Farming Chit Chat II

Just back from looking at young stock. I hadn't seen them since dosing 2 wks ago. It always catches me off guard how well they do at this time of year.
They are really growing and putting on weight. If we get a dry spell young stock and in calf heifers should be very well grown.
I think rain could only do harm at this stage

I must sound like a wound up clock at this stage, but I'm asking again if people are making any money from bucket fed calves?

We sold 4 weinling heifers and 3 bulls on saturday - all off heifers and all off limousin ai. All were 11 to 14 months old. Prices ranged from a 420kg bull @ €1100, 290kg bull €795, 360kg heifer €820, 300kg heifer €760. They had been weined since spring and were on grass. They got 3 months of meal costing approximately €50 each which definitely paid.

Mart was a bit of an eye opener. There were a lot of bulls and heifers there that were obviously bucket fed. Cattle born from february to may in 2012, weighing 300 to 400 kg, well fed. I'm not talking about Freisian's but HEX, CHX, LMX and BBX. None of them were able to make €1.50 per kg and most were around €1.30 per kg. Considering that people paid up to €400 for these animals as calves last year, there has to be major losses on a top 400kg animal that cost €400 and is only making €600 after feeding him for 15 or 16 months. There appeared to be lots of buyers for them, but prices were very bad when you consider how much they were bought for initially!!

reilig wrote: »

I must sound like a wound up clock at this stage, but I'm asking again if people are making any money from bucket fed calves?

We sold 4 weinling heifers and 3 bulls on saturday - all off heifers and all off limousin ai. All were 11 to 14 months old. Prices ranged from a 420kg bull @ €1100, 290kg bull €795, 360kg heifer €820, 300kg heifer €760. They had been weined since spring and were on grass. They got 3 months of meal costing approximately €50 each which definitely paid.

Mart was a bit of an eye opener. There were a lot of bulls and heifers there that were obviously bucket fed. Cattle born from february to may in 2012, weighing 300 to 400 kg, well fed. I'm not talking about Freisian's but HEX, CHX, LMX and BBX. None of them were able to make €1.50 per kg and most were around €1.30 per kg. Considering that people paid up to €400 for these animals as calves last year, there has to be major losses on a top 400kg animal that cost €400 and is only making €600 after feeding him for 15 or 16 months. There appeared to be lots of buyers for them, but prices were very bad when you consider how much they were bought for initially!!

what mart were you at on saturday reilig, few stories doing the rounds about a few of the marts in leitrim at the moment,

simx wrote: »

Stories like what? Seen a farmer from drumshambo selling weanlings in a local mart a couple of weeks ago, I looked it up and it was 133 miles each way

The last day I was at the Mart in Ballymote there was a farmer whose address was Meath. I just assumed he must also have land locally otherwise the cost of bringing them all that way wouldn't make any sense

hugo29 wrote: »

rumours of financial problems

rumours of another mart allegedly asking sellers to sign form which absolves the mart of any responsibility if the purchasers cheque bounces, so you sell your stock, wait for your cheque which dont come if the purchaser funds dont clear, you end up with no stock, no money and no comeback,

Not much point in going to those marts so. Anyone that signs a form like that is looking for trouble imo. Wasn't the idea of a mart that your money was guaranteed?

The whole idea of a mart was guaranteed payment,

thats what i said, but who knows, i for one would take my cattle home if a form like that was put in front of me,

bob charles wrote: »

Just got dipped by customs in a garage yard. the rotund woman rocks over and ask me to pull the bonnet in a ignorant manner, no problem work away but make sure its starting when I come back out as im in a terrible rush, and dont open the doors as there are 3 dogs inside that dont like strangers. she said grand. I rocked in and met a heap of lads inside afraid to go back out:D. bought my few bits went back out and she says thats okay. Stick in the old key for the jeep that isnt coded anymore and jeep just keeps turning and doesnt fire. you should have seen the heads on them, when I got back out in a excited state. I told them stay away as didnt want them to do anymore damage. I know I know im a bad egg for wasting an uncivil servants time

Note to self, do not walk on Bobs corns!!!

Well done by the way.

It's amazing what a little good manners does!!

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Don't know about cattle but they do bring rams from Wickla all the way to Maam Cross.

Bloody hell. I know a few lads from round here go to Maam cross but I think they go for the day out more than anything. I was driving through there about 5 years ago on the horse sale day (by mistake) and the amount of squad cars was unreal ..... and a good few hiace's and transits with lovely clean windows

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Lol yeah, them lads are there too. If you're around call in to McHughs canteen van, tis where all the craic is

A fella from Cork bought ewes from me there once, told him to leave his wife at home next time, argued for an hour over a euro I know of one guy who brings sheep from Achill by tractor! A Kerry man outbid a local and bought the 1st prize ram a few years ago, think it was €750.

tis a long time since i was in maam cross, i can just imagine the craic

used to know a few old hard jaws from Conemara back in the day in London, they were boys you would not fcuk with as a few natives found out,;)