beef price tracker

bob charles · 14-07-2012 11:57pm

okay look at it this way, say the factory pays a base price to a man with 10 animals, a guy with 3 animals is paid base price minus 3c a kilo, a guy with 30 cattle gets base price plus 3c a kilo a guy with 60 gets base plus 6c a kilo. Taking the above as example it probably isn't too far out, but I might be way off the mark. I am buying cattle against guys slaughtering 200 cattle a week, I know well that these boys are getting more than I am and rightly so. This man can afford to outbid me nearly every time if he wants and have the same margin as me. He would also be able to pay a guy with 5 animals more than he would get if the 5 went direct for slaughter. simples-I think. The factory tables in the IFJ are very close to what 99% of guys are making of there animals. There are very few guys slaughtering over 100 animals a week who would be outside this price range.

I keep saying that factories margin isn't all that big, something around 1.7% to 2.3% of turnover, but turnover is massive therefore larry goodman makes allot of money in a low margin business. Kerry once of the most successful Agri business firms in the world tried and failed operating in the beef market in Ireland and many more besides. Guys should concentrate on doing the things they have within their control (LWG etc)and stop worrying about things not within their control (beef price). I know a few guys and all you ever hear from them is they got screwed doing business with from the dentist to the merchant to the vet, everyone has to make a living.

Ginja Ninja · 14-07-2012 11:58pm

I really don't get this hate for the finishing lads.They aren't making a 'mint' either.There's no one from farm to fork[except maybe supermarkets] making big money from cattle, the value just isn't in it.

There's probably more per head from selling off your weanlings and pocketing the money.The next man n line has to pay you and the costs for raising him and the drop 1-2 tonnes of meal into him to finish for the factory and then depending on what mood the market/factory is in that week take his price.

And let's be honest at some point it is in a factorys interest to have a steady supply of grade X carcasses per week as a baseline for supply.Otherwise their prices would fluctuate with the amount of cattle booked in every week.TBH if i was feeding 100 + cattle and had over 100k staring out the feeder at me,i'd want something for it as well.The canvenience for the factory of having one man to pay is probably worht an extra premium per head[Im guessing,i don't exactly know how they do it]

it's just buying power, if a factory kill 500 cattle a week and a wee farmer comes in with 2-3 heifers,he takes what he gets.If another man is reliable bringing in 50 a week he's 10% of their supply and has the weight to throw around if they give him sh!te so needles to say any half decent businessman on the factory end knows who to look out for.
Farming is business after all,no one is out to do favours for no profits

bob charles · 15-07-2012 12:02am

tim04750 wrote: »

So some finishers are buying fat cattle and fat cows to kill within days to loose money two days a week every week ?? Not as shrewd as I had em down for.

you would be surprised, I need €65 between hammer falling on a cow and final slaughter price to break even if slaughtering within a few days. all you need then is to drop the ramp and see a cow down that has to be skipped and thats another week written off.

Manoffeeling · 15-07-2012 9:53am

dealerman wrote: »

think you answered your own question marts there is
crazy men
fighting men
and inflated prices

+1

Farmer Pudsey · 15-07-2012 2:31pm

Lads there are soft sellers and silly buyers in the mart and soft sellers to the factories. At present there are farmers droping cattle into the factory without even asking the price.
If you have one cull cow or a single stock bull you may do better at the mart. Howeve I have seen people sell cattle in the mart that would do better in the factory. However that is not Bob's fault. The reality is that in any mart you go to there are around 20 lads around the ring (trying to) making a living.

How often at a mart have you seen cattle for sale and no sign of the owner. Or the lad that loads up all his calves (maybe straight off the cows) the week after the high prices and is upset when hw fails to get a good price. And next he will tell you it would not pay him to have his own small box that he could be taking them away in 3 or 4's to sell.

I find it hard to complete with finishers however I have learned not to go into the mart and pick out 2-3 bunches of cattle get screwed buying them and tell someone that ''that is the price of them anyway''. If I cannot see the chance of a profit I will be slow to buy.

Yes most finishers depending on there size will get 6-10 cent when prices are strong and the very big operator will get a contract price. However they will also buy there finishing ration 20-50 euro's/ton better than you or me.With a bull killing 400kgs this is worth between 50-90 euro's between feeding and price and also he may have access to beet or be able to handle bread meal/buiscuit meal.

I heard of a lad that was processing a lot of spuds and vegetables for resturants/catering contractors, he had a lot of potato's/veg peelings and rejects, he had two pens of bulls all year around.

Also most finishers will get discounts from vets, buy there animal medicines in advance ( not get caught the morning of the test and rush to the co-op for a bottle of ivermectin).

Like bob says there are thing in our control use them

locha · 16-07-2012 9:21pm

Thread seems to have got a little away from the actual pricing but interesting nonetheless. Ended up getting 410 for R's and 400 for O's - all steers. Interesting to see how the next few weeks pan out. Last Monday carnaross was back at least 100 a head for 550kg +... there were no farmers there and the boys were diviying them up as they wanted...

huey1975 · 16-07-2012 9:35pm

locha wrote: »

Thread seems to have got a little away from the actual pricing but interesting nonetheless. Ended up getting 410 for R's and 400 for O's - all steers. Interesting to see how the next few weeks pan out. Last Monday carnaross was back at least 100 a head for 550kg +... there were no farmers there and the boys were diviying them up as they wanted...

+1

bob charles · 16-07-2012 10:24pm

locha wrote: »

Thread seems to have got a little away from the actual pricing but interesting nonetheless. Ended up getting 410 for R's and 400 for O's - all steers. Interesting to see how the next few weeks pan out. Last Monday carnaross was back at least 100 a head for 550kg +... there were no farmers there and the boys were diviying them up as they wanted...

lucky so, there are a few boys around to put a floor in the market, where is everyone who wanted to buy cattle for love or money over the last few weeks gone to. Most of the cattle bought last week were bought against only the auctioneer so prices were artificially inflated but this won't last for long unless conditions improve. Too many losses being carried me thinks by the big boys, there all gone very quite, suppose buying wheat at €280 a ton will take its toll quickly.

tim04750 · 18-07-2012 2:12pm

Quote this morning for young bulls
U's 4.20
R's 4.10
Dawn meats Rathdowney, but they're not taking anymore this week, full up.

Viewtodiefor · 18-07-2012 2:30pm

Got return of animals I sent away on the 12th. For angus got 4.25 for o's 4.35 for r's they avg 355kgs
Lim 4.25 for r n 4.15 for o's avg 375kgs
Cows p's 3.65 kg

I thing it's not a bad return

Farmer Pudsey · 18-07-2012 3:52pm

Viewtodiefor wrote: »

Got return of animals I sent away on the 12th. For angus got 4.25 for o's 4.35 for r's they avg 355kgs
Lim 4.25 for r n 4.15 for o's avg 375kgs
Cows p's 3.65 kg

I thing it's not a bad return

What are you doing just boastng

tim04750 · 18-07-2012 3:56pm

Bullocks I presume, tis a good price for O's

Viewtodiefor · 18-07-2012 4:00pm

tim04750 wrote: »

Bullocks I presume, tis a good price for O's

Ya Tim bullocks

tim04750 · 18-07-2012 4:14pm

http://cattleprices.wordpress.com/

Amazing ,they must all fill or sign contracts the same day.

bob charles · 18-07-2012 6:53pm

tim04750 wrote: »

http://cattleprices.wordpress.com/

Amazing ,they must all fill or sign contracts the same day.

Are those last weeks prices or prices cattle are being bought at this week.

Viewtodiefor · 18-07-2012 7:18pm

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Viewtodiefor wrote: »

Got return of animals I sent away on the 12th. For angus got 4.25 for o's 4.35 for r's they avg 355kgs
Lim 4.25 for r n 4.15 for o's avg 375kgs
Cows p's 3.65 kg

I thing it's not a bad return

What are you doing just boastng

No pudsey why are you jelous???

tim04750 · 18-07-2012 10:16pm

bob charles wrote: »

Are those last weeks prices or prices cattle are being bought at this week.

That's not made clear but seems to be based on the quotes given in the early part of the week, any time I had a look its very close or bang on what I'v been quoted .

Farmer Pudsey · 18-07-2012 10:45pm

Viewtodiefor wrote: »

No pudsey why are you jelous???

Na mine are not ready for another while

http://cattleprices.wordpress.com/

It amazing that all the factory's manage to drop the prices togeather and to the same level, pure chance what odd's would a bookie give you on it, none because they know the story and the competition authority would jail farmers if we protest.

dealerman · 20-07-2012 11:36pm

base quotes 3.90 for blks 4 for heifers in abp and dawn
some plants in the midlands and futher up on 5 cents more
factoreis will have to give more to buy cattle this week
they are more anxious for stock this week

grizzlyadams · 21-07-2012 12:57pm

dealerman wrote: »

base quotes 3.90 for blks 4 for heifers in abp and dawn
some plants in the midlands and futher up on 5 cents more
factoreis will have to give more to buy cattle this week
they are more anxious for stock this week

On the phone to my agent this morning to be quoted 3.90c/kg , sweet Jesus , got 4.20 two weeks ago for bullocks ( abp )

blue5000 · 21-07-2012 1:58pm

Well at least the weather has improved in our favour, farmers should be able to hang on to cattle instead of just throwing them at the factories. With the euro vs sterling gone the right way all the factories should be able to pay more, according to the comic prices are going up in N Ireland.

bob charles · 21-07-2012 2:18pm

maybe someone realized that the olympics wasn't going to demand as much meat as was said. This was never going to happen. Presume prices will stabilize at last weeks levels, and not drop more. demand for expensive cuts has being sluggish due to weather in our major markets. Price will pick up in the short term and then a bit of the usual up a small bit and down a bit for the months of August and September hovering around the 4.15 for heifers I would think

Sold a good few cull cows last week and desperately disappointed in there kill, their weights were crap, probably the worst weights kill in a couple of years for some reason, suppose not having sunshine has had a major effect on their performance even though they are on high buffer feed.

blue5000 · 21-07-2012 2:37pm

I see on ICBF that there are almost 100,000 more calves registered so far this year compared to this time last year, Price of beef in 2014 could be 'interesting'

What breed were the cows Bob?

huey1975 · 21-07-2012 7:42pm

Sold a good few cull cows last week and desperately disappointed in there kill, their weights were crap, probably the worst weights kill in a couple of years for some reason, suppose not having sunshine has had a major effect on their performance even though they are on high buffer feed.[/Quote]

And as this is a price tracker bob is there any chance that you might, just this once, tell us what you got?
By the way my old man killed heifers yesterday and got 4.20 a kilo base price. All got quality assurance bonus except for one fat heifer.

bob charles · 21-07-2012 8:17pm

huey1975 wrote: »

And as this is a price tracker bob is there any chance that you might, just this once, tell us what you got?
By the way my old man killed heifers yesterday and got 4.20 a kilo base price. All got quality assurance bonus except for one fat heifer.

oh sorry, €3.40 I think for the cows - mix of O and P

:D, a price that wouldn't make you rich, cow prices are always poor in these parts. mix of fr and a smallish continentals, only killed around 310kilos in the round, disastrous even though they were finished. Your price of €4.20 for heifers wasn't available in many places so you done well. I killed too many cattle last week as I bought very little and what I bought are all wrong and will die a debt. Auctioneers are driving prices too hard with so little customers around.

Manoffeeling · 21-07-2012 8:35pm

Met a guy today in ballinakill who brought a limousin bull back to be sold. He refused €1200 last may. The same guy offered him €1050, but he refused to sell again. I pointed out that he might just sell him for that in the back end.

bob charles · 21-07-2012 9:23pm

Manoffeeling wrote: »

Met a guy today in ballinakill who brought a limousin bull back to be sold. He refused €1200 last may. The same guy offered him €1050, but he refused to sell again. I pointed out that he might just sell him for that in the back end.

much always wants more, some guys don't realise you make hay when the sun is shining

huey1975 · 21-07-2012 9:29pm

It was the old man got that for heifers.
I have about 20 bullocks to go soon and I guess I will be lucky to get anything over 400/kilo. It will be hard to take though as I got 425 only two weeks ago. In fairness though stores are back about €200 a head if not more so if beef stabilises around €4 a kilo it might be sustainable.

huey1975 · 23-07-2012 8:08pm

I was quoted a base of €4 today for my bullocks but I think I will hold out as they are nice bullocks that are thriving well and aren't going to get overfat. The old man has more heifers to go and he was quoted 4.15/Kg. He might take it as he is a bit short on grass.

blue5000 · 23-07-2012 8:19pm

Anybody get a quote for cows this week?

huey1975 · 25-07-2012 9:41pm

The old man killed more heifers today at a base of €4.15/kg but with quality assurance and the grid he was averaging about €4.30. I don't think he is too happy with me though because I am still holding out with my bullocks. I was quoted €4/kg but I said no. I am not overly worried but if I sold a load now I could replace them with stores at about €2kg liveweight as opposed to the €2.45 I was giving about a month ago.

MfMan · 25-07-2012 10:35pm

huey1975 wrote: »

The old man killed more heifers today at a base of €4.15/kg but with quality assurance and the grid he was averaging about €4.30. I don't think he is too happy with me though because I am still holding out with my bullocks. I was quoted €4/kg but I said no. I am not overly worried but if I sold a load now I could replace them with stores at about €2kg liveweight as opposed to the €2.45 I was giving about a month ago.

Any harm to ask where you abouts Huey? Who was quoting? Are your cattle in-spec? All beef farmers are desperately hoping the weather will clear up and put a floor under things again but I fear there could be another pull before there's a rise.

huey1975 · 25-07-2012 10:41pm

The heifers went to kepak in kilbeggan and were all Us and Rs. One heifer was over thirty months. Liffey meats in ballinasloe and kepak in kilbeggan were quoting €4/kg for the bullockd

bob charles · 25-07-2012 10:59pm

4 for bullocks and 4.10 for heifers is what cattle are being bought at down south in most plants and getting more than enough animals at those prices. What price did you get for the heifer over 30months as a matter of interest. My prediction of 3.80 for heifers is getting near much sooner than I taught:roll eyes:

oh and thanks to the two pricks that sound me guaranteed maiden heifers that turned out as having calves this week. This is really getting to annoy me as there are so many of them now. I havnt the time for chasing up people, but I have to. Down €480 between the 2 animals, I'm sick sh*t of marts not dealing with this issue

huey1975 · 25-07-2012 11:04pm

bob charles wrote: »

4 for bullocks and 4.10 for heifers is what cattle are being bought at down south in most plants and getting more than enough animals at those prices. What price did you get for the heifer over 30months as a matter of interest. My prediction of 3.80 for heifers is getting near much sooner than I taught:rolleyes:

She was a big blue heifer, killed out just over 400kg and he got €4.21/kg as she graded r+

bob charles · 25-07-2012 11:05pm

huey1975 wrote: »

The old man killed more heifers today at a base of €4.15/kg but with quality assurance and the grid he was averaging about €4.30. I don't think he is too happy with me though because I am still holding out with my bullocks. I was quoted €4/kg but I said no. I am not overly worried but if I sold a load now I could replace them with stores at about €2kg liveweight as opposed to the €2.45 I was giving about a month ago.

beef farming is all about replacement costs and not final price. the only day you make money in beef is the day you sell every animal and never replace them again:D

MfMan · 26-07-2012 11:38am

bob charles wrote: »

beef farming is all about replacement costs and not final price. the only day you make money in beef is the day you sell every animal and never replace them again:D

Mmm.. not really. I'd be of the view that all cattle should stand on their own. You can't say that the profit I make from this bullock will defray the costs of the next one. Livestock are no different from financial stocks IMHO, profit / loss on one unit is just that.

Tipp Man · 26-07-2012 12:21pm

MfMan wrote: »

Mmm.. not really. I'd be of the view that all cattle should stand on their own. You can't say that the profit I make from this bullock will defray the costs of the next one. Livestock are no different from financial stocks IMHO, profit / loss on one unit is just that.

I disagree completely - with bob on this 1

Your profit is always the difference between the sale price and the replacement price - how much the individual animal makes between buying and selling is pretty meaningless

If i buy a bullock for 500 and sell for 1000 and buy a replacement for 800 - the 500 profit on the first is partially wiped out by the increased cost of replacement - so your profit is 200 and not 500

just do it · 26-07-2012 12:31pm

There is right and wrong in this one depending on your system. Bob is right as his system is based on a continuous cycle of buying cattle for a 100 day finishing period. The replacement cost is thus important. Whereas for the fella calving down and holding the animal to finishing, the replacement cost isn't an issue. Depends on your system.

bob charles · 26-07-2012 12:34pm

just do it wrote: »

There is right and wrong in this one depending on your system. Bob is right as his system is based on a continuous cycle of buying cattle for a 100 day finishing period. The replacement cost is thus important. Whereas for the fella calving down and holding the animal to finishing, the replacement cost isn't an issue. Depends on your system.

yip for anyone buying animal it replacement costs irrespective on the length of time there kept. Most animals being bought at the moment will be here for up to 9 months. If your breeding the higher the beef price the better

Farmer Pudsey · 26-07-2012 1:17pm

If you are rolling over cattle bay and selling at the same time, yor profit is the net margin between buying and selling. You sell a bullock for 1400 you replace him like for like at 1000 it cost 250 to finish your margin is 150 euro. It is irrespective of the time you keep him. You effeciencys decide your profit.

With sucklers it is a little different often your cost are the same irrespective of final price. This is why they was s serious upsurge in the number od suckler cows over the last 12 months which has improved the price of heifers due to the amount kept for replacements. Also some Dairy farmers find this year not as stressful as the last time milk droped as the strong calf prices and cull cow prices were worth about 2-4 cent/litre compared to the last time when week calf and cull prices took another 2 cent off the milk price.

Over the last 18 months positive sentiment kept an upward surge in prices and a lot of finishers were buying on strong sentiment and reduced their margin will the reverse of this happen as finishers see high ration and finishing costs next winter and reduce the price they are willinh to pay for cattle due to this.

Anyone know of the prices that are being paid for the cattle destined for libya, type of cattle and weight limits.

huey1975 · 26-07-2012 11:26pm

Got quoted 4.05/kg today for my bullocks. Tempted but I am still holding out for €4.10

just do it · 27-07-2012 6:07am

huey1975 wrote: »

Got quoted 4.05/kg today for my bullocks. Tempted but I am still holding out for €4.10

Jeez huey that's up on the €4/kg you were offered last week in a falling market. Have you seen the long term weather forecast? Cattle aren't thriving in this part of the world and lads are offloading what stock they can. How many kilos lwg do they need to cover each 5c drop?

Farmer Pudsey · 27-07-2012 8:53am

just do it wrote: »

Jeez huey that's up on the €4/kg you were offered last week in a falling market. Have you seen the long term weather forecast? Cattle aren't thriving in this part of the world and lads are offloading what stock they can. How many kilos lwg do they need to cover each 5c drop?

And if it goe's up 5 cent and they add another 3-4 kg's deadweight :rolleyes:
Sucessful finishers are not gamblers but people who take calculated risk's, sometime they work out sometimes not.

huey1975 · 27-07-2012 9:19am

just do it wrote: »

Jeez huey that's up on the €4/kg you were offered last week in a falling market. Have you seen the long term weather forecast? Cattle aren't thriving in this part of the world and lads are offloading what stock they can. How many kilos lwg do they need to cover each 5c drop?

I don't believe it is a falling market. I think think the factories are taking the piss. I am not that pushed whether I take it or not I nearly see it as a battle of wills at this stage and nobody should ever underestimate how stubborn I can be.

Tipp Man · 27-07-2012 10:31am

huey1975 wrote: »

I don't believe it is a falling market. I think think the factories are taking the piss. I am not that pushed whether I take it or not I nearly see it as a battle of wills at this stage and nobody should ever underestimate how stubborn I can be.

As long as your not pumping nuts into them then i think your right

flatout11 · 27-07-2012 12:04pm

anyone killing cows at the moment ? what price are you getting or are you holding off for a few weeks?

29-07-2012 12:07am

Was offered 4.10 flat rate for Bulls by Kepak in the south on Friday.
They still need a bit more finishing, 3wks or so.

huey1975 · 29-07-2012 3:10pm

49801 wrote: »

Was offered 4.10 flat rate for Bulls by Kepak in the south on Friday.
They still need a bit more finishing, 3wks or so.

Just wondering if this was an unsolicited quote whereby they were looking for cattle or was it the usual guff where they imply they are doing you a favour by taking your cattle even though they are flat out and getting loads of cattle?
Are they good bulls or friesians?

bob charles · 29-07-2012 3:19pm

huey1975 wrote: »

Just wondering if this was an unsolicited quote whereby they were looking for cattle or was it the usual guff where they imply they are doing you a favour by taking your cattle even though they are flat out and getting loads of cattle?
Are they good bulls or friesians?

I would like to see a breakdown of the kill figures for different parts of the country. Certainly around these parts they are getting plenty of animals. I dropped I a load very early last week 5.30pm as I had to be away to do other work and there were already 5 loads of animals in the lairage. Came back at midnight and the yards were well filled with cattle.there is ample supply of cattle able to be bought at €4 for steers and €4.1 for heifers. Its a price you maybe glad of later in the year

beef price tracker

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