Average suckler farm incomes were up 74% in 2025 compared with 2024 out of the 18,739 farms surveyed, according to the Teagasc national farm survey (NFS) 2025.

The average income on suckler farms in 2025 was €24,061, an unprecedented level for suckler farms, which was a result of sharp increases in young cattle prices.

Total production costs for suckler farms remained relatively stable at an elevated level in 2025 at €34,169, up just 1% on the previous year.

There was an 8% drop in the average-size suckler farm in 2025 to 30ha, while total livestock units (LU) decreased by 9% on the average suckler farm to 31 in 2025.

On 52% of suckler farms, the holder also worked off-farm in 2025, according to the survey.

Cattle finishing

In 2025, average income for the ‘cattle other’ category increased by 81% on 2024 to an average income of €32,798, from 32,308 farms represented in the NFS.

'Cattle finishing' is the dominant enterprise on these farms, but it also included farms selling store cattle, dairy-to-beef and those involved with contract rearing.

Finished cattle prices rose significantly in 2025, with the annual average price up 39% on the 2024 price.

Farms with a dairy-beef enterprise did particularly well in 2025, according to the survey.

Production costs for the average cattle finishing farm increased by 11% in 2025, compared with 2024.

Livestock numbers increased by 3% to 45LU on average.

Fifty percent of cattle finishing farm holders also worked off-farm in 2025.

Support payments

Suckler farms received the highest level of average support payments per ha in 2025, compared with other farm sectors.

Scheme participation and associated support payments continued to be critical in supporting suckler income in 2025, especially the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme (SCEP).

Some 59% of suckler farmers participated in ACRES, while 66% participated in SCEP.

One-third of suckler farms reported an average income of between €20,000 and €50,000 in 2025, with almost one-tenth reporting an income above €50,000.

A further one-quarter of farms reported an average income of between €10,000 and €20,000.

One-fifth of suckler farms earned between €5,000 and €10,000 in 2025, according to the NFS.

Support payments on cattle-finishing farms increased by 4% in 2025 to €16,427 and continue to be important in supporting incomes on these farms.

The proportion of finishing farms with an average income of between €10,000 and €20,000 decreased in 2025 to 22%.

In the €20,000 to €50,000 income category an increase of 13 percentage points to 33% in 2025 was reported.

There was a 12 percentage point increase in the proportion of cattle-finishing farms earning more than €50,000 at 19% in 2025, the report details.