Beef price tracker 2

smallbeef · 29-05-2023 08:23AM

My agent seems more anxious for cattle this week, we might be in for a hardening of prices at last.

somewhat disappointed · 30-05-2023 05:42PM

What are the benefits of spreading sweet grass fertilizer will it encourage intake and reduce the need for topping?

KAMG · 02-06-2023 06:59PM

Has anyone got any quotes for bullocks for next week? They are only offering me 5.00 in the midlands for next Thursday. Down 10 cent so if that's the case.

somewhat disappointed · 03-06-2023 08:24PM

I can't believe how much cattle prices have dropped in the past month to 6 weeks how to calculate how the cattle bought at the high prices can be profitable? Has to be a loss making operation.

Bass Reeves · 03-06-2023 09:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120675038#Comment_120675038

Finishing cattle out if a shed without a contract is a gamble. Costs are just too high. An AA grading R- would need to kill 335 kgs DW to clear 1800 euro. That is about 650 LW. What would he have cost @ 460-480 kgs last January and February.

With the base price dropping you are losing money. If he graded O+ you would be back 40-45 euro. No flat pricing at present. As well at present any bullocks will be gone stale.

Work the sums on a lot of the cattle bought after the New year and mist are breaking even only.

kk.man · 04-06-2023 08:02PM

Yea a disaster alright...never mind the shed cattle.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120675146#Comment_120675146

Bass Reeves · 04-06-2023 11:15PM

Came across this it's details on a Kepak feedlot

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/beef-focus-meath-beef-farm-finishing-5000-cattle-year/

Basically they are producing there own feed in the live of grains and silage. I like to know is the grains going in at cost or at commercial value.

The real stinger for me is these cattle are considered as grass fed.

weatherbyfoxer · 05-06-2023 06:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120675146#Comment_120675146

Depending on getting store cattle out early in March can be nearly as much a gamble.On heavier ground it's the end of April most years resulting on meal being fed in August for finishing.Very rarely would any cattle 500kg+ see grass again here after October.i prefer to kill them by Christmas and buy 400-450kg to replace them and store these till march in the hope for an early turn out

Hershall · 05-06-2023 06:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120671584#Comment_120671584

5.00 euro for blks locally also....

wrangler · 05-06-2023 06:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120678246#Comment_120678246

And they'll have to do more of it as farmers move to the easy option of producing beef off grass in the grass growing mths.

Very interesting organic farm walk last week on Stanleys where Jason said that if he didn't stay in contact with the factory he wouldn't get the bonuses, he has to base his supply on their requirements. he can have to hold lambs for up to two months

Bass Reeves · 05-06-2023 07:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120678471#Comment_120678471

There is a huge difference cost wise between killing cattle at or around Christmas and out into March through to May/June. As well if you are dealing with young cattle and can manage to secure first movement cattle then most both Kepak and AIBP pay a bonus.

I think Kerry group are making a move in this direction as well, they are starting to pay a 10 euro bonus where calves are sould or purchased by an approved rearer. This will probably tie into the AIBP scheme and allow cattle to go to thre movement.

Bass Reeves · 05-06-2023 08:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120678495#Comment_120678495

Maybe if they paid the 20-50c/ kg extra to farmers that they pay to feedlots then ordinary farmers would finish more cattle during the winter. There is many like me that have left it as we cannot compete on costs with large feedlots add in them the price risk.

Another few lads will give up late season finishing this year. If you have fed stock for 3-5 months and are now. Reading even at best and must go out to replace them you look closer at it next autumn

kk.man · 05-06-2023 02:52PM

I saw the figures once for that feedlot. At the time bulls were in vogue. The broke even on the heifers and made 50e pH on the bulls. Now that was not sfp which was big at the time. I think factory owned feedlots break even but factory control feedlots must pay the farmer well but he is under terrible pressure to keep the merry go round moving.

Bass Reeves · 05-06-2023 03:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120679514#Comment_120679514

There SFP's will be converging to national averages. Probably by 2027 there payment will be in the 120-130k bracket on 360 HA. They may well be caught by capping which I think 60k+ an allowance per labour unit

148multi · 05-06-2023 07:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120678495#Comment_120678495

Holding on to lambs for two months as an organic farmer is a bit harsh.

wrangler · 05-06-2023 08:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120680354#Comment_120680354

Well that's an example he gave at the Farm walk, he said he'd put them on poor grass for a month to slow them down and then on to rape/kale for a month.

DBK1 · 05-06-2023 10:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120680434#Comment_120680434

Surely hearing that would be enough to turn off anyone that was there that was considering going organic? Pure lunacy to have to do something like that.

kk.man · 05-06-2023 11:29PM

There's a lad near me who is nearly 90. He never spread a bag of manure on his place ever. It's up for rent now. Surely there must be a exception to the conversation status for his place. Now I know proving that to the powers that be is another argument but it definitely makes a laugh out of our rules and regs.

wrangler · 06-06-2023 06:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120680831#Comment_120680831

As I've said before, a lot of organic lambs go the conventional route because farmers aren't prepared to do this.

Market is improving but with all the extra organic farmers last year it'll deteriorate again

Siamsa Sessions · 06-06-2023 08:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120681054#Comment_120681054

I did the organic principles course last Sept and we did a farm walk on an organic farm in Cork. The farmer told us she has to book cattle in for slaughter 6 months in advance. She rings up, they give her a date in 6 months time, and then it's take it or leave it no matter the weight/condition of the cattle. It was Angus mostly I think she had, and they were averaging 450-550kg live weight at slaughter.

Rusheseverywhere · 06-06-2023 10:32AM

Yes the organic booking in is a joke I used to kill and at one stage around 7 or 8 years ago it was nearly a year of a wait. 6 months often the norm but I was producing LM Rplus heifers at around the 350kg carcass and flat price in Organic up to that grade. Past couple of years I found it easier get in cattle then lads with O grade. A few weeks notice (Mine were fit to go May/June/July so autumn killing another story) . All that said I killed nothing this year and with amount gone in can see it going back to booking in a year in advance.

Organics really about cheque in the post.

Castlekeeper · 07-06-2023 03:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120680916#Comment_120680916

If there was would that mean that one would be ineligible for the higher in conversion rate from the OFS also? And for what gain, unless you've a premium market?

You'd be winning anyway on a farm like that by not having to with damaged soil.

bogman_bass · 07-06-2023 03:59PM

What are fatstock doing in the marts now?

kk.man · 07-06-2023 08:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120687009#Comment_120687009

Speaking to an agent this evening and he said agents are paying less in general for fatstock in the marts.

cute geoge · 07-06-2023 09:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120688032#Comment_120688032

Where are the Northern buyers this summer ,with uk prices so far ahead you would expect them to be more active driving on mart prices

kk.man · 08-06-2023 09:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120688267#Comment_120688267

It's hard to second guess ATM... UK beef seems to a law onto themselves... any Irish factory supplying them with a large proportion of their kill is creaming it. It suits them to have a higher UK price in more ways than one. Supermarkets are starting to kick now...interesting times.