Overview

• Slaughter prices for young bulls have topped €7 per kilogram, with quality steaks often €40–€50+ a kilo, roughly 50% higher than summer 2023.
• Experts attribute the surge to supply shrinkage, as Germany’s cattle inventory fell from 12.6 million in 2015 to 10.3 million in May 2025 and many farms closed.
• The bluetongue outbreak tightened supply last year—17,854 cases were recorded from May 2024 to April 2025—but infections have fallen significantly this year.
• Producer gains are tempered by rising costs and pressures, with bull calves far pricier in 2025 and farmers citing heavy bureaucracy, high investment needs and social scrutiny.
• Industry groups report that additional South American import quotas are small, and market analysts do not expect a return to earlier price levels soon.