Calf Prices 2015 *** DISCUSSION THREAD

trixi2011 · 22-03-2015 12:28pm

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Was reading the Greenfields article in the FJ this week. They have 7% and according to them this is the national average.

Seems quite high I would have thought

Miname · 22-03-2015 12:35pm

It could be 7%this year and nothing next year . Everyone has good and bad years.

trixi2011 · 22-03-2015 12:42pm

Miname wrote: »

It could be 7%this year and nothing next year . Everyone has good and bad years.

I get that all right but I would of thought the national would be a lot lower than 7%

frazzledhome · 22-03-2015 12:57pm

trixi2011 wrote: »

I get that all right but I would of thought the national would be a lot lower than 7%

No I'd say its not bad 7 out if 100. Considering slipped calves 1 or 2 as well as an odd leg back middle of the night, wouldn't be long adding up

stretch film · 22-03-2015 1:01pm

Percent alive at weaning would be a more relevant figure

trixi2011 · 22-03-2015 1:06pm

frazzledhome wrote: »

No I'd say its not bad 7 out if 100. Considering slipped calves 1 or 2 as well as an odd leg back middle of the night, wouldn't be long adding up

never thought about slips and the like have been looking over some of the kpi s for calving results on farms I worked on in nz but sure we didn't even factor bull calves never mind slips.

frazzledhome · 22-03-2015 1:08pm

stretch film wrote: »

Percent alive at weaning would be a more relevant figure

That's when we count our heifer bull ratio

Deepsouthwest · 22-03-2015 2:00pm

frazzledhome wrote: »

That's when we count our heifer bull ratio

But the Bulls are long gone at weaning? Surely heifer/bull ratio is decided by what comes out of the cow dead or alive

davidk1394 · 24-03-2015 4:09pm

Im going buying a few calves off a neighbour. He has 6 AA bulls looking for €220 out of holstiens and 3 heifers all around 3 weeks old and 4 fr bull calves.. what sort of money are they making now and does the price sound reasonable or a bit on the steep side

whelan2 · 24-03-2015 4:14pm

davidk1394 wrote: »

Im going buying a few calves off a neighbour. He has 6 AA bulls looking for €220 out of holstiens and 3 heifers all around 3 weeks old and 4 fr bull calves.. what sort of money are they making now and does the price sound reasonable or a bit on the steep side

220 sounds about right, a bit less for the heifers, whats he looking for the fr what age are the fr?

marathon · 24-03-2015 4:29pm

anyone know of anywhere i can buy cheap milk replacer my coop quoting me 550 euro for ten bags n i think this too dear

Greengrass1 · 24-03-2015 4:56pm

marathon wrote: »

anyone know of anywhere i can buy cheap milk replacer my coop quoting me 550 euro for ten bags n i think this too dear

Cheapest is not always best.
find out how many litres it makes.
Usually costs about 26/27c/l

epfff · 24-03-2015 5:54pm

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Cheapest is not always best.
find out how many litres it makes.
Usually costs about 26/27c/l

Defo agree with that
I found most brands were crap compaired to an old tried and trusted one that had great adverts onvtv when I wAs a kid

marathon · 24-03-2015 6:05pm

what are best brands then

davidk1394 · 24-03-2015 6:06pm

whelan2 wrote: »

220 sounds about right, a bit less for the heifers, whats he looking for the fr what age are the fr?

I think 150 for 4 week old fr bulls i think 160 for the aa heifers

Greengrass1 · 24-03-2015 6:11pm

epfff wrote: »

Defo agree with that
I found most brands were crap compaired to an old tried and trusted one that had great adverts onvtv when I wAs a kid

Maverick?
Will be going back to milk replacer here from April first.
Getting 36c fir milk and replacer is 27c and tbh don't see much difference in this springs calves to other yrs that were on powder

Grecco · 24-03-2015 7:17pm

marathon wrote: »

what are best brands then

I use Volac Olympian, can be got for a euro or 2 less than Maverick per bag but as good if not better.
You should test both as it can also depend on the water hardness in your area as to how well each one will mix.

epfff · 24-03-2015 10:34pm

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Maverick?
Will be going back to milk replacer here from April first.
Getting 36c fir milk and replacer is 27c and tbh don't see much difference in this springs calves to other yrs that were on powder

Yep always found aaa the best
It mixed easiest
Smelled best
And calves had best coat of hair on it

whelan2 · 26-03-2015 8:40am

have a fr bull calf will be 6 weeks on saturday , what would he be worth, he is nothing spectacular but has been on a cow since he was born

CloughCasey1 · 26-03-2015 9:13am

Whelan. He is probably worth 150 problem with him he maybe a bit to strong to train up to teat feeder. Hardship at best of times. Would only ever consider doing that with continental calf from continental cow.

einn32 · 26-03-2015 3:04pm

whelan2 wrote: »

have a fr bull calf will be 6 weeks on saturday , what would he be worth, he is nothing spectacular but has been on a cow since he was born

From what the father was saying in Kilmallock the good ones seem to all make around the 120€ mark but I'd guess they were probably younger. More average/poor types hit the 70€ about. Seems to be a set price for them there.

Milked out · 26-03-2015 3:41pm

whelan2 wrote: »

have a fr bull calf will be 6 weeks on saturday , what would he be worth, he is nothing spectacular but has been on a cow since he was born

Anything 6 weeks we've sold has ranged from 150 to 185 for a very strong one

hurling_lad · 26-03-2015 4:16pm

This might sound like a stupid question, but am I right in saying that a 3-4 week old Fr Bull calf being sold in the mart should be dehorned beforehand?

AP2014 · 26-03-2015 4:24pm

hurling_lad wrote: »

This might sound like a stupid question, but am I right in saying that a 3-4 week old Fr Bull calf being sold in the mart should be dehorned beforehand?

You would be lucky if he was ever fed never mind dehorned. Not a danger!

whelan2 · 26-03-2015 4:39pm

AP2014 wrote: »

You would be lucky if he was ever fed never mind dehorned. Not a danger!

you love to stir ****

AP2014 · 26-03-2015 4:45pm

whelan2 wrote: »

you love to stir ****

It's the truth though and you know it. Not a danger of them being dehorned. Sure suckler guys don't wean now either before selling in marts. You see some animals in awful states. I just bought a few last week, just freshly skulled and squeezed.

They were rough for a few days and just coming around now.

Kovu · 26-03-2015 4:48pm

I do not see how the above posts have anything to do with calf prices.
We've had enough discussion about welfare in this thread already.

Keep to the topic at hand please.

AP2014 · 26-03-2015 7:04pm

Kovu wrote: »

I do not see how the above posts have anything to do with calf prices.
We've had enough discussion about welfare in this thread already.

Keep to the topic at hand please.

Fair enough but hurling_lad has a valid question, while not directly a cost Kovu, indirectly it is. The hassle and time spent dehorning is a pain or even more expensive if you need Vet in to skull later. I know lads that buy angus for this reason.

Back on calf prices directly, neighbour said poor quality ones are definitely falling. He is paying €120 for types that cost him €150 a month ago.

Kovu · 26-03-2015 7:10pm

It was indeed a valid question, but your reply to hurling_lad did nothing but imply that the calves are not looked after properly before sale. This was discussed last week and does not benefit the thread.

AP2014 · 26-03-2015 7:18pm

Kovu wrote: »

It was indeed a valid question, but your reply to hurling_lad did nothing but imply that the calves are not looked after properly before sale. This was discussed last week and does not benefit the thread.

Ok that is fair enough I missed last weeks debate will have a gander over it later. Hurling_lad seems naive to think these calves would be dehorned. We all know here that there is pretty much zero chance of that. It may not benefit the thread but I have no doubt most fr bull calves wouldn't be as well looked after as other calves, so hopefully it benefits hurling_lad to keep the eyes open.

CloughCasey1 · 26-03-2015 7:44pm

AP2014 wrote: »

Ok that is fair enough I missed last weeks debate will have a gander over it later. Hurling_lad seems naive to think these calves would be dehorned. We all know here that there is pretty much zero chance of that. It may not benefit the thread but I have no doubt most fr bull calves wouldn't be as well looked after as other calves, so hopefully it benefits hurling_lad to keep the eyes open.

Only calves I've ever bought de-horned were from suckler stock. Prices coming back all right thankfully. I bought all mine before christmas for smallish money.

mf240 · 26-03-2015 9:28pm

AP2014 wrote: »

You would be lucky if he was ever fed never mind dehorned. Not a danger!

What sort of dung are ya spouting now. Id say ya know a lot about rearing calves. Sure your not even able to buy your own few cattle.

Feckthis · 26-03-2015 9:44pm

mf240 wrote: »

What sort of dung are ya spouting now. Id say ya know a lot about rearing calves. Sure your not even able to buy your own few cattle.

Attack the post not the poster.
Just spent the day dehorning heifers calfs. He is right! The bull calfs weren't touched and why would they be when they'll be getting the road.

charolais0153 · 27-03-2015 12:21am

How much is a 2-3 week old bbxfr heifer calf be worth, will be going to lad thaf is meant to have good sqr calfs so hoping to have a guideline wastinkin 330e ,correct me if im wrong

whelan2 · 27-03-2015 7:09am

charolais0153 wrote: »

How much is a 2-3 week old bbxfr heifer calf be worth, will be going to lad thaf is meant to have good sqr calfs so hoping to have a guideline wastinkin 330e ,correct me if im wrong

wouldnt be too far off at that

mahoney_j · 27-03-2015 8:39am

charolais0153 wrote: »

How much is a 2-3 week old bbxfr heifer calf be worth, will be going to lad thaf is meant to have good sqr calfs so hoping to have a guideline wastinkin 330e ,correct me if im wrong

If quality good 400 plus.calf and cattle trade is fairly hot atm.sold 2 dbz bb heifers just shy of 3 weeks old out of yard earlier in week for 400 earlier in week.nice calves out of hol fr cows and vaccinated with bovipast

charolais0153 · 27-03-2015 8:39am

whelan2 wrote: »

wouldnt be too far off at that

Thanks i wasnt fully sure

AP2014 · 27-03-2015 10:37am

mf240 wrote: »

What sort of dung are ya spouting now. Id say ya know a lot about rearing calves. Sure your not even able to buy your own few cattle.

Unfortunately can't get my hands on any dung or slurry so stuck with expensive fert.

I know abit about rearing calves as my backround was a suckler herd for 20 years. We also bought white heads of local dairy man and reared about 3 per cow. Profitable but hard work, will admit out of it a few years now.

I am probably able to buy my own cattle but choose not to as I work in a professional job and haven't the time to spend days at a mart with my elbows on the ring like fellows like yourself. It's not economical so I make that choice as I only buy 20/25 a year. I would struggle to compete with regulars so I have this guy who gets me really good deals, we call him a dealer. I pay him but it's cheaper than me wasting time.

As feckthis said attack my posts not me. What I have said is true and backed up by fellows like feckthis who are in the game. You are obsessed with my farming practices and stalking my posts, usually on p&k. At this stage and after a post like that, I am getting embarrassed for ya, but admit kinda like having someone stalk me

Need to keep this on thread or Kovu will shoot me. Prices not back as much as I thought. Neighbour got 5 white head bulls for €220 2/3 weeks old. Seems crazy.

hurling_lad · 27-03-2015 11:46am

AP2014 wrote: »

Ok that is fair enough I missed last weeks debate will have a gander over it later. Hurling_lad seems naive to think these calves would be dehorned. We all know here that there is pretty much zero chance of that. It may not benefit the thread but I have no doubt most fr bull calves wouldn't be as well looked after as other calves, so hopefully it benefits hurling_lad to keep the eyes open.

Thanks for the replies.

I should have been clearer: I'm actually going to be selling these calves, not buying them. Upping cow numbers so don't have capacity to finish all calves as we usually do. I have been farming for three years but have yet to darken the door of a mart!

Will report back with prices.

marathon · 02-04-2015 4:30pm

how much should i get roughly for 2 belgian bluex fr yearling heifers 355 kgs gin mart at weekend

CloughCasey1 · 02-04-2015 4:34pm

marathon wrote: »

how much should i get roughly for 2 belgian bluex fr yearling heifers 355 kgs gin mart at weekend

Is there a first prize? 845 each.

trixi2011 · 02-04-2015 7:33pm

Anyone know a price for jan/feb ai breed heifer calves?

Base price · 02-04-2015 7:47pm

trixi2011 wrote: »

Anyone know a price for jan/feb ai breed heifer calves?

Friesians ?

trixi2011 · 02-04-2015 8:24pm

Base price wrote: »

Friesians ?

Friesian / xbreed

Base price · 02-04-2015 10:07pm

trixi2011 wrote: »

Friesian / xbreed

€250 - €350 depending on ebi's

farmerjj · 02-04-2015 11:08pm

trixi2011 wrote: »

Anyone know a price for jan/feb ai breed heifer calves?

Anywhere between €300 to €450 but all depends on the quality

whelan2 · 07-04-2015 8:42am

any recent prices?

Buford T. Justice XIX · 07-04-2015 10:13am

whelan2 wrote: »

any recent prices?

3 week old fr bulls 95 out of the shed. Square calves off heifers so a bit on the small side.

4 week old frx (25% je) 60 out of the shed. Not great shape on 2 of them.

Deepsouthwest · 07-04-2015 1:36pm

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

3 week old fr bulls 95 out of the shed. Square calves off heifers so a bit on the small side.

4 week old frx (25% je) 60 out of the shed. Not great shape on 2 of them.

Similar stuff and prices here outta the shed, but getting €100 for fr and €70 for jex lads. Low €200's for HE and AA bulls and heifers, all calves between 10 and 20 days old

Brown Podzol · 07-04-2015 9:11pm

€100 and €120 for friesian bulls,2 to 3 weeks old out of the yard.

Calf Prices 2015 *** DISCUSSION THREAD

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