The cattle business faces extreme uncertainty, as across-the-board plant cutbacks, coupled with a record year for calf and cattle prices in 2025, leave many farmers facing huge losses.
Agriland I spoke to Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Chandler To hear his perspective on the livestock trade and the challenges and uncertainties facing farmers.
While wetter areas are seeing the effects of recent rainfall, many farmers have benefited from warmer weather over the past two weeks which has increased the supply of grass, meaning they are willing to buy more livestock to take advantage of the extra grass growth.
Chandler believes the light cattle trade will see a benefit.
He believes continental-type cattle will not sell for less than €3.80 per kilogram, but at the higher end of the price scale, they could reach €4.60 per kilogram for better quality species.
Both Herefords and smaller Angus from 280 to 300kg are expected to fetch €3.80/kg to €4.30/kg in the coming weeks.
Heavier continents and stocked livestock will lose out in the future as margins become increasingly tight, impacting farmers who sell to factories, who have seen up to 80 cents/kg Cut off prices.
Chandler expressed concern about current pricing trends, saying:
“A 420kg Continental bull will get close to €2,000, but you would struggle to get close to €2,000 for a 600kg Friesan bull.”
The Kilkenny market manager attributed this to high demand for stocked livestock, along with farmers and feedlots who have livestock to sell but cannot. discharge Due to the factories’ delay in receiving them.
Factory killings are down significantly from 2025 levels, but last week marked the third straight week of increased killing numbers in corresponding weeks last year.
“I’ve seen foot and mouth disease but this is the biggest uncertainty I’ve ever seen in the beef business.”
Chandler described the trade as “lacking in confidence.”
He believes markets will see a decline in the number of cattle farmers buy because they cannot take the risk that prices will rebound in six months when they look to sell.
Calf trade
Regarding the calf trade, Chandler felt it had been severely affected by beef prices as farmers turned to heifers rather than youngsters and stockpiled stock.
This caused the price to rise and led him to wonder:
“What margin will you make if the price of a calf is €600 now?”
On the vendor side, Chandler saw the calves presented in better condition this year.
The rising price has acted as a cushion for dairy farmers to limit the impact of falling milk prices, and farmers are believed to have benefited from the value of the calf by increasingly choosing beef.
Teagasc data for 2025 confirms this trend, with 63% of births from the dairy herd recorded to beef sires. This number is expected to continue or increase in 2026.
Chandler cited the impact of Mercosur and cheap beef imports from South America on the Irish cattle trade as well as uncertainty over the potential for reduced demand from “the housewife looking for cheaper meat due to the cost of living”.
He also questioned the potential impact of cheap Australian and New Zealand beef and lamb on demand for Irish beef in the UK.
According to Kilkenny Mart Auctions, if there is no change in the current trajectory of beef prices, it will be at the expense of the farm’s viability and ability to feed Europeans.
