Irish Cattle Prices Under Pressure as Factories Adopt Tough Stance

Irish cattle prices have come under renewed pressure at the start of 2026. Meat processors are reported to be taking a “take it or leave it” approach to procurement, despite reduced slaughter numbers.

According to the Irish Examiner, factories have hardened their stance on base prices for steers and heifers in the first trading week of the year. This resulted in a softening of returns for finishers. This shift has surprised some producers given the continued tightness in cattle availability.

Official figures show that the kill in week one of 2026 was almost 8,000 head lower than the same period in 2025. This underlines the ongoing contraction in Irish cattle supplies. Despite this, processors appear confident in holding firm on prices. They cite weak demand signals and challenging market conditions at the opening of the year.

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Source article: Irish Examiner | 6 January 2026

Irish Sheep Market Update

Week ending: 6 December 2025 | Ireland

Overview

Irish lamb prices held broadly steady this week, with base quotes unchanged and paid prices showing modest improvement. However, the trade continues to run behind December 2024 levels, while tightening supplies across Ireland, the UK and Europe remain a key feature of the market.

Processor Quotes

Base quotes for lambs were largely unchanged this week:

Base quotes: €7.60–€7.70/kg (plus QA bonus)

Upper carcase weight limit: 22.5kg

Processors continue to report that higher prices are achievable for larger consignments of lambs that meet current market specifications.

Prices

Recent improvements in base quotes have fed through to paid prices.

Average Irish deadweight price (w/e 6 Dec): €7.56/kg

Weekly change: +3c/kg

December 2024 comparison: €8.14/kg

Despite the uplift, Irish prices remain well below last year’s December levels. In Great Britain, lamb prices strengthened further ahead of Christmas demand:

GB deadweight price: €8.14/kg

Weekly change: +4c/kg

Price gap vs early November: +60c/kg

In Northern Ireland, prices moved lower last week:

NI equivalent price: €7.13/kg

International Context

Southern Hemisphere markets showed mixed performance:

Australia: Heavy lamb prices fell 16c/kg to approx. €6.15/kg, driven by increased new-season supply and heavier carcase weights.

New Zealand: Prices eased marginally to €5.34/kg, with tighter availability and strong export demand providing stability.

Strong export performance and tighter processing supplies in both countries have narrowed the global price gap, impacting product competitiveness on European markets.

Throughput

Sheep throughput in DAFM-approved plants for the week ending 6 December remained similar to recent weeks.

Weekly lamb throughput: Marginally higher than late Nov/early Dec 2024

YTD throughput: –19% vs 2024

Declines are evident across all sheep categories, reflecting a structurally tighter supply environment.

Reduced lamb availability is not confined to Ireland. Population data from both the UK and wider Europe points to contracting flocks and lower output from the 2025 lambing season.

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Source: Bord Bia | 6 January 2026

US Reciprocal Beef Quota for UK Exporters Confirmed for 2026

The US Federal Register has formally confirmed the allocation of a 13,000-tonne beef tariff-rate quota for UK exporters. This allows the UK–US reciprocal beef quota arrangement to operate in full from 2026, according to NFU.

The quota provides UK beef producers with continued preferential access to the US market. It is one of the world’s most valuable destinations for high-quality beef cuts. Under the arrangement, eligible UK exports can enter the US at reduced or zero tariff rates within the quota limit. This supports bilateral trade between the two countries.

Industry representatives have welcomed the confirmation, noting that the US market offers strong demand for premium grass-fed and grain-finished beef. This is particularly relevant at a time when global beef supplies are tightening. The quota is seen as an important outlet for UK processors and exporters seeking to diversify markets beyond Europe.

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Source article: NFU | 31 December 2025

Australian Beef Exports Thrive in Record-Breaking Year

Australia’s beef sector has delivered a record-breaking export performance in 2025. Shipments are on track to exceed 1.5 million tonnes for the first time. This is according to reporting from ABC News.

2025 has been a record year driven by strong US demand for lean beef. There are also rising shipments to China. Trade disruption between the US and China has opened key opportunities for Australian producers. Also, tariffs have failed to dent demand.

The surge underlines Australia’s growing importance in a tightening global beef market.

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Original source: ABC News | 31 December 2025 

UK Meat Snacks Market Forecast to Grow to £557m by 2033

The UK meat snacks category is set for strong long-term growth, with market value forecast to rise from £335 million in 2024 to more than £557 million by 2033, according to new analysis from Research and Markets.

The market is forecast to grow from £335m in 2024 to over £557m by 2033, according to Research and Markets. Demand is being driven by high-protein diets, convenience and ongoing flavour innovation.

The category continues to stand out as a resilient, value-added growth opportunity for processors and retailers.

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Source article: Research and Markets (via Yahoo Finance) | 30 December 2025 

Shrinking Brazilian Beef Supply Threatens to Push Global Prices Higher

Global beef prices are expected to face renewed upward pressure. This occurs as Brazil’s cattle supply begins to tighten. It ends a period in which expanding Brazilian production helped keep international prices in check. This is according to analysis reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Brazil is entering a period of tighter beef supply. Ranchers retain heifers to rebuild herds, thereby reducing export availability. With cattle numbers already low in the US and Australia, analysts warn global beef prices are likely to rise further in 2026.

The shift could reshape sourcing strategies across international markets.

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Source article: Los Angeles Times | 29 December 2025 

Kazakhstan’s Meat Exports Surge in 2025

Kazakhstan has recorded a sharp rise in meat exports in 2025, with shipments in the first ten months already exceeding total volumes for the whole of 2024, according to reporting by The Times of Central Asia.

Beef shipments are up 1.7x to 30,200 tonnes and lamb exports up 1.9x to 25,500 tonnes in the first ten months alone. Government-backed market expansion and strong foreign demand are driving growth.

The trend highlights how new exporters are stepping into global meat markets as supply tightens elsewhere.

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Source article: The Times of Central Asia

29 December 2025

Irish Beef Farming Forecast Shows Strong Margins for 2026

Irish beef farmers are heading into 2026 in their strongest financial position in recent years, supported by tight cattle supplies, robust export demand and firmer prices, according to new forecasts from Teagasc.

Teagasc economists expect finished cattle prices to rise by around 5% in 2026 compared with the 2025 average. On-farm profitability is forecast to remain solid, with net margins of €767 per hectare on single suckling farms and €616 per hectare on cattle finishing systems, reflecting both price strength and disciplined cost control.

The positive outlook is underpinned by shrinking beef production across Europe. Teagasc notes that UK beef output fell by 4.3% in the first ten months of 2025, while EU production declined by 3.9%, tightening overall availability and supporting prices in key export markets.

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Source article: Teagasc – “Beef farming in 2026: a forecast”

28 December 2025 | Ireland

Australian Beef Imports Surge 80% Following UK Free Trade Deal

Imports of Australian beef into the UK have surged by around 80%, intensifying concerns among British farmers that they are being undercut by cheaper imports following the UK–Australia free trade agreement, according to reporting by the The Telegraph.

Farm groups say the sharp increase in imports has added pressure to an already fragile domestic beef sector, where producers are facing rising costs, regulatory change and declining cattle numbers. While demand for beef remains firm, farmers warn that increased volumes of imported product are limiting the market’s ability to reflect tighter UK supply through higher prices.

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Source article: The Telegraph | 26 December 2025

Factory Prices Continue to Ease Ahead of Year End

Irish beef factory quotes have continued to weaken in the final full trading week of 2025, extending a downward trend that has gathered pace through December, according to reporting by Agriland. The latest reductions further dent hopes of a late seasonal recovery for finishers heading into year end.

Across the main processors, quotes for steers, heifers and young bulls have eased by a further 5–10c/kg, with some plants applying additional pressure through tighter specifications and increased use of in-spec limits. Despite relatively modest cattle throughput, factories appear under little pressure to compete aggressively for supplies.

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Source article: Agriland – “Factory quotes: final full week of 2025 sees price decline continue”

15 December 2025