2022 | 445.3 | 447.5 | 439.2 | 446.5 | 448.5 | 439.2 | 439.8 |
| Change | ▲0 | ▲0 | ▲1 | ▼-0 | ▲1 | ▼-2 | ▼-0 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 553.2 | 556.0 | 554.7 | 557.2 | 546.4 | 544.2 | 469.0 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 02.05.2020 | 01.05.2021 | 30.04.2022 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 3.42 | € 3.82 | € 5.14 |
| IE + Steers | € 3.43 | € 4.09 | € 4.90 |
| UK + Steers | € 3.76 | € 4.68 | € 5.21 |
Live Exports W/C 18.04.2021
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Committee Chairman Kevin Comiskey said hogget prices have remained steady in the region of €7.50/kg and as numbers tighten demand from factories for spring lamb is increasing. With spring lamb numbers running well below last years levels factories have had to strengthen prices and are competing strongly in marts for lambs where the trade has moved on again over the past few days. Spring lamb numbers are running 19,000 behind last years levels to-date with the latest week 8,400 behind the corresponding week in 2021. Kevin Comiskey said deals on weights to 21kgs for lambs are common place with prices of €8.40 to €8.50/kg as factories try to secure numbers. Higher prices are available to groups and for larger lots of lambs. Cull ewes remain in strong demand and are making up to €4.50/kg. The IFA sheep chairman said the mart trade is proving a real viable alternative for sheep farmers with factory agents paying above what they are offering on factory quotes to some farmers.
Lamb Price Update 19/05/2022
Hogget €7.30/7.50/kg. Spr lamb €8.20/8.40/kg. Weights 20.5/21kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.80/4.20/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 19 (15.05.2022)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 23,335 | ▼-3,407 | 835,540 | ▲161,178 |
| Spring Lambs | 19,094 | ▲3,864 | 61,197 | ▼-19,337 |
| Ewes and Rams | 6,610 | ▲1,161 | 98,598 | ▼-5,355 |
| Light Lambs | 4 | ▲2 | 48 | ▼-48 |
| TOTAL | 49,043 | ▲1,620 | 995,383 | ▲136,438 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 19 (15.05.2022)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | WK 19 | Change prev wk | 2021 | Changeprev yr |
| National Avg Price | 744.22 | ▲5 | 758.02 | ▼-14 |
| YTD Avg | 700.78 | ▲2 | 680.34 | ▲20 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 07/05/2022 | 609.6 | 603.3 | Old season |
| 14/05/2022 | 612.7 | 605.1 | Old season |
| Change | ▲3 | ▲2 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 761.2 | 751.7 |
