Irish Cattle & Beef Market Update
Throughput
There were 31,590 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending March 22nd 2025, taking throughput for the year to date to 430,397 head. This is a 1,513 head or 3% increase on the corresponding period in 2024 when a total of 430,700 cattle were processed.
There have been 323,157 prime cattle processed in the first 12 weeks of 2025, a 2.6% increase from the same period last year (+16,714 head). Within this however there has been a change in the slaughter mix with a notable decline in the young bull kill early in 2025, which has this week evened out to similar level as this week in 2024.
Steer and Heifer throughput has dropped slightly in comparison to 2024. Cow throughput has remained strong with 99,507 cows processed so far this year, up by 13% from 2024 levels.
Prices
Quotes from major processors have continued to trend upward and this has been reflected in a balance between supply and demand currently in favour of producers. Base quotes this week are in the region of €7.30-€7.40/kg for steers while starting quotes for heifers are around the same.
The trade for the smaller numbers of young bulls on offer remains steady with €7.30-€7.40/kg also available for U grading animals under 24 months of age, with flat prices as high as €7.50/kg available for R grading bulls.
Well fleshed O grading cows are being quoted at €6.80/kg with €7.00/kg available for good quality R grading cows. A significant proportion of the cow kill have achieved a conformation score of P in recent months and the prices available for these animals vary significantly based on grade, weight and quality.
For the week ending March 22nd 2025, the average price paid by Irish beef processors for R3 steers increased by 32c/kg to €7.12/kg.
This was 195c/kg ahead of the corresponding week in 2024. The reported R3 heifer during the week ending March 22nd 2025 increased by 16c/kg to €7.15/kg, placing it 193c/kg ahead of the corresponding week in 2024.
Note that reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments such as in-spec bonus, breed-based producer groups etc.
EU and UK prices:
European young bull prices have held strong for all of 2025 so far. The average reported price for R3 grading young bulls was €6.31/kg (excluding VAT) for the week ending March 22nd 2025. This is 125c/kg ahead of the same week last year when the average R3 price was €5.06/kg.
Tighter cattle supplies and firm demand have meant deadweight beef prices in the UK have remained strong, this week the average R3 steer price increasing to be €8.01/kg for the week ending March 22nd 2025.
