In the Czech Republic and in most EU countries, the production of cattle for slaughter is one of the important areas of animal production. The domestic supply of beef is significantly affected by foreign trade, as live cattle is often exported for slaughter to neighboring countries due to different (higher) prices for the same category and quality of beef carcasses. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the development and current situation in the production of cattle for slaughter and to determine the beef carcass price differences between the Czech Republic and the EU. In the Czech Republic, the number of slaughtered cattle has decreased between 2005 and 2020 by 16,4 %. The prices of beef carcasses classified in the same conformation and fatness classes were significantly lower in the Czech Republic compared to the EU average. In 2020, the prices of young bulls (R3), cows (O3) and heifers (R3) were on average 12, 22 and 42%, respectively, higher in the EU-27. Markedly higher prices were also recorded in Germany and Austria, where a large part of live cattle export was directed.