Irish beef prices fall €500/hd; finishers face losses as prices lag 2025

Irish beef prices have dropped by up to €500 per head, with weanling and store cattle prices reaching €6/kg, yet prices remain over €1/kg behind the same period in 2025. Finishers who purchased cattle last year are now facing significant losses, indicating a sharp reversal in the cattle market cycle. The decline suggests weakening demand or oversupply, with implications for Irish agricultural incomes and related sectors.