Calf Prices 2015 *** DISCUSSION THREAD

whelan2 wrote: »

are fr calves being exported?

Not that I am aware off although I did hear of one "exporter" shipping some last week. However the main ones have not started yet and are unlikely too unless prices become more realistic.
Speaking to a neighbour yesterday and he said a good enough FR bull calf made €265 in Carrigallen last Sat. I think he said it was up on three weeks old.

farmerjj wrote: »

Anyone sell fr m calves today,what are they making now?

I heard good FR bull calves are making around the €100+ mark

Base price wrote: »

I heard better prices than that- €140 to €200 for good FR bulls up on 3 weeks old collected ex farm. Crazy prices.
Talking to a dairy farmer this evening who is selling JEx bulls to local farmers and he has lots of demand :eek: Pure madness IMO

If lads are paying that kind of money then they deserve what they get come 24 months later. Will they ever learn.:mad:

Base price wrote: »

I heard better prices than that- €140 to €200 for good FR bulls up on 3 weeks old collected ex farm. Crazy prices.
Talking to a dairy farmer this evening who is selling JEx bulls to local farmers and he has lots of demand :eek: Pure madness IMO

I have no doubt but fools imo

farmerjj wrote: »

So average 4wk old calves would make around €130?

I know that's what they are approx going for around here at the minute

Base price wrote: »

To be honest Mac, NO they don't seem to learn and the rest of us regular rearers/feeders/finishers suffer in the long term re beef prices.

+1

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

A lot of crazy stuff goes on at marts. If lads around the ring reckon they can bull you they will. At 100 euro friesian calves are dear even if beef climbs to and stays above 4.5/kg. Beef farmers and some calf buyers are there own worst enemys. these are the same lads that will be cribbing in 12-18 month time if they lose money on these cattle as stores.

There is a completely false market in store cattle at present. Some lads just do not want to make money. However we are early in the year yet glut of calves will come on stream in next 3-4 weeks this may well soften the prices.

Other issue we may have the perennial lads that are over quota and want something to drink the milk. They be better off buying yearlings and getting them to drink it. If I was buying calves I would not panic yet.

I'm told that's what all the calves are heading to cork are for

Reggie. wrote: »

I'm told that's what all the calves are heading to cork are for

OH got a phone call on Saturday from a dairy farmer that we know. Conversation went something like this:
Dairy farmer: Can you get your hands on 20 odd bull calves in the next few days. I'm going to be over quota in the next few weeks and I'd prefer "coloured" calves.
OH: Coloured calves are really pricey at the min.
Dairy farmer: What about Friesian bulls.
OH: They are pricey too cause most of ye large dairy guys are over quota and won't sell the bull calves which has driven up the price.
Dairy farmer: Bollox, do your best.

Bullocks wrote: »

I wonder whats the difference on paying the SL on the milk the calves will drink over the price the reared calves may lose after april ?
Are ye buying calves now BP or keeping yer powder dry for later in the year ?

Your a cute one Bullocks and I mean that in the highest terms .
We have bought some in the last few weeks mostly FR but some FRx. They have not landed here yet.
TBH we talked/consulted with dairy farmers earlier last year that we have dealt with over the years regarding the impending quota situation and extra cow/calf numbers.
Today most of those farmers that we buy from are more than happy to rear calves on for a few weeks due to quota restrictions.
However, unless you have a friendly/neighbourly dairy farmer up the road and she/he is willing to sell bull calves at realistic money then forget about them.
Also forget about going to the local mart to buy them within the next 2 to 3 weeks as local demand unfortunately overrides the current market and it is driving up prices.
I'am going to keep my powder dry and hopefully pick up some reared whole milk fed FR weanlings in April/May for small money Unlikely

Bullocks wrote: »

I bought a few of a lad and he is keeping them till SL is over . Its working out aswell for him as me , he isn't getting a milk cheque so the calf money is welcome and he isn't too greedy with the price as he knows he will more than likely be throwing them away later on in the year .

Good deal there bullocks

Wonder what these calfs will cost with being a bit older and better with the milk

frazzledhome wrote: »

You're the exact type of customer I'd love to have. Steady buying every year and no need for anyone to get screwed

Throw out a few AA and I could throw a few lads your way

oxjkqg wrote: »

I sold 11 british friesian type bulls lastnite, 1300 for the 11, 6 days was the youngest, 2 weeks and a day was the oldest.
The fone never stopped, add went up at 6.30, calves sold by 8.30pm and lads still callin this afternoon, screaming for them. im going to be touch and go on the quota but the workload of keepin 20ish bulls for a 1 man set up is severe enough in my case.

Good on you. Hard to have sympathy though for fellas buying at these prices - they obviously have learned nothing from the shenanigans of the last 18 months of the beef industry. Money must come very easy to some people in this country and maybe they are queuing up to 'service' ABP's expansion plans.
Isn't it surreal though that the milk Qouta ends on April 1st - who is the joke on then

oxjkqg wrote: »

Sold 4 more this eve, born Saturday, Sunday and 2 yesterday... Out of springers, just tagged today... 400 for the lot!!
And have just been informed that a 4 week old bull made 380 in ennis today!!!!
2 week old bull made 260..
Light handy average bulls 90 euro..
All friesians, madness.

Ah there's something seriously wrong with people

welton john wrote: »

Lads this is gas,most lads you meet or hear here are talking about the crazy prices of calves.Even lads selling seem disappointed that the price is so good.No one is being forced to buy them,most will be back the following year buying mad again whether they make money or not.
I often left marts after selling well reared 3/4 week old fr bulls for 60/70. The same lads buying them weren't too bothered about my margin out of them so im certainly not goin to worry bout them now.

Regardless of whether you are buying or selling, an unsustainable market is good for no one. You can buy gold at too dear a price aswell. All that is happening atm is that we are providing Larry and co a plentiful supply of cheap beef. Time after time the farmer proves he is the biggest jackass of them all, was it Einstein that said to keep repeating the same experiment over and over again expecting a different outcome.

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

But the Friesian calves you bought last year are worth 550-600 now, I'd imagine that you could still get good Friesian calves for 120-150.

Yeah they probably are worth that now but what if this this time next year the calves I buy now for €150 are only worth €400 or less. If nothing is exported the country will be awash with them and that's all they will make. Wouldn't be much out of them then IMO. I'm sure someone here has good figures as to what it costs to keep a Friesian bull calf for a year.