Beef price tracker 2

kk.man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121515587#Comment_121515587

I think jameson is referring to a certain plant who are brutal at budging.

Siamsa Sessions

ABP in south east talking about €5.35 for AA and LM bullocks incl. QA and their own “premium” for this Thurs. I’ve only 3 going so the agent is pretty much saying take it or leave it.

Dairy-cross so more O than R. Should be 520-530kg lw. They’re only 22 months and if I’d a proper slatted shed I’d keep them for longer but as they say in the mafia films, “It is what it is”

kk.man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516309#Comment_121516309

Did u get into the advantage scheme?

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516027#Comment_121516027

Why? I never send cattle to a factory without knowing what I'm getting. Seems a funny way to carry out business.

Siamsa Sessions

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516329#Comment_121516329

On paper, yes. I signed whatever forms needed to be signed.

But who knows what way they operate. I’m not sure how me signing a bit of paper could give me 20c/kg without having to do anything else. The cattle I have will be in-spec for their guidelines/rules but so will lots of others who haven’t signed the form. I’ll gladly take the apparent extra but I’m not sure how it all works. Maybe they’ve a long-term plan.

charolais0153

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516457#Comment_121516457

Jennings do

kk.man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516486#Comment_121516486

I know Ballyhaunis to do a deal too.

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516457#Comment_121516457

I send my few bullocks to Dawn Meats. But I send them over the summer and always get the lowest price going that week cos I'm only a small fish. Only got a flat price once. Early last summer. Big boys like you and my neighbour are in a different league to me.

If you don't get 5.00 base price Friday, I'd be changing agent if I were you.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516020#Comment_121516020

You need to have a better chat with your agent because I think he’s bulling you.

Flat rate deals are available for Angus and whiteheads in every factory around the midlands at present and that’s including Keepak and 2 different Liffey Meats plants.

I doubt it’s any different anywhere else in the country.

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516461#Comment_121516461

These cattle that went this morning would be O + or R - I would imagine. They are coming up on 30 months. On nuts and top class silage for around 10 weeks. Just weren't good enough in early October when last of the grass cattle went. He is gonna be a happy man when he gets his cheque.

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516519#Comment_121516519

Earlier on you said you send up to 50 cattle at a time. Nows it 80 a year. Which is it?

I don't think he is telling porkies. Why would he? I'm only saying what he told me. He is well in his 70s, and is a very shrewd man. Sells to different factories depending on what price he is getting and what type of cattle he is selling. These were all AAX, mainly 29 month old cattle. 5.40 flat for quality assured under 30 months. Any not under 30 months are not gonna get that price I'd imagine.

Now, ring around again in the morning is my advice.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516543#Comment_121516543

I’ve just named a few factories above that are doing exactly that. Whether they are U+ or O- the price will be the same, that’s how a flat rate works. You need to have a proper chat with either your agent or your procurement manager because someone is fobbing you off by telling you such a thing isn’t available.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516566#Comment_121516566

I think you’re acting like a child that isn’t getting their way now to be honest.

I was offered a flat price yesterday but decided I’d hold off until after Xmas as they’ll carry a bit more weight still. I’d nearly send on a load for the craic now just to show you the docket!

The majority of Angus and whitehead cattle killed in the last few weeks are being killed in a flat price. I have neighbours that done so and as I said the option is there for myself too but I’m waiting until the new year.

If you’re a soft seller you’ll be walked all over, as I said already talk to your agent in the morning because he’s definitely fobbing you off.

What part of the country are you in? Ring some of the midlands factories in the morning and see what you are offered.

charolais0153

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516569#Comment_121516569

If the cattle are o or p grade Ur better off with flat

r or above. Better off on the grid

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516569#Comment_121516569

Most flat prices for aa and whiteheads would be for above P grades. If you’ve only 1 P grade in a load they’d probably let it on at the flat price, if you’ve a lot of them then you will be cut. It’s rare though for Angus or whiteheads to grade P.

You must be fairly new to dealing with factories if all of this is news to you? Do you normally sell in the mart or what’s your usual system?

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516582#Comment_121516582

It does surprise me because you’ve an awful lot to learn yet.

You don’t have to demand a flat price, they’re ringing around offering it to get cattle in. For the first time in years they’re killing cattle between Christmas and new year because they need the numbers.

Don’t take my word for it, ring a few different factories you don’t normally deal with and ask what’s available, you’ve nothing to lose and it might just show you what you’ve been missing out on all along.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516601#Comment_121516601

Flat pricing for friesian’s would be different as they will generally allow for a certain amount of P’s and price will reflect that.

For Angus or whitehead a flat price is generally for anything above O-. The price would normally be at or about what an R grade price would be on the grid so like @charolais0153 said above if your cattle are r grade or above you’re better off on the grid.

Flat pricing for all the different grades would be pointless as there is no benefit to it then. The benefit to flat pricing for the seller is that you get an r grade price for O- stock and even on the odd P+ or overage animal. The advantage for the factory is security of supply when cattle are scarce.

Last winter flat prices peaked in the first few days of February. I was lucky I killed a load on 1st February at €5.60 flat price, and there were more O- than there were O=/+ on it. I killed U grade continentals at the same time and they only came into €5.58/kg so I got more for O- whiteheads than I did for U- continentals.

2 weeks later and demand had peaked and I killed 2 loads within a few days of each other in 2 different factories and the best I could get was €5.25 on the grid, no flat prices were being given.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516605#Comment_121516605

Think what you like, it won’t affect me.

When you’re looking at your kill sheet at €4.90 at the weekend you can think about all the lads that are freely getting €5.30-€5.40 for O- grades and scratch your head and wonder why you’re being taken for a fool.

The big 3 are driving the flat prices at the minute, if you weren’t so stubborn you’d ask your agent but maybe you want to act like Santa Claus and give them cheap meat for Christmas.

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516605#Comment_121516605

I do my dealing with 2 of the big 3 and some times with 2 Indos. In the past 12 months I have got flat pricing from Kepak and the 2 Indos. Killing approx 60 a year.

Flat pricing can be easily got for small numbers pinch points of the year. We are currently in one. Chopping and changing factories is vital. If you don't ask you don't get.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516634#Comment_121516634

At a very minimum at least learn how the grid works before accepting €5.22 for r grade Angus.

€5.22 for r grade Angus is a factory robbing you in todays market.

€5 base price plus €0.20 qa plus €0.20 aa bonus (which is the minimum you’ll get, 30cent is available in a lot of places) is minimum of €5.40 for r grades on the grid.

It’s lads like you accepting ridiculous prices that drag down the price for everyone else. Any agent offering you €5.22 for r grade Angus this week should be ran from your yard and told never to come back.

Conversations 3

Great to see an actual discussion here on prices.

We should be a lot more open on what's available in each factory each week.

Knowledge is power after all.

downtown3858

Don’t sell your cattle at them prices Jameson . If you’re going to take that give me a message private , and I’ll give you more to buy them off you liveweight

mr.stonewall

Flat prices I have taken before have been for AA and FR. Only real benefit is for the o- p mix of stock

farm to fork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516582#Comment_121516582

Sorry I'm late to the party....but Jjameson I dipped my toe in the black and white market in the last few years after finding the continental trade unviable (too expensive to buy in). I have sold Whiteheads and Angus in the last few weeks at a Flat rate. Its one of the reasons I went down this route. Most years around this period Flat Rates are easily achieved allowing you to batch a group regardless of Grade or Fat Score. Now if you had a few to grade which I did recently, well the grid is the place. I had a group of lovely whiteheads heifers grade R and with the 20 cent Board Bia and 20 cent Whitehead bonus they paid as well or better than Continentals, they definitely left more money.

So Jjameson I think you need to pull in your horns and listen to lads on here, I have learnt a lot from other peoples views. None of us are experts.

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121516563#Comment_121516563

Apologies. I misinterpreted your earlier post. Anyways, As Conversations 3 said its great that we are actually discussing prices. I keep a very regular eye on this thread as I feel it is the most accurate way to judge prices actually being paid. I don't pass much heed on the papers or websites to be honest. In saying that, I have been keeping a record of the weekly quoted prices on the IFA website so it will be interesting what they are saying around lunchtime today.

What sort of cattle are you sending Friday?

downtown3858

You’re a very stubborn man Jameson . Everyone is telling you there is more going . Do not take any less than 5 euro base out of any factory . You would be a fool to do so. You don’t have to take any less at the present times . And beef will not be worth any less in the first month of 24 either . When times like this arrive with factories tight and looking stock and pinching cattle of each other you fight hard for every penny . You even ring another factory you don’t deal with . The one you normally deal with will think more of you next time you have stock to sell if you do jump ship this time

Sheep breeder

When you deal in the same agent and factory they know from experience what type of cattle you keep and how much finish they carry and what market they suit, it’s there game and they have to know what they are getting, shopping around is not a big deal, listening to word of mouth is not much use as most lads talk up there price they got for their cattle, have got flat rate as stated at times in Kcc and kepak. Also the grading machine is not run by the factories it’s independent. It’s amazing to see how cattle kill out for well done to under finished and how the yield off the carcass,

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121517146#Comment_121517146

Couldn't agree more.

Conversations 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121517415#Comment_121517415

Everytime my dealer brings cattle to APB Waterford the grading is very tight, I'm avoiding them if at all possible.

Grading needs to be taken out of the factories hands, it's a ridiculous setup.

Robson99

Lads going with 4 or 5 cattle will always get less than the lad with the load. Some lads jump ship to another factory for 5 cent.... personally I wouldnt..... the day you have one that doesnt grade the way you felt it would and you have your tail between your legs