Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said beef price moves further as demand continues to outstrip supply. He said demand for beef in our key UK and EU markets is strong with supplies in these markets reducing for the year, creating real potential for strong and sustained growth in beef prices here. Prices have risen by up to 10c/kg to 20c/kg this week with factories leaving no cattle behind as they try fill orders to meet the demand of key customers. Steers base prices are ranging from €6.50kg to €6.80kg while heifers are making from €6.60kg to €6.90kg. Factories are offering flat deals for quality lots of cattle up to €6.30kg this week. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €6.70kg to €7.00kg. Cull cow prices also continue to rise with prices starting at €5.90kg for P grades up to €6.50kg for quality U grade cows. The IFA Livestock Chairman said farmers should sell hard in this up rising market.
Beef Price Update 27/02/2025
Base Steer €6.50/6.80kg. Heifers €6.60/6.90kg. Flat prices up to €7.30kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.70/7.00Kg. Cows €5.90/6.50kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 07 (16.02.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,130 | ▼-1,057 | 5% | 24,612 | ▲599 |
| Bull | 452 | ▼-17 | 1% | 2,767 | ▼-95 |
| Steer | 13,115 | ▼-447 | 34% | 96,951 | ▲227 |
| Cow | 9,684 | ▲441 | 25% | 65,915 | ▼-6,607 |
| Heifer | 13,145 | ▲451 | 34% | 93,783 | ▲7,520 |
| Veal-V | 319 | ▲306 | 1% | 487 | ▼-2,249 |
| Veal-Z | 99 | ▼-16 | 0% | 836 | ▲365 |
| Total | 38,944 | ▼-339 | 100% | 285,351 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 07 (16.02.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 686 | ▲19 | 681 | ▲19 | 676 | ▲19 | 642 | ▲15 |
| Heifers | 690 | ▲17 | 681 | ▲17 | 680 | ▲18 | 633 | ▲16 |
| Y Bulls | 678 | ▲14 | 672 | ▲18 | 652 | ▲15 | 637 | ▲7 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 629 | ▲16 | 595 | ▲18 | 579 | ▲18 |
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 |
| 15/02/2025 | 642 | 645.2 | 639.1 | 643.1 | 630.1 | 616.1 | 491.8 |
| 15/02/2025 | 643.7 | 647.9 | 641.5 | 645.3 | 628.3 | 626.5 | 497.8 |
| Change | ▲2 | ▲3 | ▲4 | ▲2 | ▼-2 | ▲10 | ▲6 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 809.2 | 814.5 | 806.5 | 811.2 | 789.9 | 787.6 | 625.8 |
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 10th February
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said demand for hogget’s remains strong despite static lamb prices. He said factories are very anxious for suitable factory fit lambs to fill orders for the Ramadan festival which commences tomorrow for the full month of March. He said supplies remain tight on the ground and is evident in the weekly kills as total hogget throughput continues to fall. For the first 8 weeks of 2025 throughput is back over 84,000 head or 25% from the same period in 2024 with overall throughput back 23% in the same period. This week factories are offering prices for hoggets from €9.00kg to €9.40kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. Cull ewe prices remain steady and are making from €4.90kg to €5.20kg in general. Adrian Gallagher said farmers should sell hard and be mindfull of the mart outlet where prices remain very competitive to what factories are offering in cases.
Lamb Price Update 27/02/2025
Lambs €9.00kg/9.30kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.90/5.20/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 07 (16.02.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 40,483 | ▲4,998 | 258,798 | ▼-84,714 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 17,278 | ▲8,707 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,608 | ▼-693 | 26,449 | ▼-14,299 |
| Light Lambs | 3 | ▲0 | 16 | ▼-3 |
| TOTAL | 44,091 | ▲4,302 | 302,451 | ▼-90,399 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 07 (16.02.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 886.75 | ▲5 | 732.05 | ▲155 |
| YTD Avg | 878.99 | ▲1 | 682.96 | ▲196 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 15/02/2025 | 742.6 | 736.9 | New season Lamb |
| 22/02/2025 | 736.0 | 729.5 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-7 | ▼-7 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 903.7 | 895.8 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2024
