Cattle Trade & Prices

Throughput: Cattle throughput totalled 30,647 head last week in DAFM approved plants, taking overall supplies for the year to date to 523,764 head. This is a decline of 85,753 head (-13.4%) from the strong levels recorded in the corresponding 18-week period in 2025.  All categories of cattle have recorded a decline in throughput YTD relative to 2025, with the strongest decline noted in cow throughput which is operating 24% behind year earlier levels. Some of the decline in numbers processed has been offset by a notable improvement in average carcase weights.

Demand for beef in key export markets has continued to come under some pressure in recent weeks. The impact of inflationary pressures on consumers, increasing availability of non-European beef in certain markets and growing competition from competitively priced pork and poultry products have had a detrimental effect on the demand for Irish beef in some of our key export markets.

Quotes: Quotes from most major processors are starting at €6.60/kg for steers with heifers in the region of €6.70/kg. Good quality R grading cows are being quoted at €6.30/kg-€6.40/kg this week while €6.20/kg-€6.30/kg is available for well fleshed O grade cows. P grading cows are being quoted between €6.00/kg-€6.10/kg.

Prices: The deadweight trade is coming under some downward pressure with an average price paid for R3 steers during the week ending May 3rd was €6.70/kg. After weeks of relative stability, the UK deadweight cattle trade has started to come under some downward pressure with reported prices back in both GB and NI. The average R3 steer price in the UK last week was the equivalent of €7.16/kg, back €0.06/kg from the previous week. The differential over the Irish R3 steer price is €0.46/kg.

Meanwhile the beef trade in some European markets is also experiencing price pressure, with the EU average price of R3 grading young bulls decreasing by €0.06/kg to €6.98/kg last week. There have been notable declines in reported R3 young bull prices in France (-€0.15/kg) and Germany (-€0.19/kg). The EU average R3 young bull price is currently €0.19/kg higher than the Irish R3 steer price.

Note that reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments (in-spec bonus, breed-based producer groups etc).

Live Exports

The live trade year to date has totalled 169,536 head, a notable decline from the 203,309 animals traded in the same period in 2025. However, while the trade is back from 2025 levels it is on par with the level of trade recorded in the early months of 2024. More settled weather conditions for ferry sailings and a steady demand for Irish animals in Continental Europe has contributed to strong levels of live animal trading in the last few weeks. A total of 15,756 cattle left the country last week with a significant proportion of these being calves destined for further production in key European export markets.

The Netherlands and Spain remain the primary outlets for Irish calves with the two markets taking a combination of nearly 12,000 calves last week. The trade with the Netherlands has been similar to 2025 so far this year however a weaker beef market in Spain has contributed to a 17% contraction in the trade to the region in 2026. Italy also remains an important market outlet for Irish calves while there are emerging opportunities in markets such as Croatia and Hungary. The trade for older categories of animals has been more subdued in the early months of 2026, back 17.5% on 2025 levels. Northern Ireland continues to be an important outlet for all categories of cattle with just under 1,300 animals making the journey northwards last week.  

Despite the slow start to the year the medium-term outlook for Irish cattle in European markets remains relatively firm in on the back of declining domestic availability and the impact of disease restrictions to trade in some of our key markets.