What cattle to buy ?

cj maxx

Plan is to buy , maybe a dozen , weanlings end of feb / march to summer graze and a little meai then sell in oct. in the mart
Given how the beef factories have their criteria ( ages, weights limits ) which affect prices of stores what breeds and ages would you's reconend to buy if possible
I usially go for charlois's ( for temerment and handling)
Thanks

bogman_bass

Personally charolais would be the last breed I would buy. Over priced and too hard finished but then I would be bringing them to slaughter.

Miname

Nice orange Charolais, il sort you out with a few nice ones.

cj maxx

Miname wrote: »

Nice orange Charolais, il sort you out with a few nice ones.

Im sure you could but i want avoid the likes of you !!!
)))

Bass Reeves

I be careful what I buy/pay for cattle this spring. Lots of 2015 yearling around. 2014 cattle very scarce. Because of this yearlings could be over priced. Price may hold in autumn if factory prices hold from mid summer but I doubt it. As well processors will enforce 420 and 480 weight limits late this year and from 2017 on. For the amount you are looking for with the year that is in it you may only lose about 3K.

cj maxx

Bass Reeves wrote: »

I be careful what I buy/pay for cattle this spring. Lots of 2015 yearling around. 2014 cattle very scarce. Because of this yearlings could be over priced. Price may hold in autumn if factory prices hold from mid summer but I doubt it. As well processors will enforce 420 and 480 weight limits late this year and from 2017 on. For the amount you are looking for with the year that is in it you may only lose about 3K.

Thanks,
I might only get 6 so to lose half that !!
But as you say if factories impose the weight limits that means killing earlier (24mths?) so to summer graze then sell whats the best age to buy this year
Thanks
Sorry fir the stupid wuestions but i am panicking a bit about what way cattle will go this year

tractorporn

Would you consider buying some dairy cross heifer calves? Little bit more work but less initial investment and possibly a wider market when you come to sell in the back end ie suckler men for replacements or beef men looking for heifers to finish.

Miname

How do you reckon he'd loose 3k on 12 cattle? There's an awful lot of talking down over extra cattle but I just wouldn't be believing everything I'm hearing. A good store will always sell well. Friesans and traditional breeds will see the first of the cuts if any in the mart trade. There's still value to be got in continentals if sourced right, and they'll be more saleable than anything else out there. Different story if he was finishing but he's summer grazing. Keep your costs down and stick with what you always done.

Bass Reeves

Miname wrote: »

How do you reckon he'd loose 3k on 12 cattle? There's an awful lot of talking down over extra cattle but I just wouldn't be believing everything I'm hearing. A good store will always sell well. Friesans and traditional breeds will see the first of the cuts if any in the mart trade. There's still value to be got in continentals if sourced right, and they'll be more saleable than anything else out there. Different story if he was finishing but he's summer grazing. Keep your costs down and stick with what you always done.

2014 cattle are very scarce a lot are already killed. This will drive some summer grazers that finish down to heavy 2015 cattle. I expect a strong grass cattle price because of this. If he buys in next week or two it may not be as bad but as we get into February and March demand will be exceptionally strong especially with a mild winter that is seeing exceptional grass growth.

http://www.met.ie/latest/agri_soiltemp.asp

Grass is growing again after the drop in the weeks in early January. Ould lads will be having grass fever soon.

Lots of lads are very wary about the end of this year and will be slow to buy expensive cattle. At present processors are imposing a 20c/kg penalty at 420kgs DW and 20c/kg more at 480kgs DW. From sources this is hitting the heavy 450g+ bulls already. ''O'' grade bulls are making 3.7/kg and less in factory's at present they will not be wanted this time next year. As well numbers of finished cattle will start to rise in the UK and continent from mid year on. Lots of 2015 HE and AA cattle as well around.

Everything points to a further drop in the DW penalty maybe back to 380kgs and a low base price at the end of this year and early next year. If store are expensive next autumn I will not be buying and there are a few more like me.

Last spring 320 kg cattle were costing 1k and over by mid march, add transport and mart fees to buy and sell, a bit of ration and fertlizer and they will be costing 1250 to break even in the autumn. A 520 kg bullock will need 2.4/kg to break even. Maybe 250/head is on the high side but it will be easy to lose 150-200/head if you buy wrong.

Bass Reeves

Was at a mart yesterday and only saw the yearlings. 330kg good Charley 1000-1050. 300ishkg Herefords 700+, AA bullocks same weight were up on that as well. 220kg HE and AA were making 600 euro. 330kg FR goodish one's were making 600 euro. Hard to see money out of them.

Only animals I saw that there might be a few bob out of was a few JEx bulls 260 kgs making 280 and a couple of HO fr autumn '15 bulls 220kgs sold for 270 euro.

Miname

Plenty of value in carnaross tonight in the bull ring. Nice orange Charolais Bulls 340-350 kg March 15 making 8-900. Sorts that could take a good feeding. It took 400 kg limos or heavier even to break the 900 mark. Some good prices for springers. 1700 hundred for plainish enough marked first calvers.

Willfarman

Come April there will be value in dairy or dairy cross yearlings.. Unfortunately you have to see these types the whole road usually. For your system the nice coloured char yearling is the safest bet.