Irish Cattle & Sheep Trade & Prices w/e 31/03
Irish Cattle & Sheep Trade Prices – Week Ending 31 March 2024
Here’s the latest on Irish cattle & sheep trade prices March 2024. It reflects strong demand, tight supply, and evolving market trends.
Cattle & Beef
Throughput remains solid. During the week ending 31 March 2024, DAFM-approved plants processed 31,967 cattle, bringing the year-to-date total to 462,669 head. That represents a 2.4% rise (+10,947 head) compared to the same period last year. Prime cattle stayed on trend, counting 328,559 head, up 2% (+8,879 head) year-on-year. Cow throughput also held steady, with 114,783 cows, a notable 15% increase (+14,625 head).
Base quotes stabilised last week. Steers sold at €5.10–5.20/kg, and heifers fetched €5.20–5.30/kg. Young bulls under R grading ranged between €5.20–5.30/kg. The cow trade remained robust as well. O-grade cows commanded €4.40/kg, while top R-grade cows reached €4.50–4.60/kg. Most processed cows recently recorded a P-grade conformation score, with prices varying by weight and grade.
The average R3 steer price ticked up by 2c to €5.19/kg, just 9c below the same week in 2023 (€5.26/kg).
EU & UK Cattle Prices
Meanwhile, European R3 young bull prices held steady at €5.06/kg, unchanged from the previous year. In Great Britain, R3 steer prices dipped slightly to €5.69/kg (approx. £4.88/kg), but the market remained firm on tight supplies.
Sheep Trade & Prices
On the sheep side, hogget quotes held at 870–900c/kg, including the QA bonus. Supply remains tight due to lower flock numbers and rising production costs. The UK is seeing a 10% drop in hogget carryover, according to AHDB forecasts. In addition, only small numbers of spring lambs—quoted at 920c/kg (+QA)—have reached processors.
Demand shows signs of recovery, based on Kantar and Bord Bia data. However, lamb is the most sensitive protein amid shifting consumer habits.
Spring demand and limited supply drove Irish deadweight lamb prices up to 861c/kg, a 16c increase from the prior week (vs 676c in 2023). In Great Britain, prices stayed steady at 978c/kg, while Northern Ireland improved to 813c/kg. Southern Hemisphere lamb remains competitive, priced at 396c/kg (Australia) and 338c/kg (New Zealand).
Sheep Throughput
Weekly sheep throughput stood at 59,043 head, down slightly on last year. Year-to-date headcount reached 677,727, 4% behind 2023 figures. Hogget kill totaled 610,642 head, 3% lower. Ewe and ram throughput dropped 8% to 65,814 head. Only 1,227 spring lambs have processed so far this year.
Overall, Irish cattle & sheep trade prices March 2024 reflect steady cattle demand, tight lamb supply, and a resilient meat market.
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