Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices have edged upwards as supplies tighten on the ground. He said factories are struggling to source enough cattle to fill orders and are paying 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes to tie down deals this week as demand strengthens. The strong demand is also evident at mart sales where competition has intensified between factory agents and live exporters with prices paid for suitable factory fit cattle well above quoted prices. Declan Hanrahan said the reality is factories are very anxious for cattle and are sourcing cattle for next day processing and are willing to pay above quotes to secure supplies. Base quotes this week for steers are making from €6.70kg to €6.85kg while heifers are making from €6.80kg to €6.95kg. Young bulls R/U grades are making from €6.80kg to €7.10kg. Cull cow prices have also strengthened and are ranging from €6.00kg for P grades up to €6.60kg for quality U grade cows.
Beef Price Update 06/02/2025
Base Steer €6.70/6.85kg. Heifers €6.80/6.95kg. Flat prices up to €7.50kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.80/7.10Kg. Cows €6.00/6.60kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 09 (02.03.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,303 | ▲173 | 6% | 26,915 | ▲345 |
| Bull | 496 | ▲44 | 1% | 3,263 | ▼-82 |
| Steer | 14,186 | ▲1,071 | 36% | 111,137 | ▲1,100 |
| Cow | 8,935 | ▼-749 | 23% | 74,850 | ▼-7,171 |
| Heifer | 12,807 | ▼-338 | 33% | 106,590 | ▲9,258 |
| Veal-V | 406 | ▲87 | 1% | 893 | ▼-4,262 |
| Veal-Z | 78 | ▼-21 | 0% | 914 | ▲383 |
| Total | 39,211 | ▲267 | 100% | 324,562 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 09 (02.03.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 702 | ▲16 | 695 | ▲14 | 691 | ▲15 | 659 | ▲17 |
| Heifers | 706 | ▲16 | 696 | ▲15 | 695 | ▲15 | 649 | ▲16 |
| Y Bulls | 698 | ▲20 | 688 | ▲16 | 671 | ▲19 | 656 | ▲19 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 641 | ▲12 | 609 | ▲14 | 595 | ▲16 |
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 | 643.7 | 647.9 | 641.5 | 645.3 | 628.3 | 626.5 | 497.8 |
| 01/03/2025 | 648.7 | 652.4 | 646.5 | 650.9 | 634.8 | 629.4 | 502.5 |
| Change | ▲5 | ▲5 | ▲4 | ▲6 | ▲7 | ▲3 | ▲5 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 815.5 | 820.2 | 812.7 | 818.3 | 798.0 | 791.2 | 631.7 |
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 17th February
Sheep Update
IFA sheep committee chairman Adrian Gallagher said the attempts by factories to cut pay weights on hoggets is short sighted and unacceptable. He said factories are acutely aware of the dramatic decline in the national breeding flock and the subsequent drop in the numbers of lambs/hoggets available to them to service key markets and customers. The IFA sheep committee chairman said factories should be doing all in their power to support farmers maintaining supplies of hoggets to them at a very expensive time of year. Adrian Gallagher said farmers have invested in and produced hoggets to these higher weights and has called on factories to return immediately to 24kg pay weights. Factories are offering deals from €9.00kg to €9.30kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. Cull ewes are making from €4.80kg to €5.20 in general. Adrian Gallagher said farmers should only sell lambs as they become fit, shop around and sell hard as supplies of suitable lambs are tight.
Lamb Price Update 06/02/2025
Lambs €9.00kg/9.30kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.90/5.20/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 09 (02.03.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 44617 | ▲4,134 | 303415 | ▼-84,464 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 17278 | ▲8,707 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4124 | ▲516 | 30573 | ▼-15,095 |
| Light Lambs | 3 | ▲0 | 19 | ▼-3 |
| TOTAL | 48744 | ▲4,653 | 351285 | ▼-90,855 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 09 (02.03.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 886.75 | ▼-5 | 881.36 | ▲125 |
| YTD Avg | 878.99 | ▲0 | 879.26 | ▲188 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 22/02/2025 | 736.0 | 729.5 | New season Lamb |
| 01/03/2025 | 743.8 | 738.0 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲8 | ▲9 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 913.3 | 906.2 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2024
