IFA - Irish Farmers Association

04/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/19/2024 09:36

Beef & Sheep Update 19th April

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said attempts by factories to reduce beef prices is unacceptable and must stop. He said there is no justification for downward pressure as prices in our key export markets remain strong driven by tight supplies and strong demand for beef. Factories trying to dampen beef prices show no regard to winter finishers who have made huge investments in finishing cattle over the winter period. Beef finishers should not be misled by these unjustified attempts and farmers should dig in and sell hard the IFA Livestock Chairman said. This week steers prices are making from €5.15kg to €5.30kg while heifers are making from €5.20 to 5.35kg. Young Bulls R/U are making from €5.25kg to €5.50kg. The cull cow trade is very strong with prices ranging from €4.30kg up to €5.00kg for quality U grade cows.

Beef Price Update 18/04/2024

Base Quotes Steer €5.15/5.30kg. Heifers €5.20/5.35kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.25/5.40Kg. Cows €4.30/5.00kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM - WK 15 (14.04.2024)

Animal Number Change prev wk % of total YTD YTD Change
Y Bulls 1,949 ▲291 6% 37,874 ▼-1,685
Bull 613 ▲54 2% 6,704 ▼-165
Steer 12,801 ▲1,509 37% 182,640 ▼-1,588,159
Cow 8,116 ▲489 24% 130,534 ▲16,672
Heifer 9,946 ▲578 29% 155,362 ▲7,327
Veal-V 962 ▼-847 3% 15,510 ▼-13,408
Veal-Z 38 ▲1 0% 827 ▲96
Total 34,425 ▲2,075 100% 529,451 ▲3,665

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM - WK 15 (14.04.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT) U3 Change prev wk R3 Change prev wk O3 Change prev wk P+3 Change prev wk
Steers 554 ▲2 546 ▲2 535 ▼-5 501 ▼-2
Heifers 565 ▲1 551 ▲0 540 ▼-1 489 ▲2
Y Bulls 543 ▼-1 532 ▼-1 518 ▲1 512 ▲10
Cows 0 ▲0 488 ▼-1 443 ▲0 424 ▲0

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
06/04/2024 495.3 495 494 494.6 481.3 481.5 380.2
13/04/2024 493.4 494.8 492.5 494.8 482.8 480.9 380.9
Change ▼-2 ▼-0 ▼-2 ▲0 ▲2 ▼-1 ▲1
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) 605.8 607.6 604.7 607.6 592.8 590.5 467.7

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

Country & Type 02.04.2022 01.04.2023 06.04.2024
EU + Y Bulls € 5.16 € 5.06 € 5.03
IE + Steers € 4.76 € 5.26 € 5.21
UK + Steers € 5.08 € 5.57 € 5.69

Live Cattle ExportsW/C 08.04.2024

[Link]Source: Bord Bia

Sheep Update

Following a number of dog attacks on sheep this week IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher is again highlighting the urgent need for intervention to address the escalating issue of dog attacks on livestock. The attacks that occurred in Roscommon, Sligo and Tipperary this week resulted in significant losses for the effected farmers involved. He said these are not isolated incidents but part of a concerning trend that continues to devastate sheep farmers nationwide. IFA has continuously called for a centralised data base for all dogs correlating licensing and microchipping to identify the owner of the dog and to increase the number of dog wardens on the ground but this hasn't happened. He said the lack of robust enforcement of existing laws continues to allow dogs to run riot on farms across the country. The Government and various state agencies with responsibilities in this area have failed to put appropriate sanctions in place to deal with irresponsible dog ownership and its unacceptable.

Lamb Price Update 18/04/2024

Hogget's €9.40/9.60/kg up to €9.80kg. Weights to 24kg. Spring Lamb €9.50/9.80kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.00/4.40/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM - WK 15 (14.04.2024)

Animal Figure Change YTD YTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets 40,321 ▼-2,570 685,283 ▼-42,440
Spring Lambs 1,339 ▲582 11,894 ▲5,667
Ewes and Rams 4,307 ▲750 73,678 ▼-5,708
Light Lambs 4 ▼-1 53 ▼-21
TOTAL 45,971 ▼-1,239 770,908 ▼-42,502

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM - WK 15 (14.04.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT) This week Change prev. wk 2023 Change prev. yr
National Avg Price 861.14 ▲9 675.73 ▲173
YTD Avg 733.19 ▲9 624.81 ▲118

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

R3L Overall SQQ* Type of lamb
06/04/2024 837.2 829.5 Old season lamb
13/04/2024 856.6 850.7 Old season lamb
Change ▲19 ▲21
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) 1051.8 1044.6

Live Sheep Exports March 31st 2024

[Link]Source: Bord Bia