Beef price tracker 2

You made a poor enough hand this year as it was a bumper year for anyone who had cattle moved by mid September .What changes will you make for next year ,I know you kept on to some cattle there a bit longer in the fall expecting a bounce in price for the world cup but prices only went south more .The sad reality is the price of fr. bullock on the grid is piss poor unless you get them all to grade o+ ,it is a questionable operation.The sunrise plant also outshone Larrys spot the last couple of months where ever Larry can pull cattle from and pay peanuts is beyond me

Thanks for feedback,I have noticed a fresh thrive in them even in last fortnight,and that’s before getting nuts,It’s ‘old’ grass they are on which might be just as well as it’s not running through them,would generally always have them nearly sold on at this stage other years but am lighter stocked so have grass left for them.So would hope after some warming up with nuts over the next month they will make that bit more in December.

Yes milking once a day and feeding well does work but it is only suitable for some cows, i.e. ones without cell count problems. One thing that I don't like with it is that some of them will leak milk on cubicles after going once a day.

Yes, that's pretty much how it is.....

While your farm may be Quality Assured, the ‘in-spec’ QPS payment is dependent on other factors, outside of Bord Bia’s control. Additional criteria to receive the bonus can include maximum and minimum weight; age (under 30-36 months); maximum four farm residencies; 60-day residency prior to slaughter; 70 days on a Quality Assured farm or farms; grades of O= or better, and between 2+ and 4= fat score.

I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now but flat price and base price are two completely different things.

Base price is the price for and R-/R= animal with a whole “grid” of differing prices you could end up with, either up or down from the base price, depending on confirmation and fat score. And like you said about lambs QA is also on top of that along with breed bonus for certain breeds if you fulfil certain criteria.

Flat price is an entirely different thing. That’s when, usually a factory agent, will call to your yard, look at your stock and give you a flat “all in” price. When you kill then you will be paid this price per kg irrelevant of breed, grade, fat or any other factor. Basically all bonus’s etc are included in this price and the agent has taken the risk out of your hands as you know exactly how much per kg you will be getting and you don’t have to worry about meeting any other criteria like you would if quoted on the grid.

However a good agent will make sure the factory is the winner in them circumstances so it’s usually a bad idea to agree a flat price unless your eye is well trained to confirmation and fat scores so you know what you should be getting.

Is the slurry pit water tight? If it is, there'd be no bother.

All they are worried about is records for dosing and antibiotics and making sure that the medicine cabinet is locked. Bait points, meal storage and a sign on the gate are a few other important things.

Qa is very easy got and maintained. I fill out the book as I buy the meals, meds and administer same. It saves a last minute job near the inspection.

It's a must for a beef finisher to be qa. I wouldn't fall out too much with your agent you need him on side going forward. They are a few good agents out there who know how to play the factories but some can play both sides. The good ones are invaluable.

@Siamsa Sessions although expensive herdwatch is invaluable for bord bia audit, I find if I don't keep track of remedies, feed purchases, sprays at the time, its impossible to record it later with accuracy

Renewal was about €180 this year. That's for between 150 and 200 head including sucklers. Bit cheaper if there is no breeding stock. There are other options available. Herd app and farm ops.

It cuts down on paperwork, as you are tipping away at it on the phone. When dosing, I would punch in the details as I turn back cattle to their paddock. Spraying I would punch it in, while the sprayer is filling. If you forget to do something that day you pull out the phone on the couch that evening and you have it done in a minute. I find is handy for the breeding season and weighing.

A package that can be accessed easily on the phone makes QA very easy. Most farmers don't have time to be pulling out a laptop or firing up a PC. Quick, easy and very accessable makes you more likely to stay on top of it. Now many merchants and vets will email invoices, perscriptions and feed dockets. It's less hassle to get over the line

You’d think so but I would’nt hold your breath. They’ll find every excuse under the sun not to raise it.

I think this year a lot of people who would normally house cattle until Christmas before killing them have tried to kill them off grass. This led to the back up over the last couple of weeks. Maybe there will be a bit of a want on them for cattle over the next couple of months.

Is any app on the market able to pull the "residency count" data from the agfood website?

I buy all of my cattle in the mart and some have 2, 3 or 4 residencies. This dictates whether or not I have the option to go back to the mart with them or have to slaughter the animal ie lose QA based on herd 4 movements / 5 residencies . I use herdapp and they don't have it.

It's a pain having to go through AG food to find the residencies of each individual animal as often the back of the card isn't filled in properly.

Does anyone else have this problem?

First image is a bought in calf from the spring. Second is a homebred suckler calf. It's on the right hand side under residency count