Beef price tracker 2

I see farmers getting animated over the reduction in suckler numbers, but I also remember before sucklers were promoted by the EU, and why they were promoted. Single suckling was promoted because there was a beef mountain, it was a great idea to have grassland resources locked in a cycle to keep an adult animal to produce a weanling, basically tying up one beef animal out of the production cycle for 10 years. There was calf to beef farmers making a good living with the use of hormones.

I heard that about Kiernan ration, asking at the ploughing but rep wasn't great so I skipped it. The bull ration is the dogs pyjamas but it's very expensive.

Have used keirnan's buffalo beef nut and happy with it, switch suppliers some times as buying through a group. But personally think a straight barley/soya mix is best value and easy handled if not feeding ad-lib.

Any quotes for the coming week?

6.10 continental heifers 6.20 Angus heifers flat price

The Angus top up Angus bonus usually begins in April until June. An option maybe to kill late may early June off grass. Risk of blue tongue will increase from April may onwards

I'm feeding 430kgs (at housing time) friesan, aa and lim bullocks which I intend to kill next September. As the saying goes 'never look a good horse in the mouth'. I was looking into a particular mart last week there wasn't one 2022 born beast in the ring. The cattle simply won't be there next year. Now replace my shed cattle will be an issue but I'll cross that bridge when it comes to it.

I summer cattle here & I suppose would be classed as a hobby farmer,I buy store bullocks 500kg mark feb/march depending on weather & factory in October,I buy mainly british friesans & don't mind these going over 30 months to grow,I like simmentals but they can be very expensive first day,very dry top quality land which is limed,fert & topped,what are peoples thoughts I want to stay with bullock store to finish,I realise the system is not ideal but I have business commitments & can not winter cattle, I do however have good straw bedding/silage facilities if the weather turned shocking & they had to be housed in spring for a few weeks.

Yes I suppose I was asking a similar question, anyway thank you for the insight.

I will bear in mind the younger earlier finishing cattle as I have always bought more forward 20mth + stores,I would be more inclined to buy bullocks than heifers it's just that I am used to them.

Bass you really have went down in the purchase weights. I always say it's the best insurance of all the systems, you rarely lose even when it's a falling market. The biggest disadvantage is the length of time on farm and the wait for your money.

It's the big downfall of stocking your whole farm out of a sales ring.if you have a certain amount to spend and need stock your forced to drop weight or quantity.Its one aspect where sucklers or calf to beef win

Our silage is a lot drier this year and not going through it as quick either.

Length if time is a fallacy. It's a 6-9 month hit. The money starts coming in then often it's a balance. There is a few advantages is it better to hang 80@ 600 net margin or 100 @ 400 net margin. Young light cattle are very easy to carry over the winter, not a lot of money tied up in stock and it's easier to put in young than older cattle and numbers are smaller.

IIt not about spend totally. By buying younger lighter cattle you have access to a larger selection stock, less competition around the ring, a lot of lads are trying to twist these cattle again while I am carrying to slaughter. Shed capacity is tight as well and it relatively easy to feed lighter stock outside for a while.

Suckler to beef never beats anything. In a discussion group and it really visible to see the lads starting to slip away from sucklers. While a lot of these might not have been into the technical side of breeding most are decent run of the mill suckler farmers, most dipped there toe into buying a few AA or HE calves at the start and then finished a few. Now they are trialing a few Friesians. One lads is buying a few Friesian heifers like myself.

Nothing wong with calf to beef it beats the socks off sucklers except its time consuming to rear calves. May have to go back to it again, however someone has to finish the rags left around the place I suppose so I will take on the responsibility

Those light cattle seem very cheap. I got rode I think. I bought 21 AAx fr/jr reared calves for €410 in September. All heifers. They were poorly done have nearly doubled in size since then. If I get them to 250-260 carcass next fall I’d be doing well.