Cattle prices in Ireland are down almost 8% on last year according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The CSO has today (November, 6) published 'Agricultural Price Indices - Preliminary Estimates 2026'.

The Agricultural Output Price Index for the year 2026 is projected to decrease by 10.3% when compared with 2025.

The fall in the Output Price Index is mainly due to price decreases in milk (-18.1%), pigs (-12.5%) and cattle (-7.6%), according to the CSO.

A projected increase of 6.5% in the Input Price Index 2026 is driven by rises in prices for fertiliser (+18%) and energy (+17.9%) when compared with 2025.

The annual Terms of Trade is anticipated to fall by 15.8% when compared with 2025.

Commenting on the release, Cian O'Riordan, statistician in the CSO Agriculture Division, said: "The Input Price Index shows a rise of 6.5% when compared with 2025, while the Output Price Index is estimated to fall by 10.3%.

"In terms of input prices, 2026 has seen significant increases in fertiliser and energy prices, projected to be 18% and 17.9% respectively when compared with 2025.

"In output prices, there has been notable falls during 2026 in milk (-18.1%) and pig (-12.5%) prices when compared with 2025.

"Cattle prices are predicted to have fallen by 7.6% in 2026 when compared with 2025," he added.

The CSO indices monitor trends in prices paid to farmers for their produce and in prices paid by farmers for purchases of goods and services.

An EU harmonised methodology is used to compile the price indices.

The estimates are also sent to Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union, which provides the Directorate-General for Agriculture in Brussels with forecasts of the annual EU agricultural price indices for the current year.