beef price tracker

greysides

that is some spiel of sh1t

[Mod]In a heated debate it's hard to know where to draw a line between passionate opinion and completely unacceptable rudeness.

And I'd prefer not to be put in a position to have to draw that line.

So far in this thread there has been to-and-fro and what could have been taken as bait has been let ride so the discussion could go on without being derailed. That's big of those affected.

However passionately you argue your case some degree of restraint is necessary in the language used.

It's a good to never post in anger, take a moment to cool down, then post.

Self-moderate or you will be moderated.[/Mod]

tim04750

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

. But cattle have to travel the night before generally if using the agents delivery trucks. This costs you 1-2% body weight.

And if your cattle are R- you'll see a good share drop to O

Sheep breeder

anybody thinks that the factory agent is doing them a favour by telling that the price is going to drop is only a fool, the agent will get his 10/15 euro on the animals he can secure for the factory and a bit more for his stock, at the end of the day he is a only out for himself.
why fellows dont deal direct with the factory them self is beyond me, all the big feeders deal direct themself.

Willfarman

Not everyone is competent or confident enough enough to judge their own cattle.

White Clover

Willfarman wrote: »

Not everyone is competent or confident enough enough to judge their own cattle.

Fair enough will for the first bunch or two, but after that if you can't figure it out for yourself I wouldn't hold out any hope !

Willfarman

I'd hold my own but there would be an awful lot of finishers that alway let an agent pick the cattle and book them in. Doesn't cost them anything and I can't see the harm in it.

tanko

White Clover wrote: »

Fair enough will for the first bunch or two, but after that if you can't figure it out for yourself I wouldn't hold out any hope !

Exactly, there's no better way to learn the difference between conformation grades and fat scores than to send your own cattle to a factory.
Anyway if you are getting paid on the grid the only thing that matters is the base price. You'd want to know your stuff if you're getting a flat price.

Farmer Pudsey

Sheep breeder wrote: »

anybody thinks that the factory agent is doing them a favour by telling that the price is going to drop is only a fool, the agent will get his 10/15 euro on the animals he can secure for the factory and a bit more for his stock, at the end of the day he is a only out for himself.
why fellows dont deal direct with the factory them self is beyond me, all the big feeders deal direct themself.

White Clover wrote: »

Fair enough will for the first bunch or two, but after that if you can't figure it out for yourself I wouldn't hold out any hope !

First off it sounds very easy to deal direct and judging sound easy as well. It easy enough if you breed yourself but trying to judge different breeds and sizes of cattle is not as easy as you think. Try buying out of a field.

An agent is a good buffer between you and the factory he also may arrange transport and maybe point out cattle that may up a grade fraction in 4-6 weeks.

Yes big finishers that send in cattle in doubles deal direct with factory but if you are only killing on and off then an agent may be a good idea. It is a buffer for factory procurement agents as well and may prevent arguments and letting off of steam that may be an issue if you cannot keep your cool.

Look at the way leaders of political party's only meet after all the dealing is done in the formation of a government.

Willfarman

Picking cattle at the correct fat score isn't a skill small finishers would have. Judging Bulls bullocks heifers and cows and even the different types of these all different. Something you have to be at regularly to keep an eye in. There will always be a need for agents. Some are descant some are rogues just as in every walk in life.

Farmer Pudsey

Sheep breeder wrote: »

anybody thinks that the factory agent is doing them a favour by telling that the price is going to drop is only a fool, the agent will get his 10/15 euro on the animals he can secure for the factory and a bit more for his stock, at the end of the day he is a only out for himself.
why fellows dont deal direct with the factory them self is beyond me, all the big feeders deal direct themself.

As far as I know and I may be wrong agents get 5-6 euro/head for the procurement of cattle. They have to let the the procurement manager what they intend to supply that week. At times of peak supply they will be given quota's that they are allowed supply.

I heard a story of an agent that was a drinking buddy of a procurement manager. He used to promise flat prices and prices above managers prices. There was then war over prices paid to suppliers. The procurement manager barred him from supplying buddy or not.

cute geoge

I only finish a few cows ,that are sent with an agent
This year had my cows ready and agent gave a gander at them and i mentioned i had another holstein cow which might be fit after a month or two
Anyway he ran his hand on her ribs which were slightly showing and he said she was good enough ,i was pleasently when she graded o+4 He showed his experience anyway

CloughCasey1

cute geoge wrote: »

I only finish a few cows ,that are sent with an agent
This year had my cows ready and agent gave a gander at them and i mentioned i had another holstein cow which might be fit after a month or two
Anyway he ran his hand on her ribs which were slightly showing and he said she was good enough ,i was pleasently when she graded o+4 He showed his experience anyway

Our local lad is a fair judge of cattle. He never fails to get fat score or grade right. He has often told us to "let those go to over 30mts and have them with next batch" usually the tall lanky ones and they always come into big money at 34/35mts. This time round we had one frx in particular that i (in my ignorance) mentioned could be kept with the next lot and he took out phone costed up the different scenarios and said no. He's O3= by 35 mts he'll be too fat and base won't be 4.30! Ye wont make a penny extra.

Sheep breeder

from my time working in factories on the east coast the agents were on 10/15 and as i am aware they are still the same.
most fellas finishing cattle will know the killout/fatscore etc of animal.
a friend of ours that fattens 50 cattle a year part time will tell you the grade/killout and value of any animal at a quick glance and says if its your business you will learn.
how do most sheep farmers going to a factory pick lambs, they dont get an agent to do it for them or how does a dairy farmer condition score cows.

Cassidy2

Willfarman wrote: »

Picking cattle at the correct fat score isn't a skill small finishers would have. Judging Bulls bullocks heifers and cows and even the different types of these all different. Something you have to be at regularly to keep an eye in. There will always be a need for agents. Some are descant some are rogues just as in every walk in life.

How many people go up the line and watch there cattle.in my opinion it very important.you have followed them this far,you should follow them up the line.

patsy_mccabe

Cassidy2 wrote: »

How many people go up the line and watch there cattle.in my opinion it very important.you have followed them this far,you should follow them up the line.

In the old days when we finished a few cattle, I used to do that. You're right, well worth it.
I was talking to a guy I know that finishes a lot of cattle and he said he doesn't bother. He has confidence enough in the computer system to trust it. In the old days, it was the guy standing there writing down the weights that you had to watch.

Whatever about judging the grades/fat scores of finished animals, it's being able to judge how a store animal will finish up that's the real moneymaker.

Willfarman

In the old days you could appeal the grader. The current system is brutal. I write down all numbers with what animal was which and compare after.

Sheep breeder

agree about following the cattle on the line, the only way to really understand how cattle grade and killout is to see them on the line and then you can see how different breeds have done over the feeding period.you dont need an agent for this the most important part of finishing cattle and when you have got your eye in you will not need to do it maybe only once a year. this is where the money is made out of cattle.

Cassidy2

Sheep breeder wrote: »

agree about following the cattle on the line, the only way to really understand how cattle grade and killout is to see them on the line and then you can see how different breeds have done over the feeding period.you dont need an agent for this the most important part of finishing cattle and when you have got your eye in you will not need to do it maybe only once a year. this is where the money is made out of cattle.

I have seen black cattle die better than charlaois .i see people working the calculator.i work a different calculator.

CloughCasey1

Cassidy2 wrote: »

I have seen black cattle die better than charlaois .i see people working the calculator.i work a different calculator.

And would you like to share this information? ;-)

I said

Cassidy2 wrote: »

I have seen black cattle die better than charlaois .i see people working the calculator.i work a different calculator.

Lord I'm converted,the wheel has been reinvented.what is your system that is a one size fits all.

Cassidy2

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

And would you like to share this information? ;-)

Do you read the post's.read sheep breeder post again

CloughCasey1

Cassidy2 wrote: »

Do you read the post's.read sheep breeder post again

I did indeedy. I'm just curious to see what sort of calculator your using that is better than the ones the rest of us have.

Cassidy2

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

I did indeedy. I'm just curious to see what sort of calculator your using that is better than the ones the rest of us have.

Where did I say that.I think you need to read the POSTs

Base price

I said wrote: »

Lord I'm converted,the wheel has been reinvented.what is your system that is a one size fits all.

+ 1
IMO the system was never invented to accommodate an all fits all scenario.

CloughCasey1

Cassidy2 wrote: »

I have seen black cattle die better than charlaois .i see people working the calculator.i work a different calculator.

As above kind sir

blue5000

Cassidy2 wrote: »

I have seen black cattle die better than charlaois .i see people working the calculator.i work a different calculator.

+1 seen it too, I find it very satisfying seeing cattle killed, especially bulls. Roscrea is a pain in the ar5e though, they really don't want you there at all. Difference in KO between factories is an education in itself.

CloughCasey1

blue5000 wrote: »

+1 seen it too, I find it very satisfying seeing cattle killed, especially bulls. Roscrea is a pain in the ar5e though, they really don't want you there at all. Difference in KO between factories is an education in itself.

How ya reckon that blue? Curious more than anything.

CloughCasey1

blue5000 wrote: »

+1 seen it too, I find it very satisfying seeing cattle killed, especially bulls. Roscrea is a pain in the ar5e though, they really don't want you there at all. Difference in KO between factories is an education in itself.

What is main difference do ya reckon? And why?

blue5000

I haven't figured it out yet, trim or scales? Who checks the scales on the line? I've never seen it done.

Cassidy2

What is the thinking on the beef.giving a reasonable week weather wise .mart trade has got stronger.me thinks factories will be slow to move.but I think alot of grass cattle are already killed?