Beef price research.

donalh087

Hey, I am doing some research for a story (fiction) I am writing based in 1988. I am not farming related so I am 'estimating' some figures. I am looking for a final price of a good quality beef cow going to be slaughtered (the price the farmer will get)

. I am currently calculating it at 'about' E4.20 a kilo and 'about' 800kg per animal. Is a beef cow worth E3,360? Seems an awful lot. Is this figure right? And what would the figure be in the late 80's?

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.independent.ie/business/farming/beef-cattle-are-now-making-600-less-than-in-1988-30643210.html&ved=2ahUKEwjwjeSole3yAhVGQUEAHUcVD3YQFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0kaoAgD9jHrxVLUZnMegvo&cshid=1631028255258

1988 - 3.36/kg DW net price for flesh.

The fall (entrails,organs,hide etc) can be anywhere from 45-50 per cent of live weight.

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859186#Comment_117859186

That was a false market, intervention and APS schemes drove it , I remember getting £1.18 when factories were killing for APS and being criticised for not witing for £1.20..... some got £1.20 alright but very few and within two weeks it was back to about £1.00/lb when the APS SCHEME closed

Freiesians were way better quality then, they were british fireisians for a start and loaded with hormones.

bogman_bass

Just be aware to be accurate in your story that prices in ‘88wouls have been given in pence per pound terms

donalh087

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859186#Comment_117859186

So, is 800KG about right? And would that mean the price would be 400KG x €3.36 , €1,344 ?

If a guy had 100 head in 1988 would he have €134,400?

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859734#Comment_117859734

Thats right,

epfff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859734#Comment_117859734

Somewhere around there but keep in mind the 100 cattle don't just appear and in 1988 most cattle were 3/4 year old when going to slaughter. Were Interest rates at an all time high them years too?

Base price

I remember sending a Blonde freemartin heifer (probably around 30 months old) to AIBP in Ballymun in 86/87 @ £1.22/lb.

As Wrangler said in those days we had access to implanted hormones. We used to feed/finish FR, Angus, Hereford and Continental bullocks - the Ralgro gun was an integral part of the operation.

kk.man

I seem to remember that the late 80s early nighties bullocks hovered around 80p lb and heifers were 90p for ages. If you had a good load of heifers you could bargain but not bullocks. Bullocks all went into intervention and heifers were much sought after by the UK supermarkets. The cows went to France I think 50 - 60p lb.

Good loser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859734#Comment_117859734

I would say you're way too high there. Cattle in general - not to mind cows - were much lower prices then; a price of £1,000 was unheard of then imo and for many years later.

See next post above by kk man. Take 60p/lb which I would consider right, that would be £1.30 or so per kilo d.w. 400kg x £1.30 = £520.

Or approx €650.

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117870445#Comment_117870445

Some people refer to cattle as cows, I took that to be the case here..... maybe donalh would clarify. very few farmers would be slaughtering 100 cows