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FARMING - BEEF & SHEEP

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Beef and Sheep.

<p>Foreign ministers and delegates attend the opening session of the LXV Mercosur Summit in Montevideo last December,. Picture: Getty Images</p>

farming

Farm View: US tariff war could make Mercosur's threat look mild

President Trump had made his intention clear to punish Europe with new tariffs, claiming that the EU has long taken advantage of the US.

<p>Participants in the 2025 scheme will be required to complete three out of five proposed actions to receive full payment of €13 per ewe. File picture: Andy Gibson.</p>

farming

New €22m national sheep welfare scheme launched

<p>Entries for the live sales at the marts are also continuing to tighten.</p>

farming

Suppliers report prices above €9/kg for lamb

workplace food industry - factory butchery for the production of sausages - butcher cuts meat

farming

Steers edge closer to €8/kg as beef prices rise 15-20c/kg

Preparing calves for grass: A guide to successful weaning

farming

Preparing calves for grass: A guide to successful weaning

Young NZ Dairy Farmer with Calves

farming

€4m dairy beef weighing measure to pay €20 per eligible calf

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Karen Walsh, Law of the Land

Close up of calves on animal farm eating hay.

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

S No one knows where peak beef prices will end up

Suppliers are reporting that processors are offering increases of 20-25 cents/kg to get cattle for killing this week with added perks including part or all of the haulage, to further sweeten the deal

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

HEALTH BirdFlu 12

UK detects world's first case of bird flu in a sheep

Many different mammals have died of the H5N1 bird flu virus across the globe including bears, cats, dairy cows, dogs, dolphins, seals and tigers

Mon, 24 Mar, 2025

Brian Reidy: What does the future hold for Irish livestock producers?

Brian Reidy: What does the future hold for Irish livestock producers?

A lot of dairy and suckler producers are extremely disillusioned with the indices being used.

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025

Beef Cattle Open Range on Large Ranch

Another 5c per kilo added to beef prices in the past week

Unprecedented record prices continue to be maintained

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025

Meat displayed for sale in shop

Fears Irish beef may get too expensive for the UK

Beef cattle prices in the UK are fast approaching £7 (€8.30) per deadweight kg, or close to £3,000 (€3,550) liveweight, which many in the industry fear is unsustainable for butchers and processors

Tue, 18 Mar, 2025

Signpost: Spring calving and making the first preparations for silage in Youghal

Signpost: Spring calving and making the first preparations for silage in Youghal

The males are finished as under 16-month bull beef. Some of the heifers are kept for breeding, while those which are not are finished at 18-20 months

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

workplace food industry - factory butchery for the production of sausages - butcher cuts meat

Further 10c/kg catapults beef prices into 'fantasy land'

It has become the understatement of the year to say that the beef trade is in overdrive, writes Martin Ryan

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Slices of New York Strip Steak on cutting board

'Priority' Thai market opens for Irish beef

Market with population of over 65 million people presents significant opportunities for Irish agri-food exporters, agriculture minister says

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Man buying meat at grocery store

Farm View: Why Irish beef prices have been soaring throughout 2025

Britain's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board said meat-free products had their fourth consecutive year of decline in the UK in January, while meat, fish and poultry saw volume growth of 1.4%

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Lamb prices down 10c/kg at the factories

The change is reducing returns to suppliers by an average of €10-11/head.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Westmeath students take first prize in Certified Irish Angus Schools competition

Westmeath students take first prize in Certified Irish Angus Schools competition

The competition challenges students to rear five Irish Angus calves for beef production for two years while also completing a research project

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Nitrogen Fertilizer

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every week on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Herd of brown cattle in grassy meadow

Brian Reidy: Planning ahead to avoid grass tetany at spring turnout

It's very common every spring to hear about suckler cows going down with Tetany, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

Farmers eye €8/kg for beef as factory prices keep climbing

As the base prices are increased by a further 5-10c/kg this week, there is demand for all of the stock that can be secured by the processing plants

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Sheep prices hold steady but factories tighten grip

Sheep prices hold steady but factories tighten grip

While current prices are strong by traditional returns, the Islamic religious festival Ramadan has usually been relied upon to give a boost to the trade, but 2025 is so far not delivering

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Spreading fertilizer

'The pace of regulatory change is a major concern': IFA challenges new nitrates measures

'The constantly evolving regulatory and non-regulatory measures are adding significantly to the pressure on farms,' IFA environment chairman John Murphy said

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Genetic breakthrough helps farmers avoid costs of infertile cattle

Genetic breakthrough helps farmers avoid costs of infertile cattle

There are up to 1,500 estimated cases each year in Ireland of chromosomal abnormalities, causing fertility issues, premature death, and other health problems

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Cow bonding with her newborn calf

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Signpost: Producing 16-month bull beef in Youghal

Signpost: Producing 16-month bull beef in Youghal

Eamon and his son Donnchadh are farming in Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co Waterford and are part of the Teagasc Future Beef programme with the Signpost programme.

Fri, 28 Feb, 2025

A herd of cows comes close in a tight bunch

30c/kg off-season bonus for Certified Angus

Certified Irish Angus has announced a 30c/kg off-season bonus this spring. ABP and Kepak, the processor partners of the group, will apply an increased bonus on Angus animals slaughtered between March 24 and May 30, 2025.

Wed, 26 Feb, 2025

Aerial View of MS Arrow Cargo Ship Larne Port Co Antrim Northern Ireland 07-07-2024

Illegal meat smuggling raises alarms over livestock disease threat to UK and Ireland

The UK government is under pressure to stop illegal meat being smuggled in, amid warnings of a disease crisis for British farmers

Wed, 26 Feb, 2025

Sheep pen

Processors resist lamb price increases despite tightening supply

Live mart sales strong as factory demand for hoggets continues.

Tue, 25 Feb, 2025

Cow carcasses

Factory cow prices surge, closing gap with prime beef for first time

Across the south of the country, suppliers are reporting that up to 640c/kg is being paid for well-fleshed R-grade cows this week, which is on par with the going base steer price and a few cents behind the base for heifers.

Tue, 25 Feb, 2025

Three Hereford Cows Grazing

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

Farming Crossword

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PLAY THE WEEKLY FARMING CROSSWORD

The interactive version of the crossword that appears in Thursday’s Farming supplement. No cheating.