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Beef & Sheep Update 30th August

Cattle and Sheep in Wicklow field

Beef Update

IFA National Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said the in-person training events announced by the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue for farmers in SCEP must be easily accessible to all farmers. Declan Hanrahan said suckler farmers in SCEP must have the training requirement of the scheme completed by 15th November 2024 to remain in the scheme. He said the on-line facility provided to date has not been easily accessible for a significant number of farmers which has been recognised by the Minister in his announcement earlier this year to also provide in person events for farmers to meet the training requirement. Declan Hanrahan has called on the Minister to announce the dates and venues for these events to ensure farmers have adequate time to arrange to attend these important events to remain compliant with the scheme requirements. The IFA National Livestock Chair said in organising the venues the Minister must be cognisant of the areas where the greatest needs are and all farmers must be provided with a number of venue options within close proximity to their location. He said it will not be acceptable for the Minister or his officials to expect farmers to undertake long journeys to attend these events.

Beef Price Update 30/08/2024

Base Quotes Steer €5.00/5.15kg. Heifers €5.05/5.20kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.10/5.30Kg. Cows €4.30/4.90kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (25.08.2024)

AnimalNumberChange prev wk% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls1,133▼-124 3%78,037▼-6,406 
Bull682▼-25 2%19,825▲615
Steer15,165▲38246%411,692▼-14,027 
Cow7,302▲66622%280,823▲25,820
Heifer8,741▲8826%322,808▲6,592
Veal-V21▲10%19,735▼-10,754 
Veal-Z14▲50%1,328▲140
Total33,058▲993100%1,134,248▲3,665

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (25.08.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Change prev wk
Steers540▲5529▲3516▲2486▲0
Heifers545▲2533▲2523▲1480▲0
Y Bulls532▲1522▲2506▲2498▲8
Cows0▲0489▼-1 457▲6440▲4

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
17/08/2024499.5501.9498.7500.7488.1489.7381.8
24/08/2024502.2503.2501.2503.8493.1492.2384.7
Change▲3▲1▲3▲3▲5▲3▲3
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)616.7617.9615.4618.6605.5604.4472.4

Euro Price for the Most Recent Week  (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)

Country & Type13.08.202212.08.202317.08.2024
EU + Y Bulls€ 4.97€ 4.78€ 5.10
IE + Steers€ 4.80€ 4.66€ 5.02
UK + Steers € 5.18€ 5.33€ 5.80

Live Exports W/C 19.08.2024


Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices remain steady but higher prices are becoming a lot easier to negotiate as number tighten. He said factories are offering deals up to €7.50kg and above to secure supplies. Factories are also offering deals on weights up to 22.5kg to tie down deals this week. The tightening of supplies is evident in the weekly kills with spring lamb throughput back over 78,000 head to date and overall throughput is running over 186,000 head behind the same period last year. Cull ewe prices are making between €4.00kg and €4.40kg. Adrian Gallagher said farmers should sell hard, consider the mart outlet and be mindful of the lower kill out weights when drafting lambs.  

Lamb Price Update 30/08/2024

Spring Lamb €7.30kg/7.60kg. Weights to 22kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.00/4.40/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (25.08.2024)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets379▼-49 895241▼-83,992 
Spring Lambs48949▲1,672576787▼-78,877 
Ewes and Rams8126▲916168450▼-23,708 
Light Lambs2▲2105▼-24 
TOTAL57456▲2,5411640583▼-186,601 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 34 (25.08.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)This week Change prev. wk2023Change prev. yr
National Avg Price861.14▼-2 675.73▲94
YTD Avg733.19▼-2 624.81▲114

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
17/08/2024665.9664.8New season Lamb
24/08/2024667.1665.5New season Lamb
Change▲1▲1 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)819.1817.21

Live Sheep exports 30th June 2024

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