weanling prices

farmernewbie

Hi,

Looking to buy 10 to 20 weanlings in the next few weeks and sell as stores in November. Will be buying light ones around 300kg continentals. What prices would I be looking at? Have weanling prices dropped now that the factories are paying such poor prices or is it as crazy as last year?

Robson99

farmernewbie wrote: »

Hi,

Looking to buy 10 to 20 weanlings in the next few weeks and sell as stores in November. Will be buying light ones around 300kg continentals. What prices would I be looking at? Have weanling prices dropped now that the factories are paying such poor prices or is it as crazy as last year?

As crazy if not crazier. Good quality 300kg heifers will be making 800-850. Bulls probably a small bit less

farmernewbie

Robson99 wrote: »

As crazy if not crazier. Good quality 300kg heifers will be making 800-850. Bulls probably a small bit less

Ah jesus that's crazy, would be looking at light bullocks myself but not at that money. I might not get that for them in November.

grassroot1

Welcome to the lunatic asylum that is beef farming

farmernewbie

grassroot1 wrote: »

Welcome to the lunatic asylum that is beef farming

Would a fella be as well off buying whiteheads or other breeds if factories aren't looking for heavy cattle? Have continentals had their day?

Robson99

farmernewbie wrote: »

Would a fella be as well off buying whiteheads or other breeds if factories aren't looking for heavy cattle? Have continentals had their day?

If it was me id buy good quality contenintals and have 1 less [ 9 of them rather than 10 whiteheads] The day you buy is the day you sell

farmernewbie

Robson99 wrote: »

If it was me id buy good quality contenintals and have 1 less [ 9 of them rather than 10 whiteheads] The day you buy is the day you sell

800 - 850 is shocking expensive though for that weight. I would be looking at selling them at 500kg. Hard to make money if I am paying that sort of money for them. Understand what you mean by day you buy is day you sell. Have bought a few runts before that cost me.

grassroot1

If it was me I would buy a calculator and do the maths if there is nothing in it for me don't buy the cattle. The best advice I ever got is you can break even in the bed

Miname

ah now lads dont scare him off completly, theres good enough sorts of bulls can be bought a bit along with e2 a kilo. Its a cracking bull calf at 300kg that will come into 850 at the moment.

severeoversteer

Miname wrote: »

ah now lads dont scare him off completly, theres good enough sorts of bulls can be bought a bit along with e2 a kilo. Its a cracking bull calf at 300kg that will come into 850 at the moment.

I have sheds full of crackers if that's the case

there is such a thing as a bad continental is some advice I would give to you, don't buy off a jobber unless you know him well.

go out and bid on some charolais with potential, the lads around the ring don't over pay for cattle for the most part, its only when the farmers are doing most of the buying that they are likely to be dear :pac:

farmernewbie

grassroot1 wrote: »

If it was me I would buy a calculator and do the maths if there is nothing in it for me don't buy the cattle. The best advice I ever got is you can break even in the bed

That's why I'm trying to suss out some prices and what experienced people here think store trade will be like next November. I would prefer the break even in bed and sell silage etc if there ain't anything out of weanling to store.

farmernewbie

severeoversteer wrote: »

I have sheds full of crackers if that's the case

there is such a thing as a bad continental is some advice I would give to you, don't buy off a jobber unless you know him well.

go out and bid on some charolais with potential, the lads around the ring don't over pay for cattle for the most part, its only when the farmers are doing most of the buying that they are likely to be dear :pac:

I am just starting off and small time so don't have transport means etc to buy myself so rely on a jobber. He bought me some nice ones last year at decent price but have had a runt or two from him..

grassroot1

farmernewbie wrote: »

I am just starting off and small time so don't have transport means etc to buy myself so rely on a jobber. He bought me some nice ones last year at decent price but have had a runt or two from him..

You ask for 6 and he will bring 8, 2 smaller ones, "we have to let them out of the trailer to sort them unless you want to take them for a score less than the others" and of course we buy them we always do.

severeoversteer

grassroot1 wrote: »

You ask for 6 and he will bring 8, 2 smaller ones, "we have to let them out of the trailer to sort them unless you want to take them for a score less than the others" and of course we buy them we always do.

and you have to scrutinize the cards

there'll be a 3 year old one stuck in the middle of yearlings and he'll be where the jobber makes his money

farmernewbie

grassroot1 wrote: »

You ask for 6 and he will bring 8, 2 smaller ones, "we have to let them out of the trailer to sort them unless you want to take them for a score less than the others" and of course we buy them we always do.

Ya that always happens us. Does be hard say no. Its hard to check cards and ages as well when he has a lorry of them. Whats the story with movements now? Does it have to be under 3 for QA?

simx

farmernewbie wrote: »

Ya that always happens us. Does be hard say no. Its hard to check cards and ages as well when he has a lorry of them. Whats the story with movements now? Does it have to be under 3 for QA?

To get QA bonus you can be the forth owner or less

farmernewbie

simx wrote: »

To get QA bonus you can be the forth owner or less

Thanks, looking at mart reports despite factory prices weanling and bullock trade seems on par with last year.

Hershall

:pac:I often get a dealer to buy me a few. He puts straight into my herd at mart and I pay him commission. He knows if stock not right he looses the job. Works well. I go to local mart only i find if I go to different marts the regulars not inclined to let me buy much!!!!!!

Farrell

Hershall wrote: »

:pac:I often get a dealer to buy me a few. He puts straight into my herd at mart and I pay him commission. He knows if stock not right he looses the job. Works well. I go to local mart only i find if I go to different marts the regulars not inclined to let me buy much!!!!!!

Seams to be allot of that everywhere sadly

TITANIUM.

Lovely golden charolais weanling bulls. 350 to 400 kgs. Dont no whether to Castrate r not. What would they make in the mart?

severeoversteer

TITANIUM. wrote: »

Lovely golden charolais weanling bulls. 350 to 400 kgs. Dont no whether to Castrate r not. What would they make in the mart?

pm me your number and where you are
I might be interested if your not too far away

Farrell

TITANIUM. wrote: »

Lovely golden charolais weanling bulls. 350 to 400 kgs. Dont no whether to Castrate r not. What would they make in the mart?

Seen some make about €900 recently (full bulls)

TITANIUM.

severeoversteer wrote: »

pm me your number and where you are
I might be interested if your not too far away

Im abit of a hike from you S. Your in the Galway area ya?
I'll drive um on another bit yet id say.
Fodder buget tomorrow might change my tune tho. These lads would def clear the 1K mark at our local mart. There full bulls at the minute with time running out if we're going to Castrate um. Some are probably gone to strong at this stage.

Farmer Pudsey

farmernewbie wrote: »

Hi,

Looking to buy 10 to 20 weanlings in the next few weeks and sell as stores in November. Will be buying light ones around 300kg continentals. What prices would I be looking at? Have weanling prices dropped now that the factories are paying such poor prices or is it as crazy as last year?

If you are fixed on continentals then I be heading for heavier one's with a bit of growth in them. You might only pay a euro/kg extra for 400kg one's

farmernewbie wrote: »

Would a fella be as well off buying whiteheads or other breeds if factories aren't looking for heavy cattle? Have continentals had their day?

The answer is no they are crazy is well 300kg one 650 euro.. However you might be better of with fresians however all the lads here will tell you different. 400kg 2 year old store can be bought for 550 euro or so I am told.

grassroot1 wrote: »

If it was me I would buy a calculator and do the maths if there is nothing in it for me don't buy the cattle. The best advice I ever got is you can break even in the bed

This is the thing hit the calculator it seldom lies expect cattle to be making 150-200 less this fall than last.

farmernewbie wrote: »

Ya that always happens us. Does be hard say no. Its hard to check cards and ages as well when he has a lorry of them. Whats the story with movements now? Does it have to be under 3 for QA?

Checking the cards are a waste of time as some lads do not sign them . If selling on you need them with two movements max, you are the third and the finisher the 4th. The dealer that you buy them from is one as well it all adds up.

farmernewbie

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

If you are fixed on continentals then I be heading for heavier one's with a bit of growth in them. You might only pay a euro/kg extra for 400kg one's



The answer is no they are crazy is well 300kg one 650 euro.. However you might be better of with fresians however all the lads here will tell you different. 400kg 2 year old store can be bought for 550 euro or so I am told.



This is the thing hit the calculator it seldom lies expect cattle to be making 150-200 less this fall than last.



Checking the cards are a waste of time as some lads do not sign them . If selling on you need them with two movements max, you are the third and the finisher the 4th. The dealer that you buy them from is one as well it all adds up.

Thanks Farmer Pudsey, very informative post. I usually buy around 300kg and pay around €800 and hope to sell in Autumn for 1000 to 11000. If prices were back €100 - 150 next autumn that would be profit gone.

Guess I would have to trust dealer on movements.

farmernewbie

Anyone get any recent prices on weanlings? Looking to purchase in a week or two. Judging from sample mart prices on farmforum they seem to be some crazy prices. How are lads paying crazy money when factories won't even take cattle at the moment.

Muckit

Buying for the grass and sure the grass is free!!!

Sam Kade

What about letting land for a cut of silage or two? Let the man taking it fertilize it and what ever you get is profit, no messing with cattle and spending all summer wondering will you make some profit.

bbam

Sam Kade wrote: »

What about letting land for a cut of silage or two? Let the man taking it fertilize it and what ever you get is profit, no messing with cattle and spending all summer wondering will you make some profit.

Problem I see round here is getting the silage off the ground without damaging it. Lads are less careful with rented ground. Hard to get lads to look after your land like you will yourself.

farmingmad10

you wont make much profit letting land for a lad to make silage off as their is no money in making silage to sell so hes hardly going to pay much money for land. if u buy heifers you can buy 320kg heifers under €800 but some top ones will make over €800. try not give over €800 because if meal went up a lot next year it would leave harder to make a good profit margin. would soon want to buy though a lot of farmers don't get cattle out early enough imo but if you got them out 1st april graze for 240 days put on .9kg lw/day on grass costing 30c/day (but may have to supplement with meal towards end to achieve .9kg) then ad lib meal for 100 days they would surely be v close to 350kg carcass weight at €4.00/kg they would make €1,400. they would cost €72 grass, €10 medicines, €367 for ad lib meal based on current price of €245/t for a finisher ration. they would eat 2kg straw/day with meal if bought at €15/bale 4x4 round weighing 150kg the cost/kg would be 10c. at 2kg the cost per animal is 20c/day €20 euro for 100 days. for beddng for 100 days say 1 bale/animal at €15. that leaves €96 & no fixed costs included. you would want to feed meal with a wheelbarrow or something feed cattle during daylight to reduce electricity. meal feeding generally has lower fixed cost though. its a tight margin game beef & paying too much on the day of purchase can destroy profit potential. my advice is to buy friesan bullocks their not as pleasing on the eye but when its all added up theirs a better margin in them. own labour not included as it couldn't be justified & the profit of the cattle would be the reward for labour & the capital tied up in the busisness.

Muckit

Your either a brother of Pudsey's or that heney lad that writes in the farming independent

Farmer Pudsey

farmingmad10 wrote: »

you wont make much profit letting land for a lad to make silage off as their is no money in making silage to sell so hes hardly going to pay much money for land. if u buy heifers you can buy 320kg heifers under €800 but some top ones will make over €800. try not give over €800 because if meal went up a lot next year it would leave harder to make a good profit margin. would soon want to buy though a lot of farmers don't get cattle out early enough imo but if you got them out 1st april graze for 240 days put on .9kg lw/day on grass costing 30c/day (but may have to supplement with meal towards end to achieve .9kg) then ad lib meal for 100 days they would surely be v close to 350kg carcass weight at €4.00/kg they would make €1,400. they would cost €72 grass, €10 medicines, €367 for ad lib meal based on current price of €245/t for a finisher ration. they would eat 2kg straw/day with meal if bought at €15/bale 4x4 round weighing 150kg the cost/kg would be 10c. at 2kg the cost per animal is 20c/day €20 euro for 100 days. for beddng for 100 days say 1 bale/animal at €15. that leaves €96 & no fixed costs included. you would want to feed meal with a wheelbarrow or something feed cattle during daylight to reduce electricity. meal feeding generally has lower fixed cost though. its a tight margin game beef & paying too much on the day of purchase can destroy profit potential. my advice is to buy friesan bullocks their not as pleasing on the eye but when its all added up theirs a better margin in them. own labour not included as it couldn't be justified & the profit of the cattle would be the reward for labour & the capital tied up in the busisness.

Jayus that was hard reading, mind you I have done it myself a few time. A full stop now an again and a new paragraph would be easier on the mind.

GoodMan55985

Just wondering how are weanling prices going over the past two weeks. Thinking of bringing some weanlings out on Saturday and just trying to gauge trade for them. Thanks

Miname

Small weanlings are crazy money. Heavy ones are alright. What breeds age and weights?

Cavanjack

Talking to a lad this morning who was in carnaross last night. Good heavy lads over 400kg making round €2.30/kg. Any good quality bulls 250-350kg making €2.60-€3.00kg. Cant figure out how anyone can make a profit on these.

Farmer Pudsey

Cavanjack wrote: »

Talking to a lad this morning who was in carnaross last night. Good heavy lads over 400kg making round €2.30/kg. Any good quality bulls 250-350kg making €2.60-€3.00kg. Cant figure out how anyone can make a profit on these.

Sure that is the price of them:rolleyes:

tanko

Cavanjack wrote: »

Talking to a lad this morning who was in carnaross last night. Good heavy lads over 400kg making round €2.30/kg. Any good quality bulls 250-350kg making €2.60-€3.00kg. Cant figure out how anyone can make a profit on these.

Well, the seller is making SFA on them, the buyer might as well join the club:).

Muckit

Went to Roscommon for a gawk last night. Didn't bring the trailer. Good Heifers 320-330kg making ~€840 and good shapey ones more.

Feck... where is the beef crisis effecting the weanling guy?

onyerbikepat

The future is in SUCKLING, no doubt about it.

Muckit

Ah now. I wouldn't go that far looks like will have to do a bit of truckin' to pick up a few.

GoodMan55985

"Small weanlings are crazy money. Heavy ones are alright. What breeds age and weights?"

They are a mix of Charolais and Limousein. Some of the Charolais are chocolatey colour bulls around 350kgs with good muscling and few orangey limo heifers around 300kgs. Thanks for the info on prices to all who responded.

GoodMan55985

On age they between 6 and 11 months

Brass Tag

Had weanling bulls at mart last week. Fully weaned February calves.
Mart full of bawling steaming weanlings pulled off the cow that morning.

Bigger fool me! Didn't get single extra € bid, over similar non weaned calves.
Didn't sell. Rightly pissed that buyers can't see the value in getting a calf that is fully weaned and fully settle down before sale!

AP2014

Brass Tag wrote: »

Had weanling bulls at mart last week. Fully weaned February calves.
Mart full of bawling steaming weanlings pulled off the cow that morning.

Bigger fool me! Didn't get single extra € bid, over similar non weaned calves.
Didn't sell. Rightly pissed that buyers can't see the value in getting a calf that is fully weaned and fully settle down before sale!

Sickening. Should be a law against it. Maybe there is but it certainly isn't been enforced.

Bodacious

AP2014 wrote: »

Sickening. Should be a law against it. Maybe there is but it certainly isn't been enforced.

I've all mine weaned this weekend for selling in three weeks. Give them ration /nuts and after grass til then .. Going to hold 3 heifer calves 2 blondes and a BBQ BB .

I didn't tube just wipes .. Shot of blue spray and stock tar / cheno unction to keep flies away

TITANIUM.

Muckit wrote: »

Went to Roscommon for a gawk last night. Didn't bring the trailer. Good Heifers 320-330kg making ~€840 and good shapey ones more.

Feck... where is the beef crisis effecting the weanling guy?

They'd want to be making that at a minimum. Seems to be all we hear lately is are lads mad and mart prices are gone crazy and off course "sure I'll never be able to pick up top quality weanlings and pay feck all for um at this rate."
The problems not on this end of the equation it's on the far end as we all know or at least should at this stage.

Brass Tag

TITANIUM. wrote: »

They'd want to be making that at a minimum. Seems to be all we hear lately is are lads mad and mart prices are gone crazy and off course "sure I'll never be able to pick up top quality weanlings and pay feck all for um at this rate."
The problems not on this end of the equation it's on the far end as we all know or at least should at this stage.

Exactly. This **** of weanling buyers complaining they are too dear is sickening. The problem is at the end of the chain not at the beginning. Notwithstanding of course that weanling producers myself included just have to get better and more cost effective at it.

Robson99

As weanling / store to finish man I would say its a bit of both. 4.60 & 4.70 per kg that we were getting last year is unsustainable and unrealistic. 4.25 is more of a long term requirement we need. However weanlings and stores are in the region of 25c/ kg or 100e on a 400kg animal too dear. If the factories don't rise it will eventually happen that the farmer will see sense and stop paying over the top for lighter cattle

TITANIUM.

Robson99 wrote: »

As weanling / store to finish man I would say its a bit of both. 4.60 & 4.70 per kg that we were getting last year is unsustainable and unrealistic. 4.25 is more of a long term requirement we need. However weanlings and stores are in the region of 25c/ kg or 100e on a 400kg animal too dear. If the factories don't rise it will eventually happen that the farmer will see sense and stop paying over the top for lighter cattle

They might, your probably right there.
But I have to disagree with you that cattle are to dear at the moment. Look at what it costs in time and money etc to breed a good weanling. Keeping his mother is the big one of course. Depending on the farm that's between 500 and 750 approximately. And that's before we get into the calf itself.
Jesus now that I think about it, Cattle are dirt cheap at the moment.

Sami23

TITANIUM. wrote: »

Look at what it costs in time and money etc to breed a good weanling. Keeping his mother is the big one of course. Depending on the farm that's between 500 and 750 approximately.

Where are you coming up with the figure of between 500 to 750 to keep a cow per year :eek: ?

TMSHope

Went for a look at the weekend in Dowra. Overall prices seem to be back 100-150 euro a head for weanlings compared to last year.

Examples of some Weanling bull prices. This is best I saw for bulls while I was there. These were €2.40 to €2.60 per kilo.

BB born Sept 2013 was 500kgs sold for €1,300
Charolais born Jan 2014 400kgs sold for €1,000
Charolais born April 2014 340kgs sold for €815