The cattle trade is facing major uncertainty as cuts across the board to factory prices, coupled with the record year for calf and cattle prices in 2025, is resulting in many farmers facing daunting losses.

Agriland spoke to Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Chandler to hear his perspective on the the cattle trade and the challenges and uncertainty facing farmers.

While wetter areas are seeing the effects of the recent rainfall, many farmers have benefited from the warmer weather over the last fortnight that lead to excess grass supply, meaning they are willing to purchase more cattle to utilise the additional grass growth.

Chandler believes that the trade for lighter cattle will see the benefit of this.

He believes that continental-type store cattle will not go for anything under €3.80/kg, but at the higher end of the price scale, could reach €4.60/kg for the better-quality types.

The Herefords and smaller type Angus's ranging in weight from 280-300kgs will make from €3.80/kg to €4.30/kg in the coming weeks, he expects.

Heavier continentals and forward store cattle will lose out as margins are increasingly shrinking which will hit farmers selling to factories, who have seen up to 80 cent/kg cut from prices.

Chandler voiced his concern on current pricing trends, saying:

The Kilkenny mart manager put this down to the high demand for store cattle, combined with farmers and feedlots that had cattle to sell but could not offload them due to delays with factories taking them.

Factory kills have been down significantly on 2025 levels but last week saw the third consecutive week of increased kill numbers on the corresponding weeks of last year.

Chandler described the trade as "lacking confidence".

He believes that marts will see a reduction in the number of cattle that farmers are purchasing as they cannot take the "gamble" that prices will rebound in six months' time when they look to sell.

Calf trade

On the calf trade, Chandler felt that it was being heavily influenced by beef prices as farmers turn to calves instead of yearlings and store cattle.

This drove the price upwards and led him to question:

On the sellers' side, Chandler felt that calves were presented in better condition this year.

The increased price has acted as a cushion for dairy farmers to reduce the impact of the low milk prices and he believes farmers have taken advantage of the calf value by increasingly opting for beef sires.

Teagasc data for 2025 confirms this trend, with 63% of births from the dairy herd registered to beef sires. This number is expected to hold or increase in 2026.

Chandler pointed to the impact of Mercosur and cheaper beef imports from South America on the Irish cattle trade as well as the uncertainty around potentially reduced demand from the "housewife who is 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 the Kilkenny Mart auctioneer, if there is no change in the currently trajectory as regards beef prices, it would be to the detriment of farm viability and their ability to feed Europeans.