Beef price tracker 2

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123016156#Comment_123016156

How would you compare their thrive compared to other years? I found 2024 tough for grass growth and quality, the back end gave a little back.

WoozieWu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123015279#Comment_123015279

hybrid or pure beef dams are the only way to go

WoozieWu

if the breed bonuses were removed, what bearing would that have on the profitability of finished angus or hereford

ready4road

Although as you say grass quality poor this year I found overall they throve very similar to other years when all taken into account. But constant wet grass through out summer is poor feeding

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123016156#Comment_123016156

When were they last weighed?

Twice too long to be feeding that level of meal. They are probably fat and have quit putting on weight.

Aly Daly

The finishing period is too long,60 to 90 days is sufficient,these cattle will be big weights despite the poor adg which should be tipping over the 1kg per day given the level of feeding, I suspect maybe they don't have the frames to grow beef & are just laying down fat I could be totally wrong in that statement but it is a suspicion.There may be guys making a net few quid on here from dry stock outside of payments but this is highly unlikely so large pinches of salt required from some sectors,you can expect a loss for sure with these unfortunately as the capital cost of ration has been way too high, elements of the system are good such as high quality silage & the willingness to feed finishing cattle,again I hope I am wrong in my thinking.

Who2

I love working with sucklers. I’ve 5 into calve at the moment and there’s one of those I’m expecting something special out of, it’s the closest to how a kid feels at Christmas for me.

I’ve facilities well set up and I get a great enjoyment out of breeding and working with cattle. I think that’s where with an interest a good turn can be made in them. If I hadn’t an interest I’d probably loose money too and being honest the only time I’d keep a dairy cross animal now would be if she came with an embryo in her

Jb1989

Under 24 month bulls

U 6.00

R 5.90

North East area

ready4road

Weighed st Stephens day and November 8th before that. Average 0.7 kg in between. I do spoil them with feed and ADG is slightly down on previous years .

ready4road

Aly daly thanks for detailed reply. They would be in general big framed hand picked weanlings and I wouldn't consider them fat although I'd be in no way an expert in knowing this. I have always fed my few bullocks this way down the years and as you said they do end up good weights for ages They normally slaughtered 20 to 24 months. They do have a great KO .I reckon 58 to 60+%. Probably a stupid question Aly but if I gave them say 7kg meal instead of the 10kg would they have an even lower ADG.

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017293#Comment_123017293

What fat score do they have every year? Much over 3 equals?

Anto_Meath

@Who2 I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to suckler. Some lads think any auld cow or a middling bull is fine & it probably is if you want to tip away at it. If you want to make money at it you need to spend time & experience on pick (breeding) the right cows and then matching them with the right bull. I had actually planned on maybe picking up a cow or two at that sale in Carnaross as there were a few looked good in the Done Deal photos. Then I got locked as a neighbour went down with TB. Went to the sale anyway and I wasn't disappointed that I couldn't buy any of them. But what I did see was a few lots there was a nice twist in if you were to buy them and split them then re-sell as singles.

MfMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017293#Comment_123017293

You might be better off letting these continental-types into older ages, even 30+ months; more likely to show better ADG when being fed then.

Some finishers I know are martyrs to killing under 30 months; I have no qualms about letting them overage, might pay off in the longer span.

Aly Daly

I have found 60 days 3kgp/day sufficient to finish dairy cross well framed bullocks albeit off grass & at older age(28 to 34 months at finishing).The reduction in meal would not in my opinion greatly affect adg.The level of meal feeding is not incorrect to my understanding however the duration is way too lengthy,if they were mine I would finish older under 30 months with there nice frames & over a duration of 60 days on a 10 day build up to 10kg,I appreciate everyone's system is different & the above may not suit,I would also advocate for splitting there feed morning & evening at those rates.

ready4road

JB1989 here are the last 2 years.

U+3=, u+2+, u=3-, u=3-, u+3=, u+1=, E-2-, E=1+, U=3-, U=4-, R=3=, U+3=, U+3-, U=3+, U-4=, U+3-, U=2+, U+3+, U+2+, U+3-, U=3=.

Interested to see what you think of those fat scores. As I said I wouldn't be familiar with fat scores. I'd understand the grades and know the quality of an animal reasonably enough I think

Aly Daly

No problem letting friesans over 30 months in fact advisable as they are not finishing until done growing & probably won't qualify for qa in any case,different story with good continentals but if tall types better to let go over age,heaviest bullock here in the last while was a simmental at 33 months I think,480kg an graded R(late October),I bought him as a forward store in April of the same year thinking I had gave too much for him,he left a €330 net profit,if they were all doing that my whinging would cease.

Who2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017522#Comment_123017522

Turning cattle over doesn’t really suit my system. I done that a couple of times and I found I’d still have her when she would go back with the bull and at scanning I’d say I’ll sell her springing and she would still be there years later. Id one prime example I bought in Carnaross online that you could shave on her back. I regretted it from I bought her and she ended up hanging around until last year when I pulled a bunch last spring and kept them away from the bull . In fairness to her the calf would come tall and narrow too but still came just shy of 1500 in September.
im trying to stick to my own breeding to an extent and only buy if I really like them. The right ones are hard found and if you do come across them you need deep pockets.

ready4road

Aly again thanks for opinion and advice. As you said everyone system is different, I can't split the feed due to work patterns. Leaving them to nearer the 30 months or over is an option allright. Just thinking for next winter might reduce the meal to one pen of them and see if much difference at the end. And maybe also just ramp it up for the last 60 days or so

Anto_Meath

@Who2 what I find is you will never buy a quality suckler cow like what you can breed. I would say in the the last 5 years I have bought 9 springers and only 2 of them have hung around and provided a few replacements. The other went for various reasons, temperament been the main one.

Who2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017810#Comment_123017810

am I right in reading you are giving them 10kg each for 180 days or are you giving them 10kg between them for 180 days? It’s crazy feeding if they are eating 1.8 ton to finish.

leoch

Great grades but alot possible killed not fat enough I think 3+ is the best optimised fat score other more experienced on here will advise u better

ready4road

Reply to who2. Yes 1.8 to 2 tonne each animal to finish

Reply to leoch. You think they Not fat enough . Why would that be with so much meal..I'm really interested to get more advise /reaction on this . Up to now I just did what I always did .Great to get other peoples opinions that have more knowledge than myself on this

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017774#Comment_123017774

Not over far so. What finishing ration you feeding

Grueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017958#Comment_123017958

What percentage protein is the meal? Hardly high protein meal and leaving them low in energy for fattening?

Aly Daly

I would confine the finishing period to 60/90 days to achieve maximum results in my opinion.

ready4road

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017969#Comment_123017969

Hi-Maize beef finisher 8kg and straight maize meal 2kg per day

ready4road

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123018012#Comment_123018012

Thanks . Probably my plan for next year.

Cheers

ready4road

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123017972#Comment_123017972

Hi Maize beef finisher 14% crude protein and straight maize meal 4:1 ratio.

HHH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123018036#Comment_123018036

I'd wager it's all of your red lims are letting you down on the fat score? It's very hard to get the cover on those animals that young (20-24m old at slaughter), no matter what you feed them. I'd be starting them later on your feed regime and keeping them up to 30m. The CH bullock won't let you down when slaughtered that early. Going by the grades they are premium stock and ideal for the front field! Is the system profitable? Your wintering and meal bills must be huge?

epfff

Great stock from the grades.

They would really suit a bull system with their quality and your ability to buy meal.

On blks you get the best reaction from meal for the first 50 days you have them burned out after 100 at 150 days on that amount of meal im thinking you have liver damage and all sorts so you not getting any thrive.