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FARMING - BEEF & SHEEP

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Beef and Sheep.

<p>It is not accidental that throughput at the factories continues at almost identical levels week after week. </p>

farming

Beef prices: 'Control' the word of the week as throughput stays stable

'Not a cent more' is the response that many of the 'hard sellers' are getting for trying their hand at securing the 'extra' in deals for supplies this week

<p>Hogget prices at the factories remain unchanged, and suppliers are disappointed with the sluggish trade, which is hitting confidence in the depleted sector as margins come under severe pressure.</p>

farming

Steady trade and tight supplies keep hogget prices stable

<p>Michael Forde, who runs a mixed sheep and cattle enterprise, says planning is important at lambing time. He expects the first lambs to arrive within the next week. Picture: Ray Ryan</p>

farming

Signpost: Preparing for lambing in Galway with good systems and smart planning

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Scottish beef cattle standing in a muddy part of a field on an overcast spring morning.

farming

Brian Reidy: Ground is soft, patience is thin — how to survive the February slog

Forget 'Big Brother', everyone is tuning into the ‘Bord Bia five’

farming

Forget 'Big Brother', everyone is tuning into the ‘Bord Bia five’

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Food safety experts call for tougher EU oversight after Brazil audit

Food safety experts call for tougher EU oversight after Brazil audit

Microbiology experts warn Ireland’s strict regulatory regime was not being matched by controls in South American exporting countries

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

New collaboration to advance rapid silage and pasture analysis

New collaboration to advance rapid silage and pasture analysis

A new collaboration between VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre, Teagasc Grassland Science Department, Goldcrop and FBA Laboratories aims to advance rapid silage and pasture analysis

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Buying meat at a supermarket.

‘Consumers have a right to know’: lack of traceability criticised over Brazilian hormone beef

Food Safety Authority of Ireland chief told Dáil committee none of the beef remained on the market by the time it was notified, and believed it had already been eaten by consumers

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Close up of a a fine mixed herd of cows and bullocks in a summer pasture, alert and looking to the right. North Yorkshire, UK.

Farmer TB attitudes 'obvious for decades', says ICMSA

Deputy president of the ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, credited one of ESRI’s conclusions, which specifically identified that communications of the disease should focus on evidence-based narratives surrounding recommended measures while also avoiding long-winded or overly technical material

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Officials detect new bluetongue case in animal that has "travelled through several counties"

Officials detect new bluetongue case in animal that has "travelled through several counties"

Last week, a bovine which had travelled through several counties was confirmed to have bluetongue during a possible infection period following contraction of the disease

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Signpost: Grazing redstart on Kay's organic farm

Signpost: Grazing redstart on Kay's organic farm

Kay has been feeding her weanlings a redstart crop — a hybrid brassica, essentially combining the rapid growth of forage rape with the hardiness of kale

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Oat florets on sunlit field full frame background

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Sheep pen

Hogget trade stuck at 750c/kg despite Ramadan demand

Ramadan commenced this week, with expectations that demand would lift prices to supply the market. However, there was little cheer for factory suppliers

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Bord Bia

Bord Bia stakeholder meeting returns mixed reactions

The Department of Agriculture hosted a stakeholder meeting with Bord Bia which included farmers and industry representatives, with the IFA saying the protests will continue until its chair steps down

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Woman takes leisurely stroll through forest, walking her Bernese Mountain Dog, who is tied to leash for safety, at sunset. Profe

Microchipping and tracking proposed to curb sheep worrying

As many as 4,000 sheep are killed or injured by marauding dogs in up to 400 attacks on farms and hillsides countrywide every year

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Signpost: From leased out land to a family farm — Denis's journey into dairy-beef

Signpost: From leased out land to a family farm — Denis's journey into dairy-beef

After leasing his farm out for over 30 years, Denis decided to use it himself to farm. A short period of contract rearing was followed by a year on the DairyBeef500 programme to help him on his venture as a beef farmer

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Bord Bia

Paula Hynes: There's no point in discrediting our national storyteller

If Brazilian farmers were anything like Ryanair, they would be thriving on the amount of coverage their beef is getting in Ireland, from the perspective that there is no such thing as bad news, writes Cork dairy farmer Paula Hynes

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

IFA to host public meeting in Claremorris on Bord Bia controversy

IFA to host public meeting in Claremorris on Bord Bia controversy

IFA plan to host a public meeting for farmers on the ongoing situation with Larry Murrin as chair of Bord Bia on February 19 in Co Mayo

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Construction begins on Moorepark's new sustainable agriculture centre

Construction begins on Moorepark's new sustainable agriculture centre

Following a €6m contribution from FBD and Farmer Business Developments, which was matched by the Department of Agriculture, construction in Moorepark is under way

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

ESRI findings shows a 'sense of fatalism' among farmers over bovine TB

ESRI findings shows a 'sense of fatalism' among farmers over bovine TB

Will only put measures in place to prevent the disease if they believe the actions will actually work, according to study

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Storage of manure

Farmers' concerns mount over slurry storage as wet weather continues

With the prolonged bad weather, farmers' concerns surrounding slurry storage are beginning to increase as the 2026 spring calving season gets underway.

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

230 jobs at risk at ABP Waterford plant

230 jobs at risk at ABP Waterford plant

The company confirmed that the proposed redundancies relate to the cutting and deboning operation at the site

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

feedlot intensive production system beef cattle

The week everyone missed: TB, CAP reform and Mercosur moves on

The EU-Mercosur agreement edged forward. MEPs approved enhanced safeguard mechanisms allowing tariff preferences on sensitive agricultural imports to be suspended if volumes rise 5% above a three-year average and prices fall 5% below EU equivalents.

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Herd of white sheep with black head on the road.

National hill sheep conference planned for Westport

Attendees will hear from advisors and researchers, as well as participate in a panel discussion on February 18

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Rural Landscape With Pastures In Ireland

Organic farming scheme attracts 269 more farmers

The new participants will join the latest tranche of the Organic Farming Scheme, subject to them meeting all scheme requirements

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

TB lesions detected in factories double

TB lesions detected in factories double

Recent research indicated that due to the imperfections of the skin test, 21% of herds were harbouring infection at de-restriction.

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Hogget prices cut again as pressure mounts on sheep sector

Most factories are quoting 750c/kg for hoggets this week, with the quality assurance bonus adding 10–20c/kg as applicable at individual factories

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

More life in cattle trade, but processors remain cautious

Flat price deals and the carrot of partial or full transport costs being on the negotiating table are also beginning to surface again, particularly for larger lots of steers and heifers

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra says Ireland’s reputation as a trusted, high-quality food producer depends on unity, transparency and respect throughout the sector

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Confident in Her Line of Work

Calls for entries for the International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador

Department is searching for its Irish farming ambassador and hosting a photo competition

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

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