Beef finishing and store cattle enterprises recorded the strongest percentage income growth of any farm system in Ireland in 2025, according to a new report.

The average income on these farms rose by 81% to over €32,800, the Teagasc National Farm Survey, published today (Monday, July 6), shows.

The average cattle other farm income per hectare increased by 75% year-on-year (to €976) with a slight increase in average utilised agricultural area which went from 33ha to 34ha.

There were approximately 32,308 cattle other farms represented in the survey in 2025.

Cattle prices

Cattle finishing is the dominant enterprise on these farms, but the system also includes farms selling store cattle, dairy-to-beef and those involved with contract rearing.

Finished cattle prices increased considerably in 2025, with the annual average price up 39% on the 2024 level.

However, prices paid for young cattle increased to a much greater extent than in 2024.

Farms with a dairy-beef enterprise did particularly well in 2025.

Income up 81%

Overall, across farm types, cattle other family farm income increased dramatically year-on-year, with an average income of €32,798, an 81% increase on 2024, Teagasc said.

Typically, average output value per farm increased by 31% in 2025 to €82,705.

The level of support payments on cattle other farms increasedby 4% in 2025 to €16,427 and continue to be important in supporting incomes on cattle other farms, Teagasc economists said.

Distribution

The proportion of cattle other farms reporting a family farm income below €5,000 decreased to 12%.

The proportion of cattle other farms with an income of between €5,000 and €10,000 also declined to 14%.

The proportion of cattle other farms reporting an income of between €10,000 and €20,000 decreased in 2025 to 22% on average.

The proportion in the €20,000 to €50,000 income categoryincreased to 33% in 2025.

There was an increase in the proportion of cattle other farms earning more than €50,000, at 19% on average in 2025.

Teagasc said that 50% of cattle other farm holders also worked off-farm in 2025.

Farm size

In terms of the overall population of cattle other farms, approximately 45% of farms fall into the below 20ha size category with a further 17% in the 20-30ha size category, 20% in the 30-50ha category.

In 2025, 14% of cattle other farms were in the 50-100ha bracket with the remaining 4% comprising of farms above 100ha .

The average utilised agricultural area on cattle other farms in 2025 was 34ha, increasing by 3% compared to 2024.

Livestock numbers also increased, by 3% to 45 livestock units, on average.

Average gross margin per hectare on cattle other farms increased by 39% in 2025 to €1,668/ha.

Costs

Production costs for the average cattle other farm increased in 2025, up 11% year-on-year, with an increase in both direct and overhead costs.

On average, direct costs increased by 12%, and overhead costsby 10%.

Typically, expenditure on purchased concentrates was up 9% in 2025 to €10,866, with a significant increase in spending on purchased bulky feed also evident.

Expenditure on fertiliser increased by 19% to €3,839 on average, while nitrogen usage was up compared to 2024.