Finished cattle shortage to continue into 2026

A combination of higher live exports and earlier slaughtering of beef animals has added to the lower national herd size.

The severity of the shortage of finished cattle hitting the factories is showing no signs of easing to prior year levels of intake any time in the near future.

All of the indications now, based on the statistical information on stocking levels and factory throughput to date, are suggesting that it will see through to the end of the year and beyond.

A combination of higher live exports and earlier slaughtering of beef animals has added to the lower national herd size, all of which are coming together now to impact available supplies for the factories.

Prices on offer for this week have hardened slightly more and is being driven by the competition between the processing plants to get sufficient cattle, with 'top up' and deals on defraying transport costs as 'add ins' to some deals to get the cattle.

Steers are being quoted at 750-760 cents/kg with a higher percentage understood to be costing at the higher end this week and some deals for quality lots or higher numbers including transport as a 'top up'

Heifer are being quoted ranging 760kg-770 cents/kg and some suppliers reporting a 'bit extra' with hard selling. There is also 'hunger' at the factories for the cows with good R grade cows worth 735-740 cents/kg this week.

While numbers are low, the young bulls are also in strong demand at up to 755-760 cents/kg for R grade.

All of the indications are that the finishers are moving more of the beef animals to the live sales at the marts where the factory agents compete in open bidding, resulting in prices above the factory quotes for similar animals being openly paid for the quality heavier animals in particular.

Up to €5.23/kg was paid for 650kg-700kg continental bullocks within the past week, while finishers paid up to €6/kg for the forward store animals reflecting their anticipation of the continuation of the current beef trade.

Fairly typical of the current live trade, a Charolais cross bullock 830kgs sold for €3,770, while €3,730 was paid for an Angus cross weighing 790 kgs, and a 780kg Limousin cross sold for €3,690 at Ennis over recent days.

A lot of 400kg Charolais cross bullocks sold for €6/kg and €6.59kg was paid for a 405kg Limousin cross heifer at the same sale.