beef price tracker

Willfarman

I wouldn't be worried about a good heifer like that going over fat as much as those Herefords behind them. Always judge heifers fat score between front legs. Ignore tail head. If brisket is full move em on.

smokey-fitz

Willfarman wrote: »

I wouldn't be worried about a good heifer like that going over fat as much as those Herefords behind them. Always judge heifers fat score between front legs. Ignore tail head. If brisket is full move em on.

Not worried about her going over fat, just dont want to let her go too early. The herefords look after themselves usully get them into the 3+ 4- area and the odd 4= sometimes the odd one might look too fat but never went over the 4= I generally judge by the overall condition, tail head, back, ribs and the hind quarter, works for me anyway. Bullocks are easier to judge I think.

CloughCasey1

smokey-fitz wrote: »

Not worried about her going over fat, just dont want to let her go too early. The herefords look after themselves usully get them into the 3+ 4- area and the odd 4= sometimes the odd one might look too fat but never went over the 4= I generally judge by the overall condition, tail head, back, ribs and the hind quarter, works for me anyway. Bullocks are easier to judge I think.

FIL had a hex last yr 28 mts and 5- on grass alone. Got heavily punished by factory.

tanko

I sent an Angusx cow to the factory a few years ago that graded a 5+ for fat, I didn't think it was possibe.
On average would 3+/4- be the ideal fat score for killing cattle?

smokey-fitz

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

FIL had a hex last yr 28 mts and 5- on grass alone. Got heavily punished by factory.

Yea that is the problem with them, I havent had a 5 yet with heifers or bullocks, I try keep a close eye on them nearing the time, had one back in feb and she looked mud fat, her arse was sagging she was so fat, held on to her because I had a batch almost fit. Was really supprised when she graded 4-

I do try get the culls to 5 if I can, really adds weight to their small enough carcass and you dont get docked for fat cows either.

Farmer Pudsey

smokey-fitz wrote: »

Yea that is the problem with them, I havent had a 5 yet with heifers or bullocks, I try keep a close eye on them nearing the time, had one back in feb and she looked mud fat, her arse was sagging she was so fat, held on to her because I had a batch almost fit. Was really supprised when she graded 4-

I do try get the culls to 5 if I can, really adds weight to their small enough carcass and you dont get docked for fat cows either.

If factory's are short it amazing what way cattle grade.

smokey-fitz

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

If factory's are short it amazing what way cattle grade.

True. But I wasnt complaining.

larrymiller

Sold a wh heifer in the mart. She was 660 kgs and made 1500. I was quoted €4.06 kg off the factory as she's non qa. And guess who bought her but a lad who buys for the same factory.

just do it

larrymiller wrote: »

Sold a wh heifer in the mart. She was 660 kgs and made 1500. I was quoted €4.06 kg off the factory as she's non qa. And guess who bought her but a lad who buys for the same factory.

Fancy a guess at her kill out %? 55.5% would give you a €1,500 factory cheque (before deductions of course)

Willfarman

No wh heifer would die 55 per cent. Take her at 53. Be same as 4.30 a kg.
What's initials of the buyer?

Count Mondego

Got rid of a few finished bullocks there yesterday. 27-28 months old. Best killed out at 466kg for 4.37. Happy days.

CloughCasey1

Count Mondego wrote: »

Got rid of a few finished bullocks there yesterday. 27-28 months old. Best killed out at 466kg for 4.37. Happy days.

He made his 1kg a day for his life at 28mts assuming he killed out at 56%. What breed and what he cost ya? Now how much did the worst lad make ane what he cost ya? A gambler only ever tells ya bout the big winner!!

Count Mondego

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

He made his 1kg a day for his life at 28mts assuming he killed out at 56%. What breed and what he cost ya? Now how much did the worst lad make ane what he cost ya? A gambler only ever tells ya bout the big winner!!

All my own. No nuts since first winter when they get 1kg a day. Nice low cost system, finished on grass only. Average for the 7 was around 1850

Black lad 70% limo R+4= 466kg
Red lad Limo R+4= 441kgs

Farmer Pudsey

Count Mondego wrote: »

All my own. No nuts since first winter when they get 1kg a day. Nice low cost system, finished on grass only. Average for the 7 was around 1850

Black lad 70% limo R+4= 466kg
Red lad Limo R+4= 441kgs

There a theory that you should have poured nuts into them last winter and killed them out of the shed in at maybe 20-30 kgs lighter after a ton of nuts. Oops and at 20c/kg less

CloughCasey1

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

There a theory that you should have poured nuts into them last winter and killed them out of the shed in at maybe 20-30 kgs lighter after a ton of nuts. Oops and at 20c/kg less

Big win for count. When everyone else is running in the same direction turn the other way and walk

Farmer Pudsey

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Big win for count. When everyone else is running in the same direction turn the other way and walk

And they catch up to you as you get to where you are going;)

Robson99

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

There a theory that you should have poured nuts into them last winter and killed them out of the shed in at maybe 20-30 kgs lighter after a ton of nuts. Oops and at 20c/kg less

Replacements have got dearer since the spring also and if he had killed out of shed and replaced at same time the replacements would be leaving him a good profit since. Swings and roundabouts

Farmer Pudsey

Count Mondego wrote: »

All my own. No nuts since first winter when they get 1kg a day. Nice low cost system, finished on grass only. Average for the 7 was around 1850

Black lad 70% limo R+4= 466kg
Red lad Limo R+4= 441kgs

Robson99 wrote: »

Replacements have got dearer since the spring also and if he had killed out of shed and replaced at same time the replacements would be leaving him a good profit since. Swings and roundabouts

I higlighted the important bit.

Robson99

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I higlighted the important bit.

Fair enough hadn't seen that bit in the post. It can be luck too. Cattle could be back 20 cent in the factory just as easy

Farmer Pudsey

Robson99 wrote: »

Fair enough hadn't seen that bit in the post. It can be luck too. Cattle could be back 20 cent in the factory just as easy

It was never going to happen this year for the last 18 months lads cannot kill cattle fast enough. A lot of lads have got 30 months and QA in the brain. Any lad with cattle now should be trying to maximise weight gain before selling. Too many lads in the habbit of turning over cattle for smallish margins. Other issue is lads are afraid of not using there sheds. For last two years late April-early June was little better in price than March

Count Mondego

Robson99 wrote: »

Swings and roundabouts

This is the truth about beef farming. Last year I was getting 3.50 a kilo. I'm not doing anything special, but try to keep the same system and make it as efficient as possible. I'll have the same type of cattle in two years and I'll be back to last year's price. Some lads are too quick to change system to follow the short term gain.

CloughCasey1

Robson99 wrote: »

Fair enough hadn't seen that bit in the post. It can be luck too. Cattle could be back 20 cent in the factory just as easy

And he'd still have done well

Willfarman

Killing cattle younger allows a far better turnover of stock and a higher stocking rate. It's a margin per hectare you are supposed to look at not per head. Each to their own.

Robson99

Willfarman wrote: »

Killing cattle younger allows a far better turnover of stock and a higher stocking rate. It's a margin per hectare you are supposed to look at not per head. Each to their own.

Exactly

CloughCasey1

Any value in these lads? Bit hungry looking.

http://www.donedeal.ie/beefcattle-for-sale/freisin-bullocks/9859882

Count Mondego

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Any value in these lads? Bit hungry looking.

http://www.donedeal.ie/beefcattle-for-sale/freisin-bullocks/9859882

They could do with a mineral dose......

CloughCasey1

Count Mondego wrote: »

They could do with a mineral dose......

They wouldn't have been priority stock I think. Only bit of value ive seen on DD in a long time. Some lads looking for that for 4mt old runners.

dryan

4:32 base for bullocks today. Midlands. Sending in a few.

mossiemag

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Rolled barley is value at present can be got in small bags at 220/ton it also very good quality.Lots of flour in any barley I have seen this year. 2-3 kgs/ day to her would really harden her up in 4-6 weeks.

As a matter of interest what the price of straight maize in bulk/bags

Just wondering lads, I will be finishing a few aa heifers for the butcher toward the end of the year. Would rolled barley be good for them or should i go for a finishing beef mix?

Farmer Pudsey

mossiemag wrote: »

Just wondering lads, I will be finishing a few aa heifers for the butcher toward the end of the year. Would rolled barley be good for them or should i go for a finishing beef mix?

Yes barley will be good enough. Late in the year if grass is very wet a bit of soya hulls through it will slow the rumen. However you may not be able to access them . However a bit of hay or straw ideally will slow the rumen as well.