BEEF SYSTEMS

keep going

a buddy was discussing his beef system with me lately and wondering what to do .currently he rears fr/JE bulls to bull beef but I don't think theres a lot out of it.so it put me thinking,whats you angle for making money out of cattle or what part of your system delivers the best returns.before ye start don't bother posting that you are making f/a-could be a short thread:p

coolshannagh28

AAx heifers calf to store or beef bought now eating meal and on grass asap ,low input first winter and well done on good grass second year sold through mart or factory depending on trade and finish ,In the producer scheme to maximise return,
Run a Dexter herd on rough ground which made great money in REPs and will again in GLAS and the suck cow scheme as two of them run where one continental would ,again v low input .Beef is in demand and commands a premium.
My system is to maximise revenue from premia and minimise loss from farming as is dictated in any subsidised system .
I put minimal hours in and do take money out

Bullocks

coolshannagh28 wrote: »

AAx heifers calf to store or beef bought now eating meal and on grass asap ,low input first winter and well done on good grass second year sold through mart or factory depending on trade and finish ,In the producer scheme to maximise return,
Run a Dexter herd on rough ground which made great money in REPs and will again in GLAS and the suck cow scheme as two of them run where one continental would ,again v low input .Beef is in demand and commands a premium.
My system is to maximise revenue from premia and minimise loss from farming as is dictated in any subsidised system .
I put minimal hours in and do take money out

I think coolshannagh is on the money , we don't finish much here as it's too expensive on bad ground with small numbers .
I'd sooner sell as stores without spending too much on them and let the big boys buy the meal . If its possible to be flexible with selling it's a big help . I'm off loading anything I can now while the prices are good and not spreading as much fertiliser for grazing as I'll be lowly stocked for the summer .

onyerbikepat

Bullocks wrote: »

... I'm off loading anything I can now while the prices are good and not spreading as much fertiliser for grazing as I'll be lowly stocked for the summer .

Seems like a good plan to me.

Bullocks

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Seems like a good plan to me.

Sold 2 bullocks today again €1190 and €950 , id say I wouldn't have got that kinda money off the factory in 9 mths time if I kept them

larrymiller

Bullocks wrote: »

Sold 2 bullocks today again €1190 and €950 , id say I wouldn't have got that kinda money off the factory in 9 mths time if I kept them

What weight?

sh1tstirrer

Bullocks wrote: »

Sold 2 bullocks today again €1190 and €950 , id say I wouldn't have got that kinda money off the factory in 9 mths time if I kept them

Great prices at the moment, last spring was a disaster. Every year is different if you bought last spring and sold this spring you would make a nice profit only problem when you replace the stock they will cost more.

Bullocks

larrymiller wrote: »

What weight?

I don't know but I'd be guessing at 300/350 kg

tanko

coolshannagh28 wrote: »

AAx heifers calf to store or beef bought now eating meal and on grass asap ,low input first winter and well done on good grass second year sold through mart or factory depending on trade and finish ,In the producer scheme to maximise return,
Run a Dexter herd on rough ground which made great money in REPs and will again in GLAS and the suck cow scheme as two of them run where one continental would ,again v low input .Beef is in demand and commands a premium.
My system is to maximise revenue from premia and minimise loss from farming as is dictated in any subsidised system .
I put minimal hours in and do take money out

Sounds like a good system. Can you say a bit more about how you sell the dexter cattle and what kind of money they make?

coolshannagh28

There s a producer group in Tipperary looking for finished cattle all the time ,I have a restaurant chain in Dublin who buy carcasses but most of mine go to a northern company who supply farm shops and restaurants ,
Rule of thumb price is R3 plus 50 cent regardless of spec . They weigh about 180 kilo on the hook and I count 2 as one LU.
They are a niche product and will remain so as GLAS qualification is limited to those registered with the society for 2013 and 2014 .

CHOPS01

Bullocks wrote: »

I don't know but I'd be guessing at 300/350 kg

Did you sell them off the farm?
What age and breed were they

Bullocks

CHOPS01 wrote: »

Did you sell them off the farm?
What age and breed were they

No sent them to the mart with a lad as I hadn't time to go myself , they were about a year old one was a poor aa whose mother died when he was only a month old and the other was aa out of a blue cow

CHOPS01

Bullocks wrote: »

No sent them to the mart with a lad as I hadn't time to go myself , they were about a year old one was a poor aa whose mother died when he was only a month old and the other was aa out of a blue cow

Fair play,nice touch when you get them kind of prices