Beef General Thread

rangler1 · 26-07-2014 01:27PM

TUBBY wrote: »

Anyway. Last night teagasc open night was on a suckler farm in edenderry. The farmer had a great setup, great cows and all export calves.
his output per ha was 992 euro and gross margin was 450 euro per hectare.
only thing was nearly all his farm is leased land so at 150 per acre, this is 375 off gross margin straight away.

teagasc suggested he up his stocking rate from 1.6 to 2lu/ha to increase kg output per ha but this takes money and also will increase variable costs.

hard to know. There definitely wasn't any golden ticket on show.

my take home message was if this lad was just about covering his rent with his impressive setup and very tight calving intervals for all cows (less than 365), it is a very hard job make money suckling.

His fixed costs would have to come out of his SFP at that rate

Willfarman · 27-07-2014 12:32PM

If only he owned the land he'd be doing well.

I said · 28-07-2014 12:32PM

Willfarman wrote: »

If only he owned the land he'd be doing well.

Aye the fellas he is leasing the land off is doing well out of sucklers

sandydan · 28-07-2014 05:42PM

aneala wrote: »

It is the same with pour on flukcides and may be a reason for poor performance of closamectin which many farmers are not happy about.[/QUOTE

Used Closmectin on a PB bull one autumn and the following spring when we were washing and clipping him for a show and sale came across the pour on still in his coat!!! Maybe it was just the carrier solution but still made me think hard of using/paying for it again.

using with 3 years now never had pos for fluke, no coughs either,id say its the marker dye on coat

Willfarman · 28-07-2014 08:42PM

Closamctin pour on is a revelation!

I said · 29-07-2014 09:29AM

Willfarman wrote: »

Closamctin pour on is a revelation!

Used it but after all the stories on this thread about pour ons ill use the injectables for a few years at least

sandydan · 29-07-2014 10:00AM

TUBBY wrote: »

Lads.

was at farm walk tonight. Board bia lad there.

asked him 2 questions. Not exactly word for word but gist of it is...

1 how come the farm is audited for qa but then, from that farm only certain cattle are paid on. Is qa not herd number based rather than a particular animal. Put another way, are cattle not paid bonus still classified as qa cattle cause they come from that farmers herd number.

2 what is bb reaction to factories using the qa thing to lower base quotes when cattle plentiful. Surely this was not the original intention of qa setup.

answer 1. there are specs to meet too and the factories don't make them up.

answer 2. Right the next group are coming so ye can move on to the next station.

i think that surmises the attitude towards beef production and Bord Bia involvement, its a well job for us and department of agriculture officials and money maker for factories and supermarket who know what's best for 'their' profits, just folllow our instructions it's not meant to be profitable enterprise for farmers

larrymiller · 29-07-2014 01:45PM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

It is one thing that I see in general. Times must be tough that he could not sell privately. i sure the owner tried. Lots of dealers and movements add nothing to value of cattle. Loads of dealers would be better off sorting out inside the gate (stocking levels grass growth and quality). See loads of themreally ruin this type of animal (AA and HE) as they over store, stunt them and even if no of moves is right it is hard to finish before 30 months without lots of ration.

Well pudsey any stir with agents this week, indo says kill gone under 28000 but also said mart trade was back a bit

Farmer Pudsey · 29-07-2014 10:47PM

Much the same factory's concentrating on killing cows and bulls, seem to be trying to hold back under 30 month cattle to create a glut. Lad told me of 1-2 agents spouting about a price pull week after next, may be a case of factory trying to regain control. Local factory's holding at 3.70 locally but paying way more according to FJ. However there seem to be more movement. Heard of a lad that moved plain AA heifers O-/O=/O+ at 4/kg..

It a case of which can hold the longest us or the factory's if kill slows this week it will be interesting to see how far they will chase cattle next week. I think next week is critical if farmers hold cattle next week and into following week chills will be empty.

Reggie. · 29-07-2014 10:49PM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Much the same factory's concentrating on killing cows and bulls, seem to be trying to hold back under 30 month cattle to create a glut. Lad told me of 1-2 agents spouting about a price pull week after next, may be a case of factory trying to regain control. Local factory's holding at 3.70 locally but paying way more according to FJ. However there seem to be more movement. Heard of a lad that moved plain AA heifers O-/O=/O+ at 4/kg..

It a case of which can hold the longest us or the factory's if kill slows this week it will be interesting to see how far they will chase cattle next week. I think next week is critical if farmers hold cattle next week and into following week chills will be empty.

But would farmers do it even if they knew all about it

Farmer Pudsey · 29-07-2014 10:55PM

Reggie. wrote: »

But would farmers do it even if they knew all about it

That is the big issue.

Are you going Contract rearing Dairy heifers the dairy boys reckon that they are doing us a favour and we will be swimming in money after they kindly grant us that favour

Reggie. · 29-07-2014 10:59PM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

That is the big issue.

Are you going Contract rearing Dairy heifers the dairy boys reckon that they are doing us a favour and we will be swimming in money after they kindly grant us that favour

Wait and see what happens if the price of milk drops after the quotas go. Then the fun will start

mf240 · 29-07-2014 11:18PM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

That is the big issue.

Are you going Contract rearing Dairy heifers the dairy boys reckon that they are doing us a favour and we will be swimming in money after they kindly grant us that favour

Those same lads will be giving away bull calves and cull cows which might be a better paying number. They wont make u up rearing heifers for them anyway.

Reggie. · 29-07-2014 11:21PM

mf240 wrote: »

Those same lads will be giving away bull calves and cull cows which might be a better paying number. They wont make u up rearing heifers for them anyway.

Well if you get them for nothing your on a good foundation

Farmer Pudsey · 29-07-2014 11:25PM

mf240 wrote: »

Those same lads will be giving away bull calves and cull cows which might be a better paying number. They wont make u up rearing heifers for them anyway.

I be hoping they would continue to rear the Friesian calves to 18-20 months.

simx · 29-07-2014 11:27PM

mf240 wrote: »

Those same lads will be giving away bull calves and cull cows which might be a better paying number. They wont make u up rearing heifers for them anyway.

i fatten a few cull cows, got talking to another lad that does all culls, maybe 250 of them, we were just saying that when all these milking cows are in full swing in another few years wont there be some amount of cull cows on offer, and wont they help keep the price of beef down here and there too, in kk at the peak there could be 150-180 cows on sale, what will that figure be in 5 years?

mf240 · 29-07-2014 11:29PM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I be hoping they would continue to rear the Friesian calves to 18-20 months.

Ya its grand picking up a few at that age when you can pick them up cheap.

In late 2011 early 2012 calves and beef were dear and a few lads kept calves as they were afraid someone else would make money out of them. Those same calves were bought fair cheap a year later as yearlings.

simx · 29-07-2014 11:30PM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I be hoping they would continue to rear the Friesian calves to 18-20 months.

someone will rear them for ya pudsey, youll hardly be mixing the milk replacer will ya?:D

Farmer Pudsey · 29-07-2014 11:34PM

simx wrote: »

someone will rear them for ya pudsey, youll hardly be mixing the milk replacer will ya?:D

No I do not think so now if I got HE for nothing it would be a different matter I might consider going back to it.

simx · 29-07-2014 11:43PM

mf240 wrote: »

Ya its grand picking up a few at that age when you can pick them up cheap.

In late 2011 early 2012 calves and beef were dear and a few lads kept calves as they were afraid someone else would make money out of them. Those same calves were bought fair cheap a year later as yearlings.

i was quar sorry i didnt offload every bad and middling animal in the place those few months and waited till things to calm off back to reality to buy back, if such events occur again i wont hesitate:D

Charliebull · 30-07-2014 11:02AM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

That is the big issue.

Are you going Contract rearing Dairy heifers the dairy boys reckon that they are doing us a favour and we will be swimming in money after they kindly grant us that favour

yes Pudsey , i was following you with great interest on the contract rearing thread;)

regarding closamectin , i have always used it and found it good.

I said · 31-07-2014 01:21PM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

That is the big issue.

Are you going Contract rearing Dairy heifers the dairy boys reckon that they are doing us a favour and we will be swimming in money after they kindly grant us that favour

Black and white everywhere!!!

Farmer Pudsey · 31-07-2014 01:31PM

I said wrote: »

Black and white everywhere!!!

Ya mostly

Base price · 31-07-2014 02:25PM

Came across this http://www.agriland.ie/news/dissent-ifa-ranks-grassroot-farmers-plan-beef-crisis-meeting/
I really hope that something comes of this. I have said it many times here and others have too, that the IFA executive have lost touch with their grass roots members. Seems to be a bit of a shake up within the IFA between this and what is going on with the hill sheep farmers.

Charliebull · 31-07-2014 02:30PM

it would be nice to think that something would come out of it, but i dont know if the stranglehold can be broken,

I said · 31-07-2014 02:39PM

Charliebull wrote: »

it would be nice to think that something would come out of it, but i dont know if the stranglehold can be broken,

Another few meetings will come out of it

rangler1 · 31-07-2014 02:52PM

Base price wrote: »

Came across this http://www.agriland.ie/news/dissent-ifa-ranks-grassroot-farmers-plan-beef-crisis-meeting/
I really hope that something comes of this. I have said it many times here and others have too, that the IFA executive have lost touch with their grass roots members. Seems to be a bit of a shake up within the IFA between this and what is going on with the hill sheep farmers.

And I've said many time before that farmers will have to develop some backbone, the power lies with the farmers on the ground not with the organisers who ever they will be.
ICSA reformed for the same reason and failed for the want of support and now we have another organisation starting.....great fun.
Glut is over now, so things will probably get back to normal (whatever that is) without any more intervention

frazzledhome · 01-08-2014 09:21PM

I hope ye don't mind me dropping in!

Interesting piece in IFJ on Irish Grassland Beef Tour

Grow 7 tonne- 37 cows and calves with 30 forward stores

Grow 10 - 52 cows and calves with 30 stores

Grow 12 - 63 cows and calves with 30 stores

Key message the difference between 7&12 is worth €13000 to the farm

Good quote "Grow grass in three weeks and graze in 3" wise advice

mayota · 01-08-2014 09:47PM

frazzledhome wrote: »

I hope ye don't mind me dropping in!

Interesting piece in IFJ on Irish Grassland Beef Tour

Grow 7 tonne- 37 cows and calves with 30 forward stores

Grow 10 - 52 cows and calves with 30 stores

Grow 12 - 63 cows and calves with 30 stores

Key message the difference between 7&12 is worth €13000 to the farm

Good quote "Grow grass in three weeks and graze in 3" wise advice

.

We don't mind. Aren't we always over at ye learning about grass management.

rangler1 · 02-08-2014 07:32AM

frazzledhome wrote: »

I hope ye don't mind me dropping in!

Interesting piece in IFJ on Irish Grassland Beef Tour

Grow 7 tonne- 37 cows and calves with 30 forward stores

Grow 10 - 52 cows and calves with 30 stores

Grow 12 - 63 cows and calves with 30 stores

Key message the difference between 7&12 is worth €13000 to the farm

Good quote "Grow grass in three weeks and graze in 3" wise advice

You're thinking of dairying, extra suckler cows doesn't mean extra profit

Beef General Thread

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