Beef Update
Commenting on the visit by the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to Japan and Singapore, IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said it’s important for beef farmers that the Minister and Bord Bia build on key high-value markets for Irish beef. He said growing market share for beef and regaining access to the Chinese market are important steps in maximising the returns to farmers. However, protecting the European market for Irish and EU farmers is where the real value rests, and trade deals such as Mercosur cannot undermine this vital market for suckler and beef farmers. “These are important aspects for the sector in the medium to longer term, but we cannot lose sight of the immediate challenges on suckler and beef farms,” he said. He said suckler and beef farmers do not have the financial capacity to absorb the current inputs inflation and this must be addressed both in terms of stronger returns from the market place from factories and minimum price commitments for winter finishing. The Minister must also play his part and provide targeted direct supports for suckler and beef farmers in the upcoming Budget.
Beef Price Update 01/09/2022
Steer Base €4.80/4.90kg. Heifers €4.85/4.95kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €4.70/5.00Kg. Cows €4.40/4.90kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (28.08.2022)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,526 | ▼-6 | 4% | 94,627 | ▲5,225 |
| Bull | 627 | ▼-77 | 2% | 19,349 | ▲1,361 |
| Steer | 17,358 | ▲870 | 48% | 438,396 | ▲24,951 |
| Cow | 6,548 | ▲147 | 18% | 261,884 | ▲35,252 |
| Heifer | 9,747 | ▲94 | 27% | 325,577 | ▲19,992 |
| Veal-V | 39 | ▲31 | 0% | 28,015 | ▲7,348 |
| Veal-Z | 19 | ▲7 | 0% | 1,172 | ▲45 |
| Total | 35,864 | ▲1,066 | 100% | 1,169,020 | ▲94,174 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (28.08.2022)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Changeprev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 516 | ▲0 | 505 | ▼-1 | 489 | ▼-1 | 457 | ▼-1 |
| Heifers | 524 | ▲0 | 510 | ▲0 | 499 | ▲0 | 457 | ▲3 |
| Y Bulls | 505 | ▲1 | 494 | ▲2 | 469 | ▲1 | 458 | ▼-2 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 482 | ▲0 | 458 | ▲1 | 446 | ▲3 |
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 |
| 20/08/2022 | 441.3 | 445.6 | 440.3 | 445.1 | 433.5 | 431.4 | 366.7 |
| 27/08/2022 | 443.0 | 445.9 | 435.2 | 442.0 | 445.0 | 433.6 | 434.0 |
| Change | ▲2 | ▲0 | ▲2 | ▼-0 | ▲1 | ▲0 | ▲5 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 550.4 | 554.0 | 549.1 | 552.8 | 539.2 | 536.1 | 461.5 |
Live Exports W/C 15.08.2022
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said the further weakening of lamb prices this week by factories is not acceptable and must stop. He said factories must do more in the marketplace to support sheep farmers and the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue must come forward with meaningful supports that will restore confidence in farmers selling and finishing lambs. Teagasc has forecast margins from sheep production to decline this year, with lamb prices insufficient to cover increased costs of production. Their Outlook report forecast the average Family Farm Income on sheep farms to decline by 20% in 2022. He said sheep farms do not have the capacity to absorb this level of decline in income, with this latest drop in lamb prices coming at a critical time for the sector compounding the situation.
Lamb Price Update 01/09/2022
Lamb €6.10/6.40/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.40/3.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (28.08.2022)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 265 | ▲75 | 894,581 | ▲198,157 |
| Spring Lambs | 52,779 | ▲2,785 | 723,013 | ▼-72,081 |
| Ewes and Rams | 10,267 | ▲622 | 213,364 | ▼-2,345 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 107 | ▼-10 |
| TOTAL | 63,311 | ▲3,482 | 1,831,065 | ▲123,721 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (28.08.2022)
| c/kg(Incl. VAT) | WK 34 | Change prev wk | 2021 | Changeprev yr |
| National Avg Price | 631.98 | ▼-9 | 610.56 | ▲21 |
| YTD Avg | 707.65 | ▼-2 | 669.96 | ▲38 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 20/08/2022 | 543.8 | 542.8 | New season |
| 27/08/2022 | 537.0 | 536.2 | New season |
| Change | ▼-7 | ▼-7 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 667.1 | 666.1 |
Live Sheep Exports 18/07/2022
