Mart Price Tracker

Albert Johnson · 07-10-2019 06:46PM

Never wrestle with pigs wrote: »

Albert Johnson wrote: »

I take it the box was still rattling going home? If so I would always prefer to be sorry for not buying it rather than the other way round.

Definitely empty, ya same here. Don't have many cows this year so I was going to buy a few handy ones for the winter. Called into tullamore tonight. Strange trade. Light chx Heifers 300 kg just short of 2:50 kg, anything over 400kg nice ones struggle to get 2euro kg.

I agree about a stronger trade for the lighter weanling, anything over 350kg in either bulls or heifers isn't too badly wanted. I don't know if lads are hoping to weather the storm with longer keep stock or if the farmer is going to do the same thing as they've always done regardless of the beef trade. As regards something to buy I'd be more inclined to buy a few young hungry cull cow's if you had ample silage and store them over until the spring.

Muckit · 07-10-2019 08:14PM

Albert Johnson wrote: »

I agree about a stronger trade for the lighter weanling, anything over 350kg in either bulls or heifers isn't too badly wanted. I don't know if lads are hoping to weather the storm with longer keep stock or if the farmer is going to do the same thing as they've always done regardless of the beef trade. As regards something to buy I'd be more inclined to buy a few young hungry cull cow's if you had ample silage and store them over until the spring.

What would a lad have to pay for them Albert? Say cont?

Fine Day · 07-10-2019 08:17PM

Was not at a mart lately but from donedeal lads are looking for good money particularly angus & hereford heifers.

Albert Johnson · 07-10-2019 08:51PM

Muckit wrote: »

What would a lad have to pay for them Albert? Say cont?

That's a good question Muckit although I'd expect to pay between €1.50-1.80 a kilo for good young continental store cows atm. It depends on the cow of course but I'd try to target a good O/R cow that would feed into 700kg +. Older or poorer type cows will be cheaper but they won't thrive as well typically and can present more health or age related problems.

I haven't really gone through the economics of it as such and I'm sure Bass or similar will be along with the cold hard figures which might blow my plan out of the water. However I'd be more inclined to feed cows over weanlings for a number of reasons,
•Pneumonia or other weanling associated illnesses shouldn't be a problem,
• Easier to see what your getting as regards size and frame (the cow won't be getting any bigger or longer just heavier).
•A full grown cow should do better on average silage than a growing weanling
•Quicker turnaround until slaughter.
•If you put them back to grass they'll quality as a full livestock unit next summer for the ANC.

There are however a few downsides to cow's,
•TB would be my main concern (more likely to show in older animals)
•A certain percentage of cows will prove incalf which can be problematic.
•Some cows won't thrive for one reason or another (bad feet, chronic mastitis etc).
•Mastitis can be a problem if put back to grass next summer and they can introduce outside diseases/parasites if in contact with your own breeding herd.

mahoney_j · 07-10-2019 08:51PM

Theheff wrote: »

Was not at a mart lately but from donedeal lads are looking for good money particularly angus & hereford heifers.

They can look for it getting it is another thing ,see lots of lads looking for bannanas money for fr bulls too ,

Base price · 07-10-2019 09:30PM

Bass Reeves wrote: »

A euro/kg for the friesian/AA and 1.5/kg for the HE, they look below average weanlings

Not so many years ago I would be on the look out for those types. A dose, vaccination, mineral bolus and a bit of tlc and they would turn inside out. One with another you could make a nice few quid on them as stores or finished if bought right. They are very much in the working clothes, iykwim.

Bass Reeves · 08-10-2019 12:32AM

Never wrestle with pigs wrote: »

They were far worse than average lol

I said below average not how far below. Buying calves and any store is an amazing art. If the calf is well done for the first 3-6 weeks no matter what set back they suffer after they will recover fast(compensatory growth) but a calf that get sick or starves during the first 6 weeks will struggle to thrive no matter how well he is done after that.
That why Friesians are often a great better than average buying no matter how sh!tty they look. Usually they are born early in the calving season and farmers are more thorough. Also the dairy farmer treats them the same as heifer calves as they are all together. Most sh!tty friesian stores turn into good bullocks.

Albert Johnson wrote: »

That's a good question Muckit although I'd expect to pay between €1.50-1.80 a kilo for good young continental store cows atm. It depends on the cow of course but I'd try to target a good O/R cow that would feed into 700kg +. Older or poorer type cows will be cheaper but they won't thrive as well typically and can present more health or age related problems.

I haven't really gone through the economics of it as such and I'm sure Bass or similar will be along with the cold hard figures which might blow my plan out of the water. However I'd be more inclined to feed cows over weanlings for a number of reasons,
•Pneumonia or other weanling associated illnesses shouldn't be a problem, Usually not an issue with bucket fed(dairy) calves
• Easier to see what your getting as regards size and frame (the cow won't be getting any bigger or longer just heavier).
•A full grown cow should do better on average silage than a growing weanling But a hungry one will eat mor silage than 3-5 weanlings and 1kg/head of ration will turn weanlins inside out
•Quicker turnaround until slaughter. Weanlings are a longterm bet the time to buy is when they are on the floor
•If you put them back to grass they'll quality as a full livestock unit next summer for the ANC. However weanlings will get out earlier, stay out longer in the autumn. However they are longer term.

There are however a few downsides to cow's,
•TB would be my main concern (more likely to show in older animals)
•A certain percentage of cows will prove incalf which can be problematic.
•Some cows won't thrive for one reason or another (bad feet, chronic mastitis etc).
•Mastitis can be a problem if put back to grass next summer and they can introduce outside diseases/parasites if in contact with your own breeding herd.

Base price wrote: »

Not so many years ago I would be on the look out for those types. A dose, vaccination, mineral bolus and a bit of tlc and they would turn inside out. One with another you could make a nice few quid on them as stores or finished if bought right. They are very much in the working clothes, iykwim.

Turn over time with weanlings is the issue

wiilow74 · 08-10-2019 09:24PM

Anyone in the marts this week know what prices Friesen bullocks approx. 450-500kg (around 18 months old & good condition) are getting ? TIA

Bass Reeves · 08-10-2019 09:29PM

wiilow74 wrote: »

Anyone in the marts this week know what prices Friesen bullocks approx. 450-500kg (around 18 months old & good condition) are getting ? TIA

I bought some last week 480kgs 660 euro, 510kgs 670euro. From that 1.3-1.4/kg and some went cheaper to lads around the ring.

older by the day · 08-10-2019 09:37PM

Bass Reeves wrote: »

wiilow74 wrote: »

Anyone in the marts this week know what prices Friesen bullocks approx. 450-500kg (around 18 months old & good condition) are getting ? TIA

I bought some last week 480kgs 660 euro, 510kgs 670euro. From that 1.3-1.4/kg and some went cheaper to lads around the ring.

I have a few of those guys, I have silage. 660 don't seem like a lot, what's the math to out winter and sell in March. They would be 2yrs old then. About 160 days to paddys day.

Butcher Boy · 08-10-2019 09:38PM

wiilow74 wrote: »

Anyone in the marts this week know what prices Friesen bullocks approx. 450-500kg (around 18 months old & good condition) are getting ? TIA

in macroom saturday 6 in the bunch 420kgs 605 nice square lads.

tellmeabit · 08-10-2019 10:05PM

Have 2 Ch hefs 18 months old 400 -450kg. Any idea what they making?

Albert Johnson · 08-10-2019 10:09PM

tellmeabit wrote: »

Have 2 Ch hefs 18 months old 400 -450kg. Any idea what they making?

At a guess €1.80-2.20 a kilo depending on quality, double the weight is buying nice stores in bullocks and heifers atm but it's hard to say without seeing them. There not overly heavy for there ages either imo.

tellmeabit · 08-10-2019 10:18PM

At a guess €1.80-2.20 a kilo depending on quality, double the weight is buying nice stores in bullocks and heifers atm but it's hard to say without seeing them. There not overly heavy for there ages either imo.[/quote]
Wouldn't have gotten much ration ,small bit while outwintered.
Disappointed with lighted one,seems to have dropped back from her mates. Heavier one repeating today so they'll be in the trailer soon.

Albert Johnson · 08-10-2019 10:26PM

It's hard to get them all where you want them and certain cattle seem to stall as regards thriving from now on in my experience. The power is nearly gone out of the grass for another year, feeding meal at grass isn't something I've ever had much faith in due to the cost but that's just me. If there nice sorts then I'd hoping for €2+ a kilo.

tellmeabit · 08-10-2019 10:37PM

Need to improve how I utilize grass I say. And time to make room for what I can hold on to for winter.
Thanks might move them this week now.

Bass Reeves · 09-10-2019 07:59AM

older by the day wrote: »

I have a few of those guys, I have silage. 660 don't seem like a lot, what's the math to out winter and sell in March. They would be 2yrs old then. About 160 days to paddys day.

Depending on how many they will be hard on 3-4 acres and where ever you outwinter them will not recover until mid May. If you have dry silage a bale will last 12-15 about about 2 days maybe longer. IT usually costs me about 80 cent to a euro to overwinter them in a shed. You will need to give them minerals as well. However they will be hungry stores and not weigh in the mart. They want a month of good grass before selling or ration over the winter. The ration changes the economics completely as eve 2kgs will add 55c/day to costs

Muckit · 09-10-2019 08:42AM

Bass Reeves wrote: »

The ration changes the economics completely as eve 2kgs will add 55c/day to costs

And that probably just the raw material price and doesn't factor in attentional time and labour. Which l personally have a fixation on. If not feeding meal, horse in bales and can pull out of it for a few days whereas meal feeding is a daily chore that can become wearisome by the time next April comes along.

Bass Reeves · 09-10-2019 08:47AM

Muckit wrote: »

And that probably just the raw material price and doesn't factor in attentional time and labour. Which l personally have a fixation on. If not feeding meal, horse in bales and can pull out of it for a few days whereas meal feeding is a daily chore that can become wearisome by the time next April comes along.

That is why I feed silage only to stores and have got away from weanlings. No fluting around feeding ration/nuts. Sweeping it in 2-3 times to keep crows away. Avail of compensatory growth in the spring

Welding Rod · 09-10-2019 10:31AM

Was in Ennis yesterday. Looking at the runner sale, I couldn’t help but laugh. Runner is defined as 6 months or under, which indeed most were and looked as such.
However, no small number of calves went through the ring, which clearly were well and truly past their 6 month birthday.... reckon some were nearer to 9 months going by size and weight ....
Then farmers blow steam about reliability of genomic numbers from ICBF...
When Farmer Paddy, can’t report facts about calves on the ground, how in blazes can the ICBF super computer compute reliable metrics....

patsy_mccabe · 09-10-2019 10:39AM

Welding Rod wrote: »

... Then farmers blow steam about reliability of genomic numbers from ICBF...
When Farmer Paddy, can’t report facts about calves on the ground, how in blazes can the ICBF super computer compute reliable metrics....

This is the beauty of statistics. A good statistical model will filter out all the crap. If a certain number of farmers lie about the birth date of their calves, then chances are, it will be done equally for all bulls in AI. Dairy farmers are less likely to do this as they want to move on their calves ASAP. All this can be factored in.
There is also further data collected on these animals down the line, further mart weights, factory weights etc. All this can be fed into the data on the animal. If you are late registering calves by a long time, all this will flag up on the Dept system. Expect an unanounced call out when you have the place full of unregistered calves.
I know of a few pedigree breeders that were kicked out of the society for doing this. The weights they sold bulls at premier sales, just didn't make sense. The society called into their yard and asked to see this years calves. Plenty running around untagged and dehorned.

john mayo 10 · 09-10-2019 11:12AM

Hi . Have an 18 month old chx heifer that I cant get in calf. Lovely golden heifer with a white head. Planning on selling her shortly. Neighbour landed into yard. Offered 900 euro for her. Shes approx 530 to 550 kgs. I was thinking bout 1100 myself for her. What ye reckon

Albert Johnson · 09-10-2019 11:23AM

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Hi . Have an 18 month old chx heifer that I cant get in calf. Lovely golden heifer with a white head. Planning on selling her shortly. Neighbour landed into yard. Offered 900 euro for her. Shes approx 530 to 550 kgs. I was thinking bout 1100 myself for her. What ye reckon

Provided that your fairly spot on with her weight then I'd be inclined to agree with you regarding €1100. Even if she's only 500kg I'd be expecting circa €1000 once she's average quality or better. Those type of stores are making either side of €2 a kilo atm, my opinion would be to head for the mart and let him bid for her there if he's interested.

john mayo 10 · 09-10-2019 11:49AM

Albert Johnson wrote: »

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Hi . Have an 18 month old chx heifer that I cant get in calf. Lovely golden heifer with a white head. Planning on selling her shortly. Neighbour landed into yard. Offered 900 euro for her. Shes approx 530 to 550 kgs. I was thinking bout 1100 myself for her. What ye reckon

Provided that your fairly spot on with her weight then I'd be inclined to agree with you regarding €1100. Even if she's only 500kg I'd be expecting circa €1000 once she's average quality or better. Those type of stores are making either side of €2 a kilo atm, my opinion would be to head for the mart and let him bid for her there if he's interested.

I weighed her in July and she was bang on 500kgs so she would have easily put on 30 or so kgs since. Shes a lovely quiet heifer aswell which is a shame

Albert Johnson · 09-10-2019 12:10PM

john mayo 10 wrote: »

I weighed her in July and she was bang on 500kgs so she would have easily put on 30 or so kgs since. Shes a lovely quiet heifer aswell which is a shame[/quote]

She should be near enough the 550kg so, I'd definitely be quoting €1150 so and hold out for €1100. I know it's a shame that she didn't hold and I'm presuming she's your own breeding. Although you'd probably buy a nice incalf for a few hundred more if you were interested.

huey1975 · 09-10-2019 12:14PM

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Hi . Have an 18 month old chx heifer that I cant get in calf. Lovely golden heifer with a white head. Planning on selling her shortly. Neighbour landed into yard. Offered 900 euro for her. Shes approx 530 to 550 kgs. I was thinking bout 1100 myself for her. What ye reckon

He might be a neighbor but I think that he has notions of developing into a physical relationship as he is trying to ride you with that offer.
Good luck but make sure you use lots of lube!!

john mayo 10 · 09-10-2019 12:18PM

huey1975 wrote: »

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Hi . Have an 18 month old chx heifer that I cant get in calf. Lovely golden heifer with a white head. Planning on selling her shortly. Neighbour landed into yard. Offered 900 euro for her. Shes approx 530 to 550 kgs. I was thinking bout 1100 myself for her. What ye reckon

He might be a neighbor but I think that he has notions of developing into a physical relationship as he is trying to ride you with that offer.
Good luck but make sure you use lots of lube!!

Funny boy

john mayo 10 · 09-10-2019 12:19PM

Albert Johnson wrote: »

john mayo 10 wrote: »

I weighed her in July and she was bang on 500kgs so she would have easily put on 30 or so kgs since. Shes a lovely quiet heifer aswell which is a shame

She should be near enough the 550kg so, I'd definitely be quoting €1150 so and hold out for €1100. I know it's a shame that she didn't hold and I'm presuming she's your own breeding. Although you'd probably buy a nice incalf for a few hundred more if you were interested.[/quote]
That is exactly my plan

Albert Johnson · 09-10-2019 12:27PM

There should be a good selection of springers available from now on. There's always a few off the scale dear sales (SIMx sale in Ballymote, O'Connor's sale in Elphin) but I often see nice natural type heifer's sold between €1200-1500 at general sales. I see a big sale of springers coming up in Ballymote some of the coming Friday nights, if I wasn't working I'd take a look in. Although the springer job seems over subscribed in recent years, every second man you talk to is buying slips and selling incalf's although less and less men want calving cows every year.

Katie 2018 · 09-10-2019 12:48PM

How is lmx weanling bulls doing at the minute in the ring anyone seen..jan, February calves 380 to 425kg in weight

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