Irish beef price increases

Beef prices have started to move upwards as factories struggle to secure supplies
calendar icon 17 November 2021
clock icon 1 minute read

Irish Farmer's Association Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said beef prices have started to move upwards, but there's still room for improvement.

Most farmers, he said, are now securing €4.20/kg for steers, with prices up to €4.30/kg offered for specialist lots.

Most heifers are selling for €4.25/kg, with up to €4.35/kg offered at the top end.

Prices for cull cows have steadied, ranging from €3.50/kg to €4.00/kg depending on grade.

Prices in the UK have strengthened again and supplies are running 4% below 2020 levels, Golden said. This is creating strong demand for Irish beef for the lucrative Christmas trade.

The IFA Livestock Chairman said our beef prices are lagging 9c/kg behind the latest Prime Export Benchmark price and must push on.

“Cattle supplies are predicted to be extremely tight up to year end," said Golden. "Combined with the reduced volumes of beef in the UK and the low levels of South American imports in the EU market, this creates a very positive market environment for Irish beef which must be returned to farmers in strong price increases."

Golden said farmers should dig in and sell hard. “Factories need cattle to fill the lucrative Christmas orders and must return the full value of the current strong market conditions,” he said.

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