Beef price tracker 2

Would be a few agents for factories in the North buying cattle around here. Young cows seem to command a premium with these lads or fit over 30 months cattle.

Another factor no ones talking about is big three which have controled the kill price up to late last Autumn have lost control. The margin between the UK and Irish price was the greatest probably ever. Thus the margins was very good. It allowed flexibility for the smaller plants to go that extra bit which they didn't have or allowed to have before. Take Foyle has a margin of 5 per cent despite paying weekly up to 10c more for cattle. If a small operation had 3 percent they were doing well. That's the cartel greed for you.

I know it's no good to most of the country, hence the ten cent and even at that its not worth it. But my point is paying 10c for 2 years and achieving 5 per margin is some achievement.

Rathkeale is picking up AA and HE heifers at 5-10c/ kg below the quoted bases and paying only 10c bonus on AA heifers. No negotiations.

Slaney is more or less the same. Small loads and infrequent customers are 5c less on all categories across the board. The thinking is they won't haggle and it's not worth it to move to a plant up the country. They give the small man the impression they are doing them a favour.

Are you giving away your Angus / Herefords for this little you would get far more in any mart but surely you cannot have many people giving away cattle at these prices or are the grades very good ?

U have a point, I'm surprised Snr let Jnr so big in live exports business.

I would say Snr has a steak in jnr's export business. Snr is a very sharp business man...

always enjoyed meeting him , methinks he's staying at the same type of job going forward

I've to travel to get the better bonuses on those breeds too, but it pays this year. I've no doubt the local plants are paying for far away cattle better than paying local farmers. It doesn't make sense only trying to control the kill.

I’ve bulls that could probably be killed but going to feed them on for at least another month. They are still thriving away and Prices are rising weekly and kill is still strong. I’ll wait for €7 😀

A few load of 500kg plus bulls at €7 or even €6.50 would keep the wolf from the door for a while.

Yea, mine similar, sorta regret not doing the same for another month but deal is done.

Herd is restricted from last week for not doing 4 monthly test, want to get it done and put of way but didn't want annoying testing bulls.

Do u buy all ur own stock cj..AnD wat marts do u buy in and which do u find good for stock quality and service

Yeah buy all myself. 90% of them online now. >50% are bought in carnaross, great choice of bulls there every week. It’s a busy spot and a disaster if your cattle had not being penned together.
I buy the remainder in ballyjamesduff, Kingscourt and the odd time in carrigallen.
On the right day Kingscourt can have great quality stock in it and it is well staffed.
Work full time so the online has been a game changer.

My motto is you sell to whoever leaves you the highest margin so if you only have a few Angus to sell most of the year you'll do better in a good mart that will put your cattle up to a proper level

Transport cost is the same for buying or selling in a mart if your buying or selling 3 or 4 cattle and you Transport with your jeep it's the same cost as going to a factory if your approx the same distance

At the moment your probably worse off in the factory vs mart for most steers or heifers if you're selling on the grid but most lads can't convert mart price to kill value they are just real happy to get a big cheque