The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) has claimed the recent drop-off in beef prices is "disgraceful" and that processors are "deliberately" keeping prices down.

The association's Beef Committee spokesperson Edmund Graham said beef price cuts in recent months have "hit farmers hard", and that prices are "not recovering fast enough".

"The drop-off in beef prices is disgraceful. Despite reports of modest price firming in recent weeks, farmers are still being forced to accept prices that do not cover the cost of production," Graham claimed.

"In many cases, this means farmers are selling cattle at a loss," he added.

According to Graham, cattle prices have fallen by as much as €300/head since late last year. He said "no beef farmer can absorb losses like that and keep going".

Graham cited recent figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) which confirmed that the number of cattle slaughtered in 2025 fell by 12% compared with the previous year.

"Despite this significant drop, processors appear to be doing everything they can to keep prices down" Graham said.

He claimed that this included increasing imports to fill orders and "undercut Irish producers".

"It's clear [processors] are going to do everything in their power to keep prices from going back to anywhere near where they were last year," Graham claimed.

"Processors must stop treating farmers as a cost to be cut and start paying prices that reflect the true value and quality of Irish beef, or risk the very industry they rely on," the ICSA representative said.

Factories caught 'bluffing again'

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has also commented on cattle prices, claiming that processors have been caught "bluffing again" on prices.

According to Michael O'Connell, chair of the ICMSA's Livestock Committee, factories have been engaged in a "supply and demand" tactic.

He said since the re-opening of marts following the Christmas break factory agents "have been very active for all types of forward and beef cattle".

O'Connell added: "The figures we have heard being bought in sales - in particular fat stock sales - is a sure sign that factories are expecting barren times 60 to 70 days from now."

He added: "There is room for negotiation with processors at present, up to 10c/kg more for in-spec underage cattle with up to 30c/kg Angus bonuses being paid with all the talk being that flat prices will shortly be on the table again."

According to O'Connell, marts are a "hugely viable option" and some prices can be higher than the equivalent cattle types in factories.