Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.

Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/

Annual subs are best for most impact. If you are still undecided on going Ad Free - you can also donate using the Paypal Donate option. All contribution helps. Thank you.

Calf to beef thread

1…4142434547

Comments

  • #1322
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 20,710 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666758#Comment_123666758

    Have you seen them. I have never seen a bad underweight stock he is selling. I think I would be tempted to top it will a lawnmower. Reared calves are stupid money.

    When folks ate sprinting in one direction, quietly walk in the opposite direction they will catch up with you.

    A lot of panic at present, lads that chickened out in March/April are back, they are picking numbers

    My biggest fear with reared calves/ weanlings is that if bluetongue gets in( and I hope to f@@k it dose not) then all bets are off

    Slava Ukrainii



  • #1323
    kk.man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,318 ✭✭✭kk.man


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667550#Comment_123667550

    Im not saying they were stand out quality but in these times quality means little it's all about pilling beef on carcass. That's the rule I live by and it's served me well so far.

    As i said before a good cattle man will get value in the dearest mart.



  • #1324
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,292 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667616#Comment_123667616

    I seen them yeah there good stock in fairness (or as good as dairy stock can be) I agree with all the above that you say and can’t be worried about bluetougne until it happens either. Only thing is if it doesn’t come back down abit I’m still going to have to buy some stock and it will cost me a few grand more and I won’t get the cheap thrive on them from the reseeded ground as I will have it set to a sheep farmer for a small profit. It is hard to know what too so currently. Very strange times we live it truly



  • #1325
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,292 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667642#Comment_123667642

    unfortunately with shift work in Dublin I don’t get to too many marts currently so I have to rely on others which I don’t like but have to do what we have to do.



  • #1326
    kk.man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,318 ✭✭✭kk.man


    Understand that. Being there too.



  • Advertisement
  • #1327
    weatherbyfoxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,662 ✭✭✭weatherbyfoxer


    Was watching carlow mart calf sale on Monday here,AA heifer calves at 3-4 week were making €600-€700 depending on size..1 or 2 were going for 500 but these were very small.

    From my basic calculations a heifer calf bought at 3 weeks old for €600 would need a base of €7.20 when she is finished in her second Autumn to break even.



  • #1328
    Siamsa Sessions
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 4,521 Mod ✭✭✭✭Siamsa Sessions


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667659#Comment_123667659

    Give it to the sheep farmer and remind him of how good the reseeded grass will do his lambs. It's a balls to have to do it, but it's the safer option. Especially if you're working away.

    That €775 figure I posted for costs and labour might leave you little or nothing for labour.

    And sheep grazing it will thicken the sward too.

    Trading as Sullivan’s Farm on YouTube



  • #1329
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,292 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667798#Comment_123667798

    Calves will be 500 next spring maybe or if the beef price keeps rising maybe they will be over that crazy to think about where its going to end up



  • #1330
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,292 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668629#Comment_123668629

    you do have a point in fairness but I would like to have the cattle but don't know how there going to be got this year, rang a mart manager and he only sees prices rising as we head to the back end as exporters have told them there still a huge demand, maybe he's only spinning his own narrative.



  • #1331
    straight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,914 ✭✭✭straight


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668674#Comment_123668674

    It's amazing how the same calves were "worthless by products" last year.



  • Advertisement
  • #1332
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,292 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123669207#Comment_123669207

    I don’t think Angus and Herefords where ever worthless products was more your jersey was worthless.



  • #1333
    straight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,914 ✭✭✭straight


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123669435#Comment_123669435

    If Only that was true. Gave away plenty angus for 30 euro at peak.



  • #1334
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,217 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668816#Comment_123668816

    It's a real concern, what to buy, how to buy it and what the next 12 months bring.



  • #1335
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,292 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670522#Comment_123670522

    100% and I’m only buying a small amout wonder how the bigger buys are feeling. The only thing I’m thinking is that the amount of cattle that have being exported from weanlings to calf’s and there still exporting this reared lads also is there has to be a lower amount of cattle knocking around the country due to the all the exports so Ud imagine in an ideal world beef will be high next year. Maybe I’m just trying to justify the hole thing to myself 🤣



  • #1336
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,217 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670607#Comment_123670607

    You would have to think so but this isn't a free market forces type of situation.



  • #1337
    tractorporn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,603 ✭✭✭tractorporn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670607#Comment_123670607

    I just keep saying to myself that there's roughly 1.5 million dairy cows in the country and the majority of them are going to calf again. I'm budgeting for a calf price of €500 this coming autumn my only justification is that weanlings are 6 times the price and that hopefully the finished price holds and I might get to keep my margin.



  • #1338
    kk.man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,318 ✭✭✭kk.man


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670726#Comment_123670726

    Huge amount of calf exports, I wouldn't worry about that.

    If the shippers come on again in the autumn for other cattle that will put the tin hat on it.



  • #1339
    tractorporn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,603 ✭✭✭tractorporn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670739#Comment_123670739

    Yeah but my hope is that they can't all go on the boat and that some can be bought at ok money. If they all stayed here the price would be on the floor to, it's a balancing act.



  • #1340
    kk.man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,318 ✭✭✭kk.man


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670751#Comment_123670751

    My theory is buy ...I didn't change my spring purchasing and today if I put them in a mart I'd make a decent margin. The market is secured for at least two years.

    Dairy and suckler numbers are not expanding therefore where's the stock coming from? Bluetouge would halt exports but if we got this autumn without it then it would make little difference.



  • #1341
    weatherbyfoxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,662 ✭✭✭weatherbyfoxer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670726#Comment_123670726

    Base was 7.20 at the start of May,..if that happens when these €5-600 euro calves are fit it will be 2 years work for very little .At that money you need to be sure of near €8/kg for a worth while Margin.If we manage to keep blue tongue out (which is looking more and more like the closer we get to autumn)..we will be one of the few calf exsporting European countries left with a clear status.

    Hard see exporters leaving much behind them if that's the case



  • Advertisement
  • #1342
    tractorporn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,603 ✭✭✭tractorporn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670764#Comment_123670764

    I'm with you there, I'm still going to buy and will probably buy more calves this autumn than last year and will rear more calves overall. You need stock coming through and calves in my mind are still easier stock to get into than weanlings or stores.



  • #1343
    tractorporn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,603 ✭✭✭tractorporn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670768#Comment_123670768

    I agree it's a gamble but isn't it always with beef prices? Nobody wants blue tongue here and if we can keep it out it will see record numbers of not just calves but all cattle exported next year I reckon. We may all pray for finished prices to hold.



  • #1344
    weatherbyfoxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,662 ✭✭✭weatherbyfoxer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670810#Comment_123670810

    Beef is always a gamble as my late father always said,But now the difference is instead of putting a fiver each way on the horse your putting 100 on it to win.I think going forward then men producing the calves will be the winner be it the dairy or suckler man and fair play as the good ones put blood,sweat and tears into their stock

    Blue tongue is definitely not something we want either and will bring the beef prices back for certain after people paying the current big prices. for stock



  • #1345
    morphy87
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,847 ✭✭✭morphy87


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123671011#Comment_123671011

    In your opinion what will you be paying for the same type of Calfs next year similar to the ones you bought this year?? You bought great Calfs this year and at great value



  • #1346
    weatherbyfoxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,662 ✭✭✭weatherbyfoxer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123671047#Comment_123671047

    I leave the actual predictions to bass and his crystal ball but all I can go on is today's prices,the calves i have here would cost 600-1000 if I was buying them in the morning as 3 week olds again

    Personally id sooner give big money of ligher store cattle than calves as there is less chances of loss or sickness.



  • #1347
    morphy87
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,847 ✭✭✭morphy87


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123671060#Comment_123671060

    But maybe calf’s might not be as exspensive next March when their is a big number of them around? I was banking on getting 3 week old calf’s for €450 to €500, and I’ll be buying early this year, anything more than that I’ll have to consider my options



  • #1348
    amacca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,326 ✭✭✭amacca


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123669500#Comment_123669500

    Sure supply and demand plays the biggest part (with some exceptions) ......everything is worth what the market will pay as long as the market functions freely....

    I saw a bunch of about 20 frx bought for about a fiver a head make about 1k a head more than they would this time last year...narrow, won't develop much more, will take some smount of feeding to flesh further....there was as much margin in them this year as the fancy dans bought for well over 1k a head as weanlings/strong runners...with less capital risk .....but nothing lasts forever

    There was a point before I was born where calves were being given away for free...I remember my dad telling me about lads being so desperate to get rid of them you might buy one to suck a cow and find an extra one or two in the trailer you didn't ask for to bring home with you..

    That didn't last for long but one local man with the land base and who took on the perceived risk/cost , reportedly made more than a small fortune out of a couple of hundred free calves!

    And yet if you get the timing wrong or debt or some other misfortune catches up with you it can easily be a loss making exercise even if you are getting them for free!



  • #1349
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 20,710 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670768#Comment_123670768

    I never try to predict the price in two years time. I look at my costs add my margin and replace the stock I sold. I had a disagreement with a couple lads in the discussion group saying beef coukd be 10/kg next year and you had to factor that in.

    I had to readapt my system a year and a half when I bought the new farm. I bought a lot of poor quality cattle, bulls for 300 average and heifers for 500 average I think about 55-60 cattle in total. Even buying as we sold last summer we put purchased around tge edges of the market.

    Previously I was slaughtering 55-60 a year. Even though farm are is 2X now we are looking at about 85 finished cattle. We have made a decision that virtually everything will be sold by mid September and about 80% by end of August. Those 300 euro sh!tty bulls will average 2k+, the heifers 2.2k. Tending towards heifers as easier to get finish on comparedvto Fr bullocks.

    I consider stores 1-200 euro too expensive. Costs are increasing as supplier to our industry see an opportunity to increase there margin. If it more profitable I want a slice of the action as well

    Slava Ukrainii



  • #1350
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,217 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    That's another big challenge, everyone else piling on thinking that the beef man can cover any cost but the costs won't come down if 7 is the new high



  • Advertisement
  • #1351
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 20,710 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123671047#Comment_123671047

    It depends on whether get another year without bluetongue

    Slava Ukrainii



Advertisement