Beef kill: Supplies remain above 36,000 head into April
Factory cattle supplies remained above 36,000 head for the week ending Sunday, April 6, according to latest beef kill figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
A total of 36,205 head of cattle, excluding veal, were slaughtered at DAFM-approved factories in week 14 of this year (week ending Sunday, April 6) up 5,700 head on the same week of 2024.
The total beef kill to date this year has surpassed 500,000 head, which is up by almost 22,000 head on the same time last year.
The table below details the number of cattle slaughtered in the first week of April this year versus last year and the total kill to date this year versus last year:
| Category | Week ending April 6 | Equivalent Last Year | Cumulative 2025 | Cumulative 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young bulls | 1,545 | 1,658 | 36,154 | 35,925 |
| Bulls | 526 | 559 | 6,204 | 6,091 |
| Steers | 14,448 | 11,292 | 179,490 | 169,839 |
| Cows | 7,480 | 7,627 | 114,598 | 122,418 |
| Heifers | 12,206 | 9,368 | 165,237 | 145,416 |
| Total | 36,205 | 30,504 | 501,683 | 479,689 |
While there has been an increase in the Irish cattle supply to date, the total Irish beef kill for 2025 is forecast to be 90,000 head of cattle below last year's supply.
The drop in supplies had been originally expected to materialise predominantly in the first half of this year but, with kill numbers remaining strong, supplies may well see a sharp decline into the summer months.
According to the UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the UK cattle supply is expected to fall in 2025 with UK beef production forecast to fall 5% year-on-year to 885,000 tonnes.
However, beef consumption in the UK is forecast to grow marginally, driven by retail as foodservice stays stable.
The AHDB has said it "anticipates growth in the UK’s requirement for imported beef in 2025, by 12% versus 2024".
AHDB has said that the forecast supply and demand changes would point to UK farmgate cattle prices being supported throughout 2025, but warned that the price sensitivity of consumers and the mix of cuts purchased will be crucial to carcass values overall.
