Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said tight supplies and strong demand for beef in our key export markets continues to drive cattle prices. He said the low level of throughput here and across the UK and EU markets are leaving supplies of cattle extremely tight for processing. He said this is leading to more intense competition between factories for cattle and ensuring prices continue to keep pace with our main markets. He this week base prices for steers are making from €7.00kg to €7.20kg while heifers range from €7.10kg to €7.30kg. Flat deals up to €7.80kg has been paid for larger and specialised lots. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €7.10kg to €7.30kg. Cow prices continue to rise with prices ranging from €6.40kg to €7.20kg depending on the grade. Declan Hanarhan said farmers should shop around and sell hard while considering the mart alternative where prices remain very strong.
Beef Price Update 21/03/2025
Base Steer €7.00/7.20kg. Heifers €7.10/7.30kg. Flat prices up to €7.80kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.10/7.30Kg. Cows €6.40/7.20kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (16.03.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,074 | ▼-278 | 6% | 31,345 | ▲441 |
| Bull | 680 | ▲109 | 2% | 4,514 | ▲26 |
| Steer | 14,214 | ▲4 | 38% | 139,561 | ▲4,806 |
| Cow | 8,604 | ▼-29 | 23% | 92,083 | ▼-7,454 |
| Heifer | 11,709 | ▼-565 | 31% | 130,573 | ▲13,136 |
| Veal-V | 230 | ▼-180 | 1% | 1,533 | ▼-8,293 |
| Veal-Z | 24 | ▼-54 | 0% | 1,016 | ▲367 |
| Total | 37,535 | ▼-993 | 100% | 400,625 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (16.03.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 730 | ▲14 | 730 | ▲19 | 724 | ▲19 | 676 | ▲0 |
| Heifers | 741 | ▲17 | 730 | ▲17 | 725 | ▲17 | 683 | ▲17 |
| Y Bulls | 725 | ▲13 | 715 | ▲13 | 699 | ▲13 | 683 | ▲9 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 676 | ▲18 | 646 | ▲22 | 629 | ▲17 |
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 |
| 08/03/2025 | 662.6 | 666.5 | 660 | 663.2 | 646.6 | 644.8 | 505.1 |
| 15/03/2025 | 673.2 | 674.8 | 671.6 | 674.9 | 659.6 | 656.6 | 514.8 |
| Change | ▲11 | ▲8 | ▲4 | ▲12 | ▲13 | ▲12 | ▲10 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 846.3 | 848.3 | 844.3 | 848.4 | 829.2 | 825.4 | 647.2 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 31.12.2022 | 30.12.2023 | 04.01.2025 |
| 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 3rd March
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher has strongly criticised the shortsighted and unnecessary cuts factories have applied to hogget prices over the past number of weeks. He said prices have been cut to between €8.80 and €9.00/kg to weights of 23kgs. This level of price cuts is unacceptable and cannot be absorbed by sheep farmers who have invested in having hoggets available for factories to service key customers at a critical and expensive time of the year. Supplies are back significantly year-on-year. Numbers at export plants last week were 47,902, compared to 61,248 in the same week last year. Sheep throughput to-date in 2025 is 21% down compared to 2024 at 399,187. “We are approaching the peak demand period over the coming weeks with the end of Ramadan, followed by the Eid al-Fitr Muslim festival, and Easter Sunday coming on Apr 20th, when factories will have no choice but to secure hoggets to service important customers.” The IFA Sheep Chair said farmers should not be misled by unfounded negativity from factories and their agents on sheep markets. “Demand over the coming weeks will exceed supply and factories must reflect this in the prices and weights offered for hoggets,” he concluded.
Lamb Price Update 21/03/2025
Hoggets €8.70kg/9.00kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.90/5.20/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (16.03.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 40,107 | ▼-4,435 | 38,8064 | ▼-112,235 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 17,278 | ▲8,707 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,440 | ▲93 | 373,360 | ▲317,497 |
| Light Lambs | 9 | ▼-4 | 41 | ▲12 |
| TOTAL | 43,556 | ▼-4,346 | 442,743 | ▼-122,019 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 11 (16.03.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 857.97 | ▼-20 | 815.27 | ▲43 |
| YTD Avg | 877.22 | ▼-2 | 711.44 | ▲166 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 08/03/2025 | 745.3 | 738.9 | New season Lamb |
| 15/03/2025 | 745.1 | 738.7 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-0 | ▼-0 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 914.9 | 907.1 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2024
