Cattle Trade & Prices

Throughput: Cattle throughput totalled 31,378 head last week in DAFM approved plants, taking overall supplies for the year to date to 615,967 head. This is a decline of 85,349 head (-11.8%) from the strong levels recorded in the corresponding 20-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 18% behind year earlier levels. Some of the decline in numbers processed has been offset by a notable improvement in average carcase weights across the board.
Demand for beef in key export markets has continued to come under pressure in recent weeks. The impact of inflationary pressures on consumers combined with historically high prices for beef, has had a significant impact on beef consumption level at retail and foodservice levels. Increased levels of imported non-European beef across our main markets and growing competition from competitively priced proteins have impacted negatively on the demand for beef.

Quotes: Base quotes from most major processors have come back by a further €0.10/kg this week with quotes in the region of €6.40/kg for steers, while quotes for heifers are in the stary at €6.50/kg. Good quality R grading cows are being quoted at €6.25kg-€6.30/kg this week while €6.00/kg-€6.10/kg is available for well fleshed O grade cows. Better quality P grading cows are being quoted between €5.80/kg-€5.90/kg.

Prices: Despite tighter supplies of cattle for processing, prices paid for R3 steers during the week ending May 17th came under some pressure, averaging at €6.62/kg. After weeks of relative stability, the price has come back €0.07/kg. Meanwhile the UK deadweight cattle price continues to come under downward pressure with the latest reported prices coming back in both GB and NI. The average R3 steer price in the UK last week was the equivalent of €6.96/kg, back €0.11/kg from the previous week, marking the eighth consecutive week in which reported prices have come back in euro terms. The UK price differential over the Irish R3 steer price stands at €0.37/kg currently.
Meanwhile the beef trade in some European markets is also experiencing price pressure, with the latest available EU average price of R3 grading young bulls decreasing by €0.15/kg to €6.64/kg. There have been notable declines in reported R3 young bull prices in France (-€0.09/kg) and Germany (-€0.20/kg). The Irish average R3 price at €6.62/kg is now just 2 cent behind the average EU Young Bull price level at €6.64/kg, following successive declines in European prices from a peak of €7.40/Kg in February 2026.
Note that reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments (in-spec bonus, breed-based producer groups etc). 

Live Exports

The live cattle trade has picked up in recent weeks with over 13,000 cattle leaving the country in the week ending 17 May 2026. Improved weather conditions and a steady demand for cattle in key export markets have supported the level of export. The short term outlook remains firm with exporters still very active in the market sourcing a range of suitable cattle to fulfil export contracts. Year to date there have been 202,916 cattle traded, and while this is 15 per cent lower than the record levels seen in early 2025 it is very similar to the corresponding period in 2023 and 2024.
Calves continue to dominate the live trade, as is typical for the time of the year given our seasonal calving pattern. There were just under 11,000 calves traded last week, accounting for 84% of the trade. The Netherlands, Spain and Italy continue to be the key destinations for Irish calves although there are some growing opportunities emerging in some other markets.
The trade with Northern Ireland was more subdued last week with 1,119 cattle making the journey northwards. This is slightly above last week’s figures which had the lowest levels of exports to the region since Bluetongue restrictions were lifted in early March this year. While the longer term outlook for live cattle trading remains challenging the latest forecasts for cattle supplies in mainland Europe remain subdued, with the long term contraction in the European cattle herd expected to continue. This should help support steady demand for Irish cattle in the short to medium term.