Beef Update
IFA livestock chairman Brendan Golden said cattle supplies are extremely tight as shed cattle have gone through the system and no flush of grass cattle expected in the coming weeks. Last week’s throughput of 33,203 was the largest full weeks drop in numbers this year with heifers back 1,418 head, steers back 582 head and cows back 568 head. He said prices have moved another 10c/kg this week with all factories paying significantly above quoted prices and offering very favourable flat deals to secure cattle. The latest DAFM reported R4 steer price of €5.48/kg shows the variation in prices paid by factories for cattle and the importance of farmers shopping around and selling hard in a rising market.
Beef Price Update 26/05/2022
Steer Base €5.15/5.35kg. Heifers €5.20/5.40kg. 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 20 (22.05.2022)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 3,176 | ▲42 | 10% | 59,133 | ▲2,155 |
| Bull | 707 | ▼-59 | 2% | 10,694 | ▲966 |
| Steer | 13,192 | ▼-582 | 40% | 252,534 | ▲28,470 |
| Cow | 7,435 | ▼-568 | 22% | 153,367 | ▲24,995 |
| Heifer | 8,630 | ▼-1,418 | 26% | 203,330 | ▲16,575 |
| Veal-V | 4 | ▼-1 | 0% | 27,830 | ▲7,364 |
| Veal-Z | 59 | ▼-8 | 0% | 883 | ▲72 |
| Total | 33,203 | ▼-2,594 | 100% | 707,771 | ▲80,597 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 20 (22.05.2022)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 551 | ▲12 | 544 | ▲13 | 533 | ▲11 | 506 | ▲14 |
| Heifers | 554 | ▲10 | 544 | ▲11 | 536 | ▲9 | 497 | ▲17 |
| Y Bulls | 537 | ▲7 | 529 | ▲11 | 510 | ▲13 | 498 | ▲15 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 503 | ▲13 | 476 | ▲13 | 464 | ▲14 |
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 |
| 14/05/2022 | 445.3 | 447.5 | 446.5 | 448.5 | 439.8 | 438 | 377.5 |
| 21/05/2022 | 445.6 | 447.0 | 438.7 | 446.2 | 448.5 | 439.9 | 441.4 |
| Change | ▲0 | ▼-1 | ▼-0 | ▲0 | ▲2 | ▲2 | ▲0 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 553.6 | 555.3 | 554.3 | 557.2 | 548.4 | 546.0 | 469.0 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 16.05.2020 | 15.05.2021 | 14.05.2022 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 3.42 | € 3.82 | € 5.13 |
| IE + Steers | € 3.55 | € 4.14 | € 5.03 |
| UK + Steers | € 3.80 | € 4.69 | € 5.17 |
Live Exports W/C 09.05.2021
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep committee chairman Kevin Comiskey said factory demand for spring lamb is increasing as hogget supplies drop off. He said hogget numbers dropped almost 4,000 head last week and continues to drop, mixed quality is impacting on price but factories are freely paying €7.50/kg for suitable lots. He said spring lamb numbers increased by over 6,000 head in the latest reported figures but remain almost 4,000 below the corresponding week in 2021 and almost 23,000 behind 2021 for the year to-date. He said factories are slow to move on prices for spring lamb with most making €8.30/kg to €8.40/kg. He said the strength of demand from factories is evident in the prices available in marts as factory agents compete with butchers and wholesalers providing a real viable alternative for farmers.
Lamb Price Update 26/05/2022
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 20 (22.05.2022)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 16,563 | ▼-6,772 | 852,103 | ▲171,559 |
| Spring Lambs | 25,924 | ▲6,830 | 87,121 | ▼-23,046 |
| Ewes and Rams | 6,309 | ▼-301 | 104,907 | ▼-6,127 |
| Light Lambs | 5 | ▲1 | 53 | ▼-45 |
| TOTAL | 48,801 | ▼-242 | 1,044,184 | ▲142,341 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 20 (22.05.2022)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | WK 20 | Change prev wk | 2021 | Change prev yr |
| National Avg Price | 765.48 | ▲21 | 766.81 | ▼-1 |
| YTD Avg | 704.01 | ▲3 | 684.66 | ▲19 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 14/05/2022 | 612.7 | 605.1 | Old season |
| 21/05/2022 | 669.7 | 672.0 | New season |
| Change | ▲57 | ▲67 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 832.0 | 834.9 |
