Prime Cattle Increase Offsets Overall Throughput Drop in Irish Beef Sector
Irish Beef Throughput Marginally Down Year-on-Year Despite Prime Cattle Increase; Prices See Slight Dip
IRELAND – June 6, 2025 – The Irish beef processing sector saw a slight decrease in overall throughput for the year to date, although prime cattle processing showed an increase. Prices for key categories experienced a marginal drop in the week ending May 31, 2025, according to Bord Bia’s latest market report.
During the week ending May 31st, 29,270 cattle were processed in DAFM approved plants. This brings the year-to-date throughput to 754,024 head, a figure that is marginally less than the corresponding period in 2024, showing a decrease of 189 head or less than 1%. Within this, 570,661 prime cattle have been processed in the first 22 weeks of 2025, an 1.8% increase from last year.
However, the slaughter mix has evolved. While young bull throughput saw a notable decline earlier in 2025, it has now returned to levels similar to the same week in 2024. Steer throughput has also dropped slightly compared to 2024. Notably, cow throughput has decreased, with 169,703 cows processed so far this year, down by 13,000 head from 2024 levels, with heifer throughput accounting for the difference.
In terms of prices, base quotes for steers this week ranged between €7.10-€7.40/kg, while starting quotes for heifers were between €7.40/kg and €7.60/kg. The trade for the smaller numbers of young bulls remained steady, with U grading animals under 24 months attracting €7.40-€7.50/kg, and R grading bulls potentially reaching €7.50/kg.
Well-fleshed O grading cows are being quoted at €6.60/kg, with good quality R grading cows achieving €7.00/kg. Prices for the significant proportion of P conformation score cows varied based on grade, weight, and quality.
For the week ending May 31st, 2025, the average price paid by Irish beef processors for R3 steers saw a slight drop to €7.52/kg. Similarly, the reported R3 heifer price decreased by 3c/kg to €7.57/kg. (Note: Reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments).
Looking at the broader European and UK markets, European young bull prices have maintained strength throughout 2025, with the average R3 grading young bull price at €6.22/kg (excluding VAT) for the week ending May 31st, 2025, which is 125c/kg ahead of the same week last year. In the UK, despite tight cattle supplies keeping deadweight beef prices generally strong, the average R3 steer price decreased by 24c/kg this week to €7.91/kg for the week ending May 31st, 2025.
Original source: BordBia
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