An analysis of MartBids cattle prices for the last five years shows prices for weanling and store cattle trending ahead of the record prices recorded in 2025 for most categories of weanling and beef cattle. The only category of cattle where prices are on a par is with forward store and slaughter-fit stock.
The analysis is detailed in Tables 1 to 10 and covers the period from 1 January through to 31 July.
The average store heifer weighing from 400kg to 500kg sold for €4.03/kg for the first seven months of the year, or a price per head of €1,813.50. This is 16c/kg or €72/head higher.
Prices for store heifers and bullocks have become tougher in recent weeks as a result of drought, which is not surprising given grass shortages on-farm. This has been felt most by plainer-quality stock, with good-quality cattle holding their own.
Quality pays
The gap between the top and bottom grade heifers continues to widen. The gap stood at 63c/kg, or about €284 on a 450kg heifer in 2022. This has grown in line with a significant increase in the sale value of animals to €1.22/kg in 2026 – a difference of €549/head. This is partly behind the drive on some farms to breed better-quality continental-bred animals.
This trend is most evident for lighter stock, with the gap between the top and bottom third of animals remaining static at €1.05/kg for heifers weighing in excess of 500kg.
As can be seen in Table 2, average prices in 2026 are marginally behind the first seven months of 2025.
The trend for bullocks is exactly the same as heifers, with a 15c/kg differential between 2026 and 2025 sale averages for store bullocks weighing 400kg and 500kg.
The average price was exactly the same as for this weight category of bullocks, while heavier lots in excess of 500kg were on a par to 2025 for the first seven months of the year.
Weanling prices
The weanling bull trade has been boosted significantly in 2026 by a firm export trade for weanling bulls. Prices for light bulls weighing 200kg to 300kg increased in price by an average of 81c/kg or just over €200/head up to the end of July.
Weanling bulls weighing from 300kg to 400kg also recorded a significant increase, in the region of 70c/kg. This equates to €245/head higher on a weanling bull weighing 350kg. The differential between the top third of bulls and the bottom third of bulls has also increased by 16c/kg and now stands at €1.62/kg, or a difference of over €550/head. As expected, the increase in price between 2026 and 2025 is narrower, but still significant at 50c/kg to 55c/kg. The difference between the top third and bottom third has reduced from €1.49/kg in 2025 to €1.44/kg in 2025.
These differentials have held broadly the same in recent months, with the trade benefitting from a firm live export demand. This has held through to August, with a number of exporters currently finalising consignments to enter in to quarantine.
The average sale value for weanling heifers weighing 200kg to 300kg was 10c/kg to 20c/kg lower than the average and top third of weanling bulls of a similar weight. As was the case for weanling bulls, prices for the first seven months of the year were 80c/kg higher, at an average of €4.85/kg. These trends were also similar for weanling heifers weighing 300kg to 400kg. The average heifer sold for €4.88/kg, or a sale value of €1,708/head. This is €245/head higher than the corresponding period in 2025. Similarly heifers weighing 400kg to 450kg sold for 60c/kg higher in 2026, at an average price of €4.73/kg.
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