beef price tracker

Hard Knocks

Cavanjack wrote: »

Summer grazing is a zero margin game and always was. Think you have to be prepared for at least one winter to make anything off them.

If they sold at the same money they were bought for, with a small bit spent on test & a dose / 2
They’ll have earned money for the 7 months
ANC & BPS

Cavanjack

Jjameson wrote: »

So do you suppose any store cattle bought last October shown now and taking the cost of the winter would leave a margin even as nuts as the trade is?

Maybe, a good 500kg store Limo bought in October for €1050 stored on good silage and out on grass this last 5 weeks should be at least 620kg now. Journal app says this animal should make €1400 now.
€150 would surely cover his costs until now I would think.

Robson99

Cavanjack wrote: »

Maybe, a good 500kg store Limo bought in October for €1050 stored on good silage and out on grass this last 5 weeks should be at least 620kg now. Journal app says this animal should make €1400 now.
€150 would surely cover his costs until now I would think.

Problem is what do you replace him with now ?

Bass Reeves

I bought six Ch end of August last year. They were
2X370 cost 690 euro
2X405 cost 740
2X440 cost 805

4 heaviest are either side of 600 kgs, and the two lighter ones are over 500. Would they average 1200 euro in the mart. 180 euro got them to now handy enough.

Panch18

Cavanjack wrote: »

Summer grazing is a zero margin game and always was. Think you have to be prepared for at least one winter to make anything off them.

I wouldn't agree with above myself

you can make a decent margin in summer grazing - if you buy the right type of animal, and it's fair easy from a work point of view. No feeding cattle for the winter, no slurry etc.

However i would say that summer grazing is more risky than other systems - having the money in the bank for 5 months can work for or against you depending on how the cattle market has changed over the winter.

If you are summer grazing and going back to the mart then you have a TB risk as well, but i suppose you have a TB risk anytime you are going to the mart

FeelTheBern

Bass Reeves wrote: »

I bought six Ch end of August last year. They were
2X370 cost 690 euro
2X405 cost 740
2X440 cost 805

4 heaviest are either side of 600 kgs, and the two lighter ones are over 500. Would they average 1200 euro in the mart. 180 euro got them to now handy enough.

Out of interest how much time do lads reckon they spend per head in buying cattle - or to buy the ones at the right price like the ones here. I think one of the few benefits with suckers for the part time farmer that I can see is the hidden cost of all the time spent hanging out in Mart’s waiting for value to appear if buying cattle in.

Bass Reeves

Jjameson wrote: »

You’d have a good turn out of them no doubt. But could you do it on a wet windy February night in Ballygarrett? They were bought cheap, had a bit of compensatory growth, you have dry land I assume which accounts for the cheap wintering? A neighbour here sold black Lima 530 kg €1150 in Carnew Saturday.(a rob). He sold the heavier comrades last October 480kg 1005€. These wold of been 450+ that time. He reckons they didn’t cover the winter.

These still were inside from Nov 5th to March 19th. They were on silage only even with some wet silage costs Inc minerals was sub 99c/ day or sub 120 for housing period. Add, dosing, herd test, grass and misc and I still be sub 180 euro in costs.

kk.man

Jjameson wrote: »

In an autumn sale I’d average 15 or so per mart. 4 or 5 hours including transportation . But winter spring summer very hard. 4 or 5 perhaps but short sales. You make a valid point.

The tender sales are good if numbers had appeared. 20mins in mart, home and wait for the phone call. No messing bring cattle home either.
I think on line will be a fact of life going forward and it will suit the part time guy.

Cavanjack

FeelTheBern wrote: »

Out of interest how much time do lads reckon they spend per head in buying cattle - or to buy the ones at the right price like the ones here. I think one of the few benefits with suckers for the part time farmer that I can see is the hidden cost of all the time spent hanging out in Mart’s waiting for value to appear if buying cattle in.

Buy a mixture of weanling/yearling bulls and 1 1/2 to 2 year old bullocks.
I find it takes serious time to gather the bullocks I want at the price I want. I’d consider buying 5-7 bullocks good going over 4-5 hours in the autumn/winter.
Where as I Could often buy 10 weanlings on a good day and have even bought 20.
As for the time spent I couldn’t tell you, id be afraid to work it out. As long as I don’t have to take time off work to do it I’m happy enough.

MIKEKC

Bass Reeves wrote: »

These still were inside from Nov 5th to March 19th. They were on silage only even with some wet silage costs Inc minerals was sub 99c/ day or sub 120 for housing period. Add, dosing, herd test, grass and misc and I still be sub 180 euro in costs.

Using 1.3 tn per month that would be about 6tn @25/tn (Teagasc costs I think) =150e. All other costs would surely be more than e30?

Bass Reeves

FeelTheBern wrote: »

Out of interest how much time do lads reckon they spend per head in buying cattle - or to buy the ones at the right price like the ones here. I think one of the few benefits with suckers for the part time farmer that I can see is the hidden cost of all the time spent hanging out in Mart’s waiting for value to appear if buying cattle in.

Last year I bought cattle as follows, 7 in the mart in May was at the mart about 2.5 hours, truck bought them home, Mid July bought 23 off of DD, bought 6 in mart in late August was there 2 hours and 50 min each way travelling a truck bough them home and put me onto 13 Fr bullocks that I bought. Last day out in Early October bought 22 truck bought them home was in mart 5-6 hours arrived too early in the sale cows still on.

Was out 3 other days that I bought nothing 3-4 hours between travelling time and failed to reach a deal/cattle unsuitable twice over cattle on DD one a 3 hour time slot, second time it was about 90 minutes. Time would be sub 30 minute/bullock. I am not worried about the time it takes it where my profit margin is decided. Buy mostly Friesians so it easier than fussy lads price is the key.

Jjameson wrote: »

That was still a short winter by most standards, good Wexford land was in ****e mid October, and only trafficable last week of March. You are on good land and have the silage good and system very tight. I’d always have budgeted storing cattle at costing on silage on slats with a straw lie back at 1.50 a day here.

While cattle were outside until November there was cattle housed in October. The 22 cattle I bought in early October (first weekend) went straight into the shed. The bunch the CH above were last into the shed. No straw lie back so that cost saved as well as much as possible I feed dry baled silage. Minerals come from bags used about 18 bags last winter @16.5/bag which is 4.3/ bullock for the winter. its below the recommended rate but I find if I feed at a higher rate the bullocks get scoury. They must be getting the balance they need from the silage.

MIKEKC wrote: »

Using 1.3 tn per month that would be about 6tn @25/tn (Teagasc costs I think) =150e. All other costs would surely be more than e30?

I make dry baled silage as much as possible. I cost it at 25/bale. While I had some wet silage I also had dry silage. Depending on the weight of the bullocks a dry bale will do 32-38 bullocks for a day. A bale of wet silage will do 25 bullocks a day in my feeding regime. A slatted pen will hold about 16 bullocks. If silage is wed two bales will be put in front of pen on day one, day they are toppled in day 3 remainder is pushed in front of feed face, On the morning of day 4 they are licking the concrete. With dry silage a bale or two bale strategy is put in front of pen and it last two or four day.

I bought 50 bales of dry silage this winter at 25/ bale delivered into yard off my contractor.I cut silage in late May/Early June it is left down 3 days not in the Teagasc text book.

Those bullocks were in for 130 days at 90c/day for silage and min that 117 euro. They were dosed at housing with Bimectin plus at a cost of 1.5/head and with Trodax after Christmas at a cost of 3/head. Grass last Autumn 70 days at 30c/day or 21 euro they are out 40 days at 40c/day or 16 euro. 10 euro for fixed feeding costs, herd test 5/head and we will throw another 6.5/head in for mis and I have a tenner to bring them to the mart.

Sorry I forgot to add the 1 euro in fixed costs for the rollers for the garage do0r at home that I do not use for farming

Water John

Quite a fan of the dry silage bale. My contractor not so happy.

Bass Reeves

Water John wrote: »

Quite a fan of the dry silage bale. My contractor not so happy.

In football they say let the ball do the work, I believe in letting the grass do the work. By reducing your bale count by 3/acre if contractor is on a per bale price to mow, bale and wrap you are saving 25-40 euro/acre depending on whether you are wrapping the dryer bales with six layers.

Water John

Just get by all right with the four.
Had a paddock last year that I cut in early Oct, a Glas meadow 1st cut early July.
Had to bale the same day, ridicolous number of bales.
Bass would you always use minerals, or just only finishing?

Bass Reeves

Water John wrote: »

Just get by all right with the four.
Had a paddock last year that I cut in early Oct, a Glas meadow 1st cut early July.
Had to bale the same day, ridicolous number of bales.
Bass would you always use minerals, or just only finishing?

I always use minerals have got away from winter finishing, drives nitrates over the limit( an extra cost) involves too much ration and risk ( got caught to finish a few last years after the strike but got nearly all gone by christmas). If animals are on a finishing diet generally mins in ration so no need if finishing. Other issue with winter finishing is trying to replace cattle in the spring when prices are high leaving no margin over costs

RobinBanks

hi, not sure if this is the right thread but wondering would anyone know what is an average price of for a suckler cow with calf at foot. I have 2 BB cow's with lim calves at foot. 1 has a bull the other a heifer. both cows are second calvers and would be considered standard quality, nothing exceptional. I am cutting back cow numbers and culling some older cows and a man inquired about the 2 blues. I am not out to rob him and i would be asking london for them, just want whatever the going rate is. i can fire up pics if it helps but as i said they are nothing special.

memorystick

Any quotes

declanflynn

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Last year I bought cattle as follows, 7 in the mart in May was at the mart about 2.5 hours, truck bought them home, Mid July bought 23 off of DD, bought 6 in mart in late August was there 2 hours and 50 min each way travelling a truck bough them home and put me onto 13 Fr bullocks that I bought. Last day out in Early October bought 22 truck bought them home was in mart 5-6 hours arrived too early in the sale cows still on.

Was out 3 other days that I bought nothing 3-4 hours between travelling time and failed to reach a deal/cattle unsuitable twice over cattle on DD one a 3 hour time slot, second time it was about 90 minutes. Time would be sub 30 minute/bullock. I am not worried about the time it takes it where my profit margin is decided. Buy mostly Friesians so it easier than fussy lads price is the key.




While cattle were outside until November there was cattle housed in October. The 22 cattle I bought in early October (first weekend) went straight into the shed. The bunch the CH above were last into the shed. No straw lie back so that cost saved as well as much as possible I feed dry baled silage. Minerals come from bags used about 18 bags last winter @16.5/bag which is 4.3/ bullock for the winter. its below the recommended rate but I find if I feed at a higher rate the bullocks get scoury. They must be getting the balance they need from the silage.



I make dry baled silage as much as possible. I cost it at 25/bale. While I had some wet silage I also had dry silage. Depending on the weight of the bullocks a dry bale will do 32-38 bullocks for a day. A bale of wet silage will do 25 bullocks a day in my feeding regime. A slatted pen will hold about 16 bullocks. If silage is wed two bales will be put in front of pen on day one, day they are toppled in day 3 remainder is pushed in front of feed face, On the morning of day 4 they are licking the concrete. With dry silage a bale or two bale strategy is put in front of pen and it last two or four day.

I bought 50 bales of dry silage this winter at 25/ bale delivered into yard off my contractor.I cut silage in late May/Early June it is left down 3 days not in the Teagasc text book.

Those bullocks were in for 130 days at 90c/day for silage and min that 117 euro. They were dosed at housing with Bimectin plus at a cost of 1.5/head and with Trodax after Christmas at a cost of 3/head. Grass last Autumn 70 days at 30c/day or 21 euro they are out 40 days at 40c/day or 16 euro. 10 euro for fixed feeding costs, herd test 5/head and we will throw another 6.5/head in for mis and I have a tenner to bring them to the mart.

Sorry I forgot to add the 1 euro in fixed costs for the rollers for the garage do0r at home that I do not use for farming

Bass, would you leave it in the sward or spread it out

Bass Reeves

declanflynn wrote: »

Bass, would you leave it in the sward or spread it out

I leave it in the sward, contractor takes it up I get him to do that either late evening before baking or early in the day before baling. Redding is just extra cost and work

mf240

Any prices.

They must be scarce at this stage

Anto_Meath

Jjameson wrote: »

3.45 for nice handy heifers but 3.40 is it for bullocks. If they weren’t scarce they’d be pulling I think.

Looking at the online marts it would seem factories are looking for factory fit cattle but are unwilling to raise the base price. Fit cows seem to be very much in demand. Over €2/kg for some fit cows in Carnaross today, wouldn't come into it at €3 in the factory.

kk.man

Agents scouring the place looking for cattle. Bargain hard folks.

Bass Reeves

kk.man wrote: »

Agents scouring the place looking for cattle. Bargain hard folks.

Let them jeep putting on weight if on grass it will be easier to bargain in 2-3 weeks. We are at the stage where a 20-30c/kg ride is not out of the question

Fine Day

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Let them jeep putting on weight if on grass it will be easier to bargain in 2-3 weeks. We are at the stage where a 20-30c/kg ride is not out of the question

I like your thinking but alot of stock are going to be factor fit coming off the grass in the next few weeks. My experience in the past was when may past factory fit cattle come plentiful & factory cut the price. Nothing like may grass to flesh cattle. I killed handy angus & hereford heffers this week. Averaged €927 after all fees. Killed a couple similar ones in early march and they came into €100 more or so.

Bass Reeves

Jjameson wrote: »

No question your as well to graze cattle that are going ahead but taking precedence the cartel will hold the line no matter the kill numbers. There’s a ready arsenal of excuses ready. People going back to work so reduced demand for primal cuts, reduced consumer spending and of course don’t forget the big monster under our beds. Brexit.

I agree they will try to hold the line. But a lot of cattle gone to grass that would still be in the shed normally. Better types of cattle that are hit going out take 3 months to finish. Cows coming on stream but prime cattle scarce....... and will be for 6+8 weeks and maybe longer.

Bass Reeves

Jjameson wrote: »

Even you Bass are infected with the same perpetual optimism that the cartel are milking off!

Inspec cattle will be very tight for rest of the year. By Inspec I mean U 30 months heifers and bullock's. There is 15k more killed this year as opposed to last year. There is supposed to be 60-80k less of them around than last year as well. While the young bull has collapsed it has only barely eaten into the shortfall to a any extent Finally the valve of U16 month bulls is not around to the same extent.

There is more cattle over 24 months cattle being exported as well. Not huge amounts but a few thousand here and there. If I had grass(and it is getting tight) I not be selling slightly finished cattle. Replacements are still too expensive.

Dickie10

i think you are begining to see the fruits of suckler cow diminshing, im two years gone from calving sucklers now, a lot oof guys cut numbers calving around 2018 ,a huge amount cut numbers or got out in 2019. beef animals will continue to get more and more scarce. does anyone know of many farmers upping the amount of beef cows they are calving?

ruwithme

Dickie10 wrote: »

i think you are begining to see the fruits of suckler cow diminshing, im two years gone from calving sucklers now, a lot oof guys cut numbers calving around 2018 ,a huge amount cut numbers or got out in 2019. beef animals will continue to get more and more scarce. does anyone know of many farmers upping the amount of beef cows they are calving?

I think your right. I'm off the opinion there was not as many suckler young stock in the marts as other years recent.

Hard Knocks

ruwithme wrote: »

I think your right. I'm off the opinion there was not as many suckler young stock in the marts as other years recent.

This appears to be the case around here too but latest ICBF said 15000 extra suckler calves registered

jfh

jfh wrote: »

I sold 2 stores in the Mart 5th 550 kgs €1300& 1 on the 7th march same weight for 1280, there comrades are out on grass for the last month now. I hope to offload soon as very highly stocked and leave the finishing to those that know more. I'd be expecting the same money, I do realise there's not much in it for the guy who's going to finish but that's what I'll be asking anyway..

Just an update to this, got 1285 for 570kg early last week