Prime Cattle Prices Ease as Lamb Trade Weakens in GB

GB prime cattle prices came under pressure in late January as higher numbers forward weighed on the market. lamb prices continued to soften amid weaker domestic and export demand.

In the week ending 31 January, the GB deadweight steer price fell by 4.5p to average 638p/kg, while heifer prices eased 1.5p to the same level. Young bull prices also weakened, down 3.9p to 618p/kg. Estimated GB prime cattle slaughter increased by 900 head week on week to 34,800 head. In addition, year-to-date throughput is now 1% higher than the same period in 2025.

Market feedback suggests that greater supplies are meeting a softer demand profile. Reports indicate slower retail and foodservice demand as consumers rein in spending following the Christmas period.

In contrast, GB cow prices continued to strengthen, rising 3.8p to 512p/kg in the latest reporting week. Cow prices have increased in every week so far in 2026. The differential with prime cattle is narrowing as seasonal demand for manufacturing beef improves. Estimated cow slaughter declined by 900 head to 10,300 head week on week.

Sheep markets remained under pressure. The deadweight old-season lamb (OSL) SQQ dropped a further 10p/kg to 679p/kg, leaving it 31p/kg below year-ago levels. Supplies were reported above last year, while demand has weakened both domestically and for export.

By contrast, the liveweight OSL SQQ (England and Wales) increased 16p to 337p/kg in the week ending 1 February, marginally above the same week last year. Average cull ewe prices eased to £126.90/head. However, this remains £1.30/head higher year on year due to tighter availability.

Estimated clean sheep slaughter for the week ending 31 January totalled 193,600 head, down 2,400 head week on week. However, this was more than 19,000 head higher than the same week last year, which was historically low.

Weaker demand signals are also emerging in continental markets. Prices at Rungis Market in France have been falling steadily since the start of the year, pointing to softer demand conditions.

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Source: AHDB | Weekly Cattle and Sheep Market Wrap | 5 February 2026

MLA Launches Rare Medium 2026 to Shape Future of Red Meat on Australian Menus

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has launched Rare Medium 2026, its latest long-term foodservice trends report. This is designed to guide how red meat will feature on Australian menus over the next decade.

According to Meat & Livestock Australia, the report draws on extensive consumer research, chef insights and global dining trends. As a result, it helps producers, processors and foodservice operators adapt red meat offerings to changing expectations.

Key themes highlighted include:

Growing demand for premium, provenance-led beef and lamb

Increased focus on sustainability, nose-to-tail utilisation and value-led cuts

The influence of global flavours and multicultural dining

A shift towards flexitarian menus, where red meat is eaten less frequently but with higher quality expectations

MLA said Rare Medium 2026 is intended to support the entire red meat supply chain. It does this by aligning production and product development with how consumers actually choose meals, rather than focusing solely on volume growth.

The report positions red meat as a hero ingredient when executed well. It suggests that future success lies in storytelling, eating experience and menu relevance rather than price competition alone.

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Source: Meat & Livestock Australia | January 2026

Marfrig Cancels Sale of Uruguay Plants to Minerva

Marfrig cancels Uruguay plant sale to Minerva after months of negotiations. The move ends a proposed deal that would have transferred several of Marfrig’s beef processing facilities in Uruguay to rival Minerva Foods. This sudden decision reshapes expectations for South American beef exports and adds fresh uncertainty to regional capacity.

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Why it matters

The fact that Marfrig cancels Uruguay plant sale has direct implications for global beef trade. Uruguay is a premium supplier to Europe, China, and the Middle East. A change of ownership could have altered pricing structures, supply chains, and long-term contracts. By pulling out, Marfrig has maintained the status quo for now, which may bring short-term stability for EU and UK importers but raises longer-term questions.

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Market/Context

The Uruguay beef sector is highly competitive, with Minerva already one of the largest exporters in South America. If the sale had gone ahead, Minerva would have further expanded its slaughtering and processing capacity. Marfrig has said it ended the talks for “strategic reasons,” without disclosing detailed financial terms.

This development comes as global beef demand faces volatility. Chinese buyers are still cautious, while high feed costs and exchange rate pressures weigh on South American producers. Uruguay remains attractive thanks to its traceability standards and pasture-based systems, but any shift in plant ownership can quickly affect export volumes.

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What to watch

• Whether Marfrig seeks alternative buyers for its Uruguay assets.

• If Minerva pursues other acquisitions to expand its footprint.

• Potential political and regulatory scrutiny around large-scale ownership consolidation.

• The effect on EU and UK beef buyers heading into the seasonal Q4 demand peak.

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Attribution

Source: Reuters

See also: Minerva Foods Completes Acquisition of Marfrig Assets

Irish Cattle Trade Update – Week Ending 2 August 2025

The Irish cattle trade August 2025 continues to show tight supplies, with factories competing for livestock. As a result, base quotes have moved higher across all categories.

Cattle Market Performance

Total throughput in DAFM-approved plants reached 25,471 head for the week ending 2 August 2025. This was 915 head more than the previous week. However, volumes were still 28% lower than the same week in 2024, when 32,451 cattle were processed.

Year-to-date slaughter is running 4% behind 2024, with cow throughput falling by 15%. The decline reflects both herd contraction and earlier culling.

This week, factory quotes strengthened. Steers made €7.50–7.60/kg, while heifers achieved €7.60–7.70/kg. Young bulls under 16 months graded U returned €7.80–7.90/kg. In addition, cow prices ranged from €7.10–7.20/kg for P and O grades, rising to €7.30–7.40/kg for R grades, depending on weight and quality.

Deadweight Prices

The R3 steer average increased by 8c/kg to reach €7.56/kg, returning to May’s levels. In comparison, the latest UK R3 steer price was €7.44/kg. This places UK cattle 12c/kg below Irish averages, a sharp reversal from February when Britain led by €1.17/kg. Meanwhile, the EU R3 young bull average stood at €6.76/kg, around 80c/kg below Irish steers. (Prices exclude VAT and include bonuses.)

Live Exports

Exports remain firm despite supply challenges. Up to 26 July, Ireland exported 298,514 head, a rise of 12% year-on-year. Notably, calf exports topped 220,000 head, up 14% on 2024. Moreover, strong demand for weanlings and store cattle came from Northern Ireland, Spain, Eastern Europe, and North Africa.

Source: Bord Bia — Cattle Trade & Prices (week ending 2 August). Bord Bia

Australian beef exports hit fresh record as July shipments reach 150,435t

11 August 2025 — Australia | Australia set another beef-export record in July, shipping 150,435 tonnes of product. That’s 12% more than June’s previous high and 16% above July last year, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

July is the fourth record month in a year, as processors keep kills high and heavier carcase weights push volumes through the system. MLA notes weekly slaughter has held above 150,000 head regularly since April, while adult-cattle carcase weights averaged 313kg in Q1.

Tight supply among competitors is helping Australia’s share. MLA reports year-to-date declines from Argentina, the US, New Zealand and Canada, with Brazil the main outlier. That imbalance, plus strong demand for consistent, long-shelf-life chilled and frozen product, is underpinning orders into key Asian and North American markets.

Outlook

Watch for any step-down in Brazil as its cattle cycle turns, the impact of seasonal conditions on Australian slaughter, and whether record monthly volumes can be maintained into Q4.

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Attribution: Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) — “Australian beef exports – why are records continually broken?” by Tim Jackson, 7 Aug 2025. Link: https://www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/industry-news/australian-beef-exports--why-are-records-continually-broken/

China extends beef import probe to 26th November, easing near-term risk for exporters

6 August 2025 — China | Beijing has extended its investigation into beef imports by three months to 26 November, giving global suppliers a short reprieve from potential trade curbs while China tries to stabilise an oversupplied domestic market. Officials said the inquiry does not target any single country.

Why it matters

Possible measures (such as quotas) would hit key shippers Argentina, Australia and Brazil. The United States is already feeling pain after China failed to renew many plant registrations in March, leaving “the vast majority” of US facilities ineligible to ship and costing an estimated $4bn in lost opportunities, according to the US Meat Export Federation.

Market backdrop

China imported a record 2.87m tonnes of beef in 2024, but H1 2025 volumes fell 9.5% to 1.3m tonnes as demand slowed. Beijing has stepped up support for the cattle sector and says farm profitability has returned in recent months. Extending the probe “buys time” to see if the industry can recover without safeguards, analysts said.

What to watch next

• Whether China opts for quiet, negotiated fixes rather than formal curbs.

• Any movement on US plant re-registrations.

• Import pace into Q4 as domestic margins improve.

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Source: Reuters, 6 August 2025 — “China extends probe into imported beef, a respite for global suppliers.” Reporting by Ella Cao, Lewis Jackson and Tom Polansek. Link: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-extends-probe-imported-beef-respite-global-suppliers-2025-08-06/

One of the meat industry’s most popular cuts is the sirloin. With its medieval history and versatility for cooking, it’s easy to see why.

Grilled, roasted, pan-seared, or even as leftovers in a sandwich, this cut of beef has a delicious and long-standing history in British culture and cuisine.

Perhaps the most famous story in the history of the sirloin is attributed to the myth that King James I had coined the phrase by knighting a cut of beef at a feast held at Houghton Hall in Lancaster during a grand feast, proudly declaring “Arise Sir Loin”. Whilst a very charming story, the history of the sirloin is more accurately whittled down to its linguistic roots, coming from the French “Surlonge” to mean ‘above or below the loin’.

Nonetheless, it is a deliciously rich and tender cut of beef making it an especially popular choice for steak.

Sirloin cuts are often the thinner portions of a steak, having high protein and low fat content. Although the sirloin is a leaner cut of steak with less marbling than the rib eye, it is far from dry.

Top sirloin is one of the most popular sirloin cuts, with the bones and harder muscles removed to produce a more delicate and juicy steak.

Red meat is a high-protein food that is essential for muscle health, and both of these steaks include a lot of protein per serving. Steak contains Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, iron, phosphorus, and zinc, all of which your body requires daily to function properly.

Lucy Vardy | Meatex

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