The Beef Carcase Classification and Price Reporting 2025 annual report was recently published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The report contains a huge level of data on several key areas of Irish beef cattle production over the past decade.

One of the many interesting pieces of data included in the report is an overview of the average annual beef price paid to farmers by cattle type over the past decade.

The table below details the average beef price per kg paid to farmers from 2016 to 2025 by category based on most common grade within each category in 2025:

The table illustrates how prices have been on an overall gradual increasing trend in the past decade with the exception of 2019 when prices dropped off.

The most significant price rises were seen in 2025 and as farmers will remember, the first half of the year seen record increases in beef price across all categories.

The graph below illustrates beef price trends by category over the past decade:

Prices soared in 2025 with average prime cattle price settling at approximately €7.50/kg.

The graph above demonstrates how significant the 2025 beef price rise was compared to price movement in the previous nine years.

Prime cattle price has now settled at above €7/kg base price, but it remains to be seen if Irish beef prices will undergo correction, remain stable, or continue on an upward trajectory.