UK Livestock Market Update – Cattle Prices Ease, Sheep Throughput Climbs

The UK livestock market experienced a price adjustment during the week ending 24 May 2025. According to the AHDB Weekly Cattle and Sheep Market Wrap, cattle prices declined for the third consecutive week, while sheep throughput increased significantly.

Cattle Market Overview

Prime cattle prices averaged 677p/kg, continuing a downward trend. Despite this recent fall, prices remain well above levels recorded during the same week in 2024. Estimated prime cattle slaughterings fell slightly to 35,600 head. However, this figure is still 3 per cent higher than the same week last year, indicating sustained processing activity.

Sheep Market Trends

The sheep sector showed mixed pricing but strong supply:

• New season lambs averaged 753p/kg (SQQ), reflecting seasonal demand.
• Old season lambs averaged 660p/kg, marking a typical shift in market focus.
• Clean sheep slaughter totalled 218,400 head, up 2 per cent from the previous week and 23 per cent higher year-on-year.

This increase in throughput suggests a robust supply of lambs entering the market. AHDB analysts note that market dynamics are adjusting in response to evolving demand and supply levels

Broader Market Context

Recent AHDB forecasts indicate a 4 per cent drop in UK beef production for 2025, while lamb production is expected to rise due to a larger carryover from 2024

Retail beef prices continue to climb, which may impact consumer demand in both retail and foodservice sectors

For related updates, see our coverage on UK cattle and sheep market trends and livestock auction performance

Source: AHDB

Irish Pig Prices Show Upward Trajectory Amidst Tight Supplies

IRELAND – May 30, 2025 – Deadweight pig prices in Ireland are demonstrating an upward trend, driven by relatively tight supplies for slaughter, despite a slight dip in reported averages last week.

Producers reported an average price of €2.20/kg available from processors, though some are achieving prices 4c/kg higher, signalling robust demand for pigs. For the week ending May 4th, 2025, the average reported price paid for Grade E pig carcasses in Ireland was €2.11/kg (excluding VAT). This current Irish price is 1.8% lower than the corresponding week last year, when the Grade E pig price stood at €2.15/kg.

Across the European Union, the average price for a Grade E carcass for the same week (ending May 4th, 2025) was €2.05/kg (excluding VAT). This marks a slight increase of 2c/kg from the previous week’s EU average, but remains 6% (14c/kg) behind prices for the same month last year, when the EU average pig price was €2.19/kg.

In terms of throughput, while there has been an improvement in the last quarter, demand continues to outstrip supplies. Total year-to-date throughput stands at 1,164,951 head, marginally behind the corresponding period in 2024. For the week ending May 4th, throughput was 69,578 head, including 1,812 sows. There was a 5% increase in the total throughput of fattener pigs during the first quarter of 2025, indicating growing production despite overall supply constraints.

Bord Bia

Irish Lamb Prices Firming Amidst Tight Supply, Though Deadweight Prices Dip Slightly

IRELAND – [May 30, 2025] – The Irish lamb market is showing signs of firming, driven by tight supplies and stable demand, although deadweight prices experienced a slight dip recently.

Base quotes from major processors had been declining for several weeks, but the week ending April 27th saw an increase, with offers reaching €8.70-€8.80/kg for well-finished lambs, including Quality Assurance (QA) bonuses. Sellers achieving prices at the higher end of the market have also successfully negotiated increased carcass weight allowances up to 23kg.

This strengthening trade is attributed to relatively constrained lamb supplies combined with consistent demand from both domestic and export markets throughout 2024 and into early 2025. Tight lamb supplies are also a trend across key European and UK lamb-producing regions, as evidenced by Eurostat figures indicating a contraction in breeding flock numbers. In Ireland, the ewe flock decreased by 3.7% in the December 2023 census compared to December 2022, representing a reduction of 107,000 head and contributing to the current supply tightness.

Reported deadweight prices for the week ending April 27th increased by 42c/kg to €8.63/kg, however this reflects a slight drop following two consecutive weeks of price increases. In the corresponding week of 2024, the reported deadweight price was significantly higher at €9.43/kg. The deadweight trade has also seen a slight decline across UK regions, with reported lamb prices in mainland GB at €8.05/kg (-15c/kg) and in Northern Ireland at €8.82/kg for the week ending April 27th 2025.

While Southern Hemisphere prices remain below European levels, they have improved considerably in recent weeks, narrowing the price differential with the EU. This recent improvement should impact their competitiveness in EU markets in the medium to longer term. This week, prices in Australia and New Zealand are at €4.67/kg and €4.50/kg, showing a slight increase and decrease respectively.

There was a decrease in the total sheep kill in Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) approved plants last week, totalling 32,881 head, compared to 34,712 in the same week of 2024. A smaller lamb crop and difficult lambing conditions have contributed to the tighter supplies and reduced throughput. Total year-to-date (TYD) slaughter is down 18% on 2024, totalling 689,550 head.

Original source: Bord Bia

Australian Cattle and Sheep Markets Rebound, Slaughter Rates Remain Robust

AUSTRALIA – May 30, 2025 – Australia’s cattle and sheep markets experienced a notable rebound in the week ending May 30, with prices returning to early-month levels across all key indicators. Despite recent rainfall impacting some supply, national slaughter rates remained robust, particularly for cattle.

According to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)’s latest weekly market wrap, the cattle market saw prices rise across the board. Yardings, the number of livestock presented at saleyards, decreased on the east coast due to rainfall, though Queensland maintained strong supply. A significant development was the Restocker Yearling Steer achieving a premium over other steer indicators, marking the largest gap between restockers and feeders since March.

The sheep market also displayed considerable strength, primarily driven by strong demand for heavy trade and export lambs. This demand pushed all sheep indicators upwards, with heavy lamb prices surpassing 1,000¢/kg carcase weight (cwt). Multiple saleyards recorded high average prices for heavy lambs, and trade weights also saw increases, nearing previous record levels.

Despite the recent rainfall, national cattle slaughter figures remained high, reaching the highest throughput observed since December 2019. While sheep and lamb slaughter decreased slightly during the week, it continued to stay above year-to-date comparisons from the previous year, indicating sustained activity in the processing sector. The MLA report highlights a dynamic period for Australia’s livestock industry, balancing weather impacts with strong market demand.

Weekly Australian Cattle and Sheep Markets: Supply Shifts Impact Prices

The latest Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) weekly market wrap reveals a dynamic period for Australian cattle and sheep, with reduced supply notably influencing prices across various indicators. The week ending May 16, 2025, saw significant movements in yardings, prices, and slaughter rates.

Cattle Market Highlights: The cattle market experienced an uplift across all indicators, primarily driven by sustained buyer demand against a backdrop of reduced supply. National yardings eased considerably by 25,000 head, settling at 55,000 head for the week—nearly a 50% reduction from two weeks prior. While most states saw reductions, Tasmania was an exception.

Cow prices observed a lift this week, with the indicator price increasing by 12¢ to 256¢/kg liveweight (lwt), despite a monthly reduction. Victoria led the cow market, averaging 263¢/kg lwt. Demand for steers remained robust, with heavy steers climbing 19¢ to 314¢/kg lwt, feeders gaining 11¢ to 378¢/kg lwt, and restockers up 14¢ to 391¢/kg lwt.

Sheep Market Highlights: The lamb market bounced back, fuelled by strong demand and reduced supply. National lamb yardings eased 13% to 191,000 head after three weeks of high offerings, while sheep yardings decreased 9% to 105,000 head, with all states showing combined reductions.

Export lambs were in high demand, propelling the National Heavy Lamb Indicator up 44¢ from the previous week to 902¢/kg carcase weight (cwt), with some reaching the 1,000¢ mark. New South Wales largely drove this national price. Trade lambs also saw an increase of 37¢ to 876¢/kg cwt. Mutton prices continued their fluctuating trend, rising 7¢ to 570¢/kg cwt, primarily due to processor demand.

Slaughter Figures (Week ending May 16, 2025): National cattle slaughter increased by 6% to 152,396 head, marking the largest weekly throughput since December 2019, reflecting strong supply and increased processor demand in a favourable global market.

National lamb slaughter eased by 3% to 506,598 head, though remaining above 500,000 for a third consecutive week. Mutton slaughter notably lifted by 11% to 198,854 head, as a surge in mutton supply reached processors.

Note: Flooding in the Upper Hunter and Mid North Coast regions impacted cattle and sheep supply through saleyards during this period.

Original source: MLA 

Weekly Market Wrap: Cattle Prices Soften, Lamb Falls Below Five-Year Average as Supplies Increase

GB Prime Cattle Prices See Second Consecutive Decline; Lamb Continues Downward Trend

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – The latest figures for the week ending May 17 show a continued softening in GB prime cattle prices, while lamb prices have notably dipped below their five-year average for the first time this year. Increased slaughter numbers across both sectors are a key factor in these market shifts.

Cattle Market Highlights:

• Prime Cattle: The GB all-prime average deadweight price for prime cattle dropped by 10p/kg week-on-week, settling at 687p/kg. This marks the second consecutive week of decline. All prime categories experienced a fall, with steers down 10p/kg, heifers 9p/kg lower, and young bulls seeing a steeper reduction of nearly 14p/kg. Despite these recent falls, prices remain at historically high levels, with the all-prime average still over £2/kg higher than this time last year.
• Slaughter Numbers Up: Estimated prime cattle slaughter surged significantly in the week ending May 17, reaching 37,400 head. This represents the highest weekly kill of the year to date and is 10% higher than the same week in 2024, as supply catches up after the recent bank holiday.
• Cow Prices Stable: The GB overall deadweight cow price remained flat on the week at 541p/kg. Estimated cow slaughter increased to 8,000 head. Year-to-date, cow slaughter is 5% below the same period last year, a tightness in supply that has contributed to the recent strength in cow prices, influenced by strong dairy production and a long-term contraction in the suckler breeding herd.

Sheep Market Highlights:

• Lamb Prices Decline: The GB deadweight old season lamb (OSL) price continued its downward trajectory, falling by 9p/kg from the previous week to 665p/kg. This is the first instance in 2025 that the lamb price has dropped below the five-year average for this week, though it remains significantly below year-ago levels.
• Strong Supplies: Estimated lamb kill figures remained robust, totaling 214,300 head in the latest week. While only a slight week-on-week increase, this is 14% higher than the same week last year, bringing the year-to-date total almost 6% higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
• Trade Data: Q1 2025 trade data (January-March) shows a 1% year-on-year increase in exports of fresh and frozen sheep meat, reaching 20,700 tonnes. This indicates sustained demand from continental Europe, the primary market. Price indicators at France’s Rungis market have remained relatively steady. Simultaneously, sheep meat imports have risen by 5% year-on-year for Q1, largely driven by increased volumes from Australia and New Zealand, alongside smaller increases from suppliers like Ireland and Iceland.

Original Source: AHDB

Irish Lamb Prices Firm Amidst Tight Supplies and EU Market Stability

Processors in Ireland are confirming that Irish lamb prices [remain] firm amidst tight supply as of late April 2025. Major plants are offering €8.70–€8.80 per kilogram for well-finished lambs, including the Quality Assurance bonus — marking a notable rise following a previous dip in base quotes. Sellers in the premium market are also securing higher carcass‑weight allowances, with some negotiating up to 23 kg

Sheep throughput remains significantly tight, with weekly hogget numbers still well below last year — a pattern reflected across the UK and EU. Government data shows hogget throughput down 16% and overall sheep kill volumes deeply constrained.

The resilient lamb prices come in the face of persistent supply constraints. Irish Country Meats reported hogget prices have fallen from €9.00 kg last year to around €8.00 kg now, representing the first time in recent memory that hoggets have dipped below beef prices.

Looking ahead, analysts at Teagasc forecast lamb prices to remain elevated throughout 2025, supported by tight global markets, reduced herd numbers, and strong export demand.

For trade buyers and processors, this environment signals a need for prompt procurement planning. 

Irish Beef Processing Sees Throughput Increase Amidst Strong Prices

Figures released by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) reveal a 3% increase in cattle processed in approved Irish plants for the year to date. As of the week ending May 4th, 2025, a total of 640,174 head of cattle have been processed, a rise of 10,759 head compared to the 629,415 processed during the same period in 2024.

Prime cattle throughput for the first 18 weeks of the year reached 481,132 head, marking a 1.8% increase from the corresponding period last year. However, the slaughter mix within this category has seen some shifts. While young bull slaughter experienced a notable decline earlier in 2025, it has now evened out to a similar level as the same week in 2024. Conversely, steer and heifer throughput has seen a slight decrease compared to 2024.

Cow throughput remains robust, with 99,507 cows processed so far this year, representing a significant 13% increase from 2024 levels.

The market continues to see strong base quotes for prime cattle this week, with steers quoted in the region of €7.40-€7.50 per kilogramme and heifers starting at €7.50/kg to €7.60/kg. The trade for the smaller number of young bulls on offer remains steady, with €7.40-€7.50/kg available for U grading animals under 24 months. Flat prices for R grading bulls can reach as high as €8.00/kg.

Well-fleshed O grading cows are currently being quoted at €6.90/kg, with prices reaching €7.30/kg for good quality R grading cows. Notably, a significant proportion of the cow kill in recent months has achieved a conformation score of P, and prices for these animals vary considerably depending on grade, weight, and overall quality.

For the week ending May 4th, 2025, the average price paid by Irish beef processors for R3 steers saw an increase to €7.53/kg, a substantial 128c/kg ahead of the corresponding week in 2024. The reported average price for R3 heifers during the same week rose by 26c/kg to €7.54/kg, placing it a significant 164c/kg ahead of the same week last year. It is important to note that these reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments such as in-spec bonuses and breed-based producer group incentives.

European markets are also experiencing strong young bull prices, which have held firm throughout 2025. The average reported price for R3 grading young bulls in Europe was €6.51/kg (excluding VAT) for the week ending May 4th, 2025, marking a 125c/kg increase compared to the same week last year. In the United Kingdom, tighter cattle supplies and firm demand have maintained strong deadweight beef prices. However, the average R3 steer price in the UK saw a slight decrease of 24c/kg this week, settling at €8.23/kg for the week ending May 4th, 2025.

Bord Bia

UK Cattle Prices Stall, Cow Values Climb Amidst Stable Sheep Market

The latest market analysis from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) indicates a pause in the upward momentum of Great Britain’s deadweight cattle prices in the week ending May 3rd. While overall average prices for steers, heifers, and young bulls saw a marginal increase of less than a penny, the all-prime average rose by 0.8p/kg to reach 702p/kg. Following the disruption of two bank holiday weeks, estimated prime cattle slaughter rebounded significantly to 36,800 head, marking the highest throughput recorded so far this year.

Conversely, cow prices continued their upward trajectory. The overall average deadweight cow price increased by a further 6p/kg in the week ending May 3rd, settling at 538p/kg – a substantial £1.77/kg higher than the same period last year. This sustained rise in cow values, juxtaposed with the steadying prime cattle category, has narrowed the price gap between the two since the beginning of April. However, the current difference remains historically wide, highlighting the competitive pricing of cow beef in the market.

Kantar data reveals that actual retail volume sales of beef experienced growth throughout April, likely influenced by the timing of Easter. However, a weaker performance in March resulted in relatively stable year-on-year volumes for the 12 weeks leading up to April 20th (-0.3%). Average beef prices saw a 6% increase compared to the previous year, with notable growth in the value of steak and ready-to-cook categories. For context, the all-prime average deadweight cattle price was up by a significant 35% year-on-year over the same 12-week period.

Original source: AHDB

Consumers are continuing to feel the pinch as meat price inflation remains stubbornly high, according to the latest AIMS Meat Inflation Tracker Report for April 2025.

The report reveals that fresh meat prices have increased by a significant 11.53% compared to April 2024, with a further rise of 3.48% recorded in the last month alone.

Tony Goodger, Head of Communications at AIMS, commenting on the concerning figures, stated, “Our report, which is based AHDB’s supermarket price tracker, and our own monitoring of the chicken market shows that meat price inflation is being driven by 12 months of steep rises across beef (+20.96%) and lamb (+19.92%) cuts.”

For consumers seeking more budget-friendly options, Mr. Goodger pointed to a notable exception in the market. “Consumers looking for the very best value should go for British farm assured chicken legs as they haven’t moved at all during the last month and are 5p/kg down (2.03%) year on year.”

He also highlighted some slight relief in the pork sector. “That said,” Mr. Goodger added, “British Pork cuts such as belly slices, tenderloin and mince have also dropped back slightly year on year. However, with the current hot weather and two bank holidays in quick succession I do expect demand for these lines to increase as households look to the barbecue for meal occasions.”

The AIMS report underscores the sustained pressure on household budgets due to escalating meat prices, particularly for beef and lamb. While chicken legs and certain pork cuts offer some respite, the overall trend indicates that meat price inflation remains a significant concern for consumers. The anticipated increase in demand for barbecue staples due to the upcoming warm weather and bank holidays could further influence prices in the short term.