beef price tracker

Cavanjack

dzer2 wrote: »

Couple of lads around here bought calves 2 yrs ago I spent more time sorting out their sh1te than doing my own work for 10 weeks. Told them never again if they bought calves they could sort them themselves. As for wanting them all 200 will do me.

Wouldn't fancy having 200 of them fit to kill now. Do you finish as bulls or do ya squeez them?

dzer2

Cavanjack wrote: »

Wouldn't fancy having 200 of them fit to kill now. Do you finish as bulls or do ya squeez them?

Take them to slaughter.

Brown Podzol

Cavanjack wrote: »

Tis boats we need more than trains. To get rid of as many bulls as possible and every Friesian bull calf born this spring. We'd see then how fussy the factories would be in two years time

Are the factories playing a long game here? The export trade will be for bulls. The factories have the sh##e frightened out of farmers with bulls to the extent that a lot of them are being castrated. Is there an export trade for steers?

TUBBY

That's what I starting to think. By castrating all bulls, the ball is being kicked down the road a year where we might see the same glut with bullocks and no plan b available.

Also now that a lot of people have jumped on the Hereford and angus bandwagon, how long before the bonus is lessened particularly the AAA which is decent.

case885

Anyone think prices for bulls will pick up in the next 2-3 weeks? If not is there any value in exporting if you can find a buyer?

Farmer Pudsey

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Are the factories playing a long game here? The export trade will be for bulls. The factories have the sh##e frightened out of farmers with bulls to the extent that a lot of them are being castrated. Is there an export trade for steers?

The answer is at present there is no viable export trade for steers. Good quality contenintal bulls are more than likly a better left entire until sale unless yopu intend to hold until they are older than 15 months. Quinn transport had an article in Thursdau IFJ about same. He expressed the opinion that there was an export market for all bulls except Fresians uo to 500kgs I think. The question is will a viable price be paid.

The reason I say this is that he was willing to take younger Friesians however he was quoting a price of 1.50-1.55/kg This would mean that a 300Kg fresian bull would be worth 450 euro. I would not consider than a viable price. Unless the rearer got the calf for nothing there is no margin in same. The dair farmer would be better selling at 2 weeks for 100 rather than rearing until that age/weight. However for how long will a calf export price greater than this be available. The other issue is what happens to poorer quality calves mainly JEX stock

TUBBY wrote: »

That's what I starting to think. By castrating all bulls, the ball is being kicked down the road a year where we might see the same glut with bullocks and no plan b available.

Also now that a lot of people have jumped on the Hereford and angus bandwagon, how long before the bonus is lessened particularly the AAA which is decent.

I would not worry about HE/AA scheme unti Sexed semen is a viable product this is more than likly 5+ years down the line before it is commercially available. And yes unless we have a viable export market for calves and Bulls then we see if the kill exceeds 30K/week factory's lose interest in competing for product.

case885 wrote: »

Anyone think prices for bulls will pick up in the next 2-3 weeks? If not is there any value in exporting if you can find a buyer?

I do not think the price will improve. The IFA only got a so called commitment from the factory's not to decrease prices from the present rate. I am not sure that this is worth the paper it is written on as the IFJ costs 2.60/comic. I think the IFA waited until the factory's got to the price they the factory's were happy with before intervening. If you see a price rise it will not be substancial I think. Throught put is nearly 33K/week hard to see that falling below 30K and it is only at that stage factory's start competing for cattle.

case885

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

The answer is at present there is no viable export trade for steers. Good quality contenintal bulls are more than likly a better left entire until sale unless yopu intend to hold until they are older than 15 months. Quinn transport had an article in Thursdau IFJ about same. He expressed the opinion that there was an export market for all bulls except Fresians uo to 500kgs I think. The question is will a viable price be paid.

The reason I say this is that he was willing to take younger Friesians however he was quoting a price of 1.50-1.55/kg This would mean that a 300Kg fresian bull would be worth 450 euro. I would not consider than a viable price. Unless the rearer got the calf for nothing there is no margin in same. The dair farmer would be better selling at 2 weeks for 100 rather than rearing until that age/weight. However for how long will a calf export price greater than this be available. The other issue is what happens to poorer quality calves mainly JEX stock





I would not worry about HE/AA scheme unti Sexed semen is a viable product this is more than likly 5+ years down the line before it is commercially available. And yes unless we have a viable export market for calves and Bulls then we see if the kill exceeds 30K/week factory's lose interest in competing for product.




I do not think the price will improve. The IFA only got a so called commitment from the factory's not to decrease prices from the present rate. I am not sure that this is worth the paper it is written on as the IFJ costs 2.60/comic. I think the IFA waited until the factory's got to the price they the factory's were happy with before intervening. If you see a price rise it will not be substancial I think. Throught put is nearly 33K/week hard to see that falling below 30K and it is only at that stage factory's start competing for cattle.

Just keep them till they hit the 24 months in a couple of weeks then? Also will factories take them father tried his dealer last week and there was no answer..

Hershall

case885 wrote: »

Just keep them till they hit the 24 months in a couple of weeks then? Also will factories take them father tried his dealer last week and there was no answer..

If they're hitting 24 mths get them killed in time if they go over you probably get stock bull price!!!

Farmer Pudsey

case885 wrote: »

Just keep them till they hit the 24 months in a couple of weeks then? Also will factories take them father tried his dealer last week and there was no answer..

Make sure you have an outlet for them before they hit 24 months. you may not have to accept stock bull price but you may be penalisded by 40-50c.kg. I have seen farmers with only a few bulls having to accept SB price for bulls over 24 months however.

Robson99

Another cut coming next week. Larry must want the price of a holiday for easter

bob charles

Robson99 wrote: »

Another cut coming next week. Larry must want the price of a holiday for easter

I hear the IFA have been working hard behind the scenes:rolleyes:

Robson99

bob charles wrote: »

I hear the IFA have been working hard behind the scenes:rolleyes:

Ya big press release coming from the next week. Something along the lines of farmers should bargain hard , make a stance, not accept it blah blah blah and then go out to be wined and dined by you know who.

Hershall

Fair play to the iFA they got factories to commit to killing more bulls and pull them 10-20 cents a week at the same time. Not a bad piece of work!!!!!!!

TUBBY

bob charles wrote: »

I hear the IFA have been working hard behind the scenes:rolleyes:

what is the cut lads. That really is taking the p**s

rancher

bob charles wrote: »

I hear the IFA have been working hard behind the scenes:rolleyes:

I've been warning farmers about bulls for the last 12 mths, we had a factory agent at a meeting 18 mths ago telling us to consult the factories before they decide to feed bulls.
I met a factoriy a few weeks ago and met the same person who warned us before so he wasn't long telling us what he said before and incidentally the other factory in the area has avoided bulls for the last 12 mths.
So taking the piss on IFA at this stage in our area doesn't get very far

just do it

Not finishing cattle here but have to agree with rancher. Factories have been warning about oversupply of bulls for a year or two now.

Hershall

rancher wrote: »

I've been warning farmers about bulls for the last 12 mths, we had a factory agent at a meeting 18 mths ago telling us to consult the factories before they decide to feed bulls.
I met a factoriy a few weeks ago and met the same person who warned us before so he wasn't long telling us what he said before and incidentally the other factory in the area has avoided bulls for the last 12 mths.
So taking the piss on IFA at this stage in our area doesn't get very far

Why did they encourage farmers to feed fresian bulls if they knew they wouldn't be wanted? It was well orchestrated and now they getting farmers to castrate bulls once that's done they can't be shipped so have to be killed at some stage. In fairness they're experts at what they do.

bob charles

rancher wrote: »

I've been warning farmers about bulls for the last 12 mths, we had a factory agent at a meeting 18 mths ago telling us to consult the factories before they decide to feed bulls.
I met a factoriy a few weeks ago and met the same person who warned us before so he wasn't long telling us what he said before and incidentally the other factory in the area has avoided bulls for the last 12 mths.
So taking the piss on IFA at this stage in our area doesn't get very far

just do it wrote: »

Not finishing cattle here but have to agree with rancher. Factories have been warning about oversupply of bulls for a year or two now.

I agree about the young bulls issue. Its not today or yesterday or even 12 months ago that it was being said there are issues with selling them but would that not conclude that there would be a stronger market for prime cattle (heifers and bullocks under 30months QA). Did the IFA not get some commitment recently about no further price cuts?

Hershall wrote: »

Why did they encourage farmers to feed fresian bulls if they knew they wouldn't be wanted? It was well orchestrated and now they getting farmers to castrate bulls once that's done they can't be shipped so have to be killed at some stage. In fairness they're experts at what they do.

Factories didnt encourage farmers to feed fresian bulls. They did conduct a trail to see if it could be done profitability and these were slaughtered as under 16 month or even younger bulls. Someone told me there was only one farmer still operating the same system out of the original group that was on the trial. I remember talking to a factory person at the time and they couldnt believe what they were attempting to try and do and was off the opinion they were doomed to failure from the start which is what most people would have taught looking at the figure. Conducting a trial is far from saying everyone show get on the producing bulls bandwagon

Cavanjack

rancher wrote: »

I've been warning farmers about bulls for the last 12 mths, we had a factory agent at a meeting 18 mths ago telling us to consult the factories before they decide to feed bulls.
I met a factoriy a few weeks ago and met the same person who warned us before so he wasn't long telling us what he said before and incidentally the other factory in the area has avoided bulls for the last 12 mths.
So taking the piss on IFA at this stage in our area doesn't get very far

It's one thing cutting the price of bulls because the market doesn't want them, but cutting the price of what they do want is another story.

Robson99

TUBBY wrote: »

what is the cut lads. That really is taking the p**s

5cent/kg Heifers coming back from €4.10 to €4.05 for is-spec QA. Btw has anyone got better than €4.10 base in the last few weeks for heifers?

rancher

Robson99 wrote: »

5cent/kg Heifers coming back from €4.10 to €4.05 for is-spec QA. Btw has anyone got better than €4.10 base in the last few weeks for heifers?

A neighbour showed me last weeks prices of 4.28 for U- to 4.35 for U +.....thought it was alright for inspec heifers and he warned us not to go picketing factories

rancher

bob charles wrote: »

I agree about the young bulls issue. Its not today or yesterday or even 12 months ago that it was being said there are issues with selling them but would that not conclude that there would be a stronger market for prime cattle (heifers and bullocks under 30months QA). Did the IFA not get some commitment recently about no further price cuts?

They met the heads of the meat industry, when I heard that commitment I just said ...yea right, same with the promise of the boat.
This is a serious situation and even a boatload isn't going to make much difference. The non QA guys with bulls are in serious trouble, no where to go.

Farmer Pudsey

Robson99 wrote: »

Ya big press release coming from the next week. Something along the lines of farmers should bargain hard , make a stance, not accept it blah blah blah and then go out to be wined and dined by you know who.

They will also mention the British price being so strong and that there is a strong demand for beef. The farmers Journal will be on about weak sellers

rancher wrote: »

I've been warning farmers about bulls for the last 12 mths, we had a factory agent at a meeting 18 mths ago telling us to consult the factories before they decide to feed bulls.
I met a factoriy a few weeks ago and met the same person who warned us before so he wasn't long telling us what he said before and incidentally the other factory in the area has avoided bulls for the last 12 mths.
So taking the piss on IFA at this stage in our area doesn't get very far

Yes any of us that produce bulls knew that there was a limited market. This was always around Christmas and again for May and June. I had spoken to my agent who is in contact with the Procurement manager 2-3 times a week. The advice coming from the procurement manager was that up to 24 months bulls would be OK. This was as late as last October. I know a lad that got paid for a 24-30 months bull in September.

This was a concerted effort on the part of the factory's to finish the bull market at this time of year. It shows all the more the reason why they should be excluded from finishing cattle by owning and renting feedllots. This happens in loads of industry's to prevent those with market power controlling price. But there is no way the IFA will go to the Competition Authority about the Factory's

rancher wrote: »

A neighbour showed me last weeks prices of 4.28 for U- to 4.35 for U +.....thought it was alright for inspec heifers and warned us not to go picketing factories

This is not an exceptional price it is equivlent to a base of around 4.05/kg. If this was the price of Heifers what base price were bullocks, 3.90/kg. Farmers finishing cattle are being hit hard as a lot operate on a margin of 70-150 euro depending on lenght they hold them. In my opinion prime inspect cattle killing under 400kgs their prices are 20-30c a kg back off what they be. On a 350 kg carcass 80-105 euro/head. Hard to see any finishers making money. Also cattle have not fallen in price around the ring.

bob charles

rancher wrote: »

A neighbour showed me last weeks prices of 4.28 for U- to 4.35 for U +.....thought it was alright for inspec heifers and he warned us not to go picketing factories

€4.35 for a U+ is a base price of €4.10 and you are talking about the second best conforming animal that can be breed, probably 1 or 2% of the national kill. If the same person had an O=4= (normal irish animal) they would have gotten €3.86. Just because one person says they are happy what about the rest of the members.

3.60 base for grazing cattle is staring us in the face

Farmer Pudsey

bob charles wrote: »

€4.35 for a U+ is only a base price of €4.10 and you are talking about the second best conforming animal that can be breed. If the same person had an O=4= (normal irish animal) they would have gotten €3.86. Just because one person says they are happy what about the rest of the members.

3.60 for grazing cattle is staring us in the face

4.05 of a base Bob??????

bob charles

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

This is not an exceptional price it is equivlent to a base of around 4.05/kg. If this was the price of Heifers what base price were bullocks, 3.90/kg. Farmers finishing cattle are being hit hard as a lot operate on a margin of 70-150 euro depending on lenght they hold them. In my opinion prime inspect cattle killing under 400kgs their prices are 20-30c a kg back off what they be. On a 350 kg carcass 80-105 euro/head. Hard to see any finishers making money. Also cattle have not fallen in price around the ring.

prime cattle are not receiving a high enough premium as it is. Most guys finishing cattle would be having a serious year and be rolling in cash if they were getting a margin of €70 a head after a 100 day finish

Prices in the mart have remained strong as there are allot of guys that have to restock and very small selection of animals available. If you have the shed and feeding and its your business you have no better to do only go back in and hope that this turn of cattle may make money even though probably staring another loss in the face. is it time to start selling fat cattle through the ring again, prices on average seem to be usually over beef price being bought by busy fools

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

4.05 of a base Bob??????

base of 4.10 is a price of 4.34 for a U+

Farmer Pudsey

bob charles wrote: »

prime cattle are not receiving a high enough premium as it is. Most guys finishing cattle would be having a serious year and be rolling in cash if they were getting a margin of €70 a head after a 100 day finish

Prices in the mart have remained strong as there are allot of guys that have to restock and very small selection of animals available. If you have the shed and feeding and its your business you have no better to do only go back in and hope that this turn of cattle may make money even though probably staring another loss in the face. is it time to start selling fat cattle through the ring again, prices on average seem to be usually over beef price being bought by busy fools



base of 4.10 is a price of 4.34 for a U+

Sorry i made a calulation error.

bob charles

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Sorry i made a calulation error.

your in good company with beef farmers and calculation errors

rancher

bob charles wrote: »

€4.35 for a U+ is a base price of €4.10 and you are talking about the second best conforming animal that can be breed, probably 1 or 2% of the national kill. If the same person had an O=4= (normal irish animal) they would have gotten €3.86. Just because one person says they are happy what about the rest of the members.

3.60 base for grazing cattle is staring us in the face

Don't think anyone wants a picket on factories either

Robson99

bob charles wrote: »

base of 4.10 is a price of 4.34 for a U+

Should they not be

Base 4.05
QA 0.12
U+ 0.24
Total 4.41??????

Base 4.05
QA 0.12
U- 0.12
Total 4.29??????