In these two countries cattle prices are going down

The European beef and cattle market remains relatively stable. However, in most countries there is at least some mild price pressure. There are two notable exceptions where prices are declining significantly.In most of Europe, cattle prices remain fairly stable. According to the VEZG, German cattle prices have remained unchanged. After being quoted 5 cents lower last week, prices have now stabilised. Prices for O-grade cattle remain at €5.85 per kilo. This level is still relatively high despite attempts by slaughterhouses to push prices down. Due to weak demand, major slaughterhouses have tried to lower their pricing, but this has proven difficult as the market remains tight. However, data from the German statistical office paints a slightly different picture. Prices for R3-grade cows declined by 5 cents in both weeks 12 and 13, while O2 cow meat prices fell by 1 cent in week 13. There are two exceptions to the general stability seen across European markets. The first is the Irish market, which remains under significant pressure. Carcass prices for R-grade steers in week 13 fell by €7.01 per 100 kilos to €675.24. This is notably lower than the European average of €698.34 per 100 kilos. The main reason for the lower prices continues to be pressure on the British beef market, where cheaper imports from Australia are increasingly preferred. As Ireland exports around half of its beef to the UK, prices remain under considerable pressure.Prices are currently 3.3% lower than the European average. However, it is important to note that steers play a larger role in Irish production systems than in continental Europe, where young bulls are the dominant category. As a result, Irish prices likely have a downward influence on the European average, meaning the actual gap with other EU member states is probably larger. Pressure in The NetherlandsMeanwhile, the Dutch market is the second major exception, with prices falling rapidly. The Dutch Vee & Logistiek quotation remains under pressure. Prices across all categories declined by 15 cents in week 14, bringing them 25 cents lower than two weeks earlier. U-grade cattle were priced at €6.90 per kilo, O-grade fell to €5.68 per kilo, and first-quality processing cows dropped to €4.05 per kiloIf the livestock markets once again prove to be a leading indicator for the Vee & Logistiek quotation, another sharp decline can be expected next week. The livestock market in Woerden recorded a decrease of 8 cents for U-grade to €7.55 per kilo.O-grade prices fell even more sharply, by as much as 15 cents. This steep decline is attributed to the end of Easter, which has reduced demand for premium cuts on the European market. While very high-quality cattle remain scarce and continue to command strong prices, lower-quality categories are much less in demand. Prices for first-quality processing cows also declined by 14 cents to €4.58 per kiloSlaughter figures increaseLower prices are beginning to affect slaughter volumes. However, rather than decreasing—as might typically be expected when prices fall—the number of slaughters is actually rising. As a result, the Dutch slaughter rate remains high. In week 13, a total of 12,262 cattle were slaughtered. This represents an increase of 23.3% compared to the same period last year, and 15.4% above the five-year average. This increase is driven by continued pressure on cattle prices. Many farmers are choosing to send their cattle for slaughter now rather than risk further price declines in the coming weeks. However, this behaviour contributes to a negative price spiral, keeping market pressure elevated. If the meat market were to undergo a more significant downward correction, this could have positive long-term effects by stimulating demand while reducing the current oversupply.Southern European prices less volatileIn Southern Europe, prices are generally more stable, although early signs of weakening are emerging. In Spain, prices per kilo declined slightly in week 12, according to observations from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture. Depending on the region and category, prices fell by 1 to 4 cents per kilo.In Italy, prices remained stable in the first week of April, although some cuts have started to decline, signalling early price pressure. In France, prices are also stable overall. Steaks continue to perform well in the French market, while fattier cuts are currently under pressure. This suggests that demand patterns are gradually shifting toward typical summer consumption trends.