Beef General Thread

AP2014

TITANIUM. wrote: »

No one ever does.

I suppose it'll depend on what happens with the factory price between here and then. There's only so much finishing men can take. It's bound to trickle down.

They have taken serious blows but seem happy to use their sfp to cushion this. Looking at weanling prices and store prices now looks like they are going to give it a bash for another year.

I can't understand it but it keeps fellas like me afloat so can't argue too much.

on the river

AP2014 wrote: »

They have taken serious blows but seem happy to use their sfp to cushion this. Looking at weanling prices and store prices now looks like they are going to give it a bash for another year.

I can't understand it but it keeps fellas like me afloat so can't argue too much.

Is that all sfp means to you ? a cushion.
Surely you invest some for it back into the farm.

AP2014

on the river wrote: »

Is that all sfp means to you ? a cushion.
Surely you invest some for it back into the farm.

It ain't a cushion for me, it goes into the farm account until I see what happens in 2019. I don't run a big farm so no need for big investment. If any investment needed it comes from farm profits or doesn't get done.

on the river

AP2014 wrote: »

It ain't a cushion for me, it goes into the farm account until I see what happens in 2019. I don't run a big farm so no need for big investment. If any investment needed it comes from farm profits or doesn't get done.

Fair enough. However basic maintenance on handling facilities and sheds not
be a factor.

Farmer Pudsey

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I have 9 16-17 month old store heifers around 450kg left over from last year Pudsey, had planned on moving them on fairly soon but would be able to hold them till after Xmas if I thought the trade would pick up for them?? Prices for similar stock I have seen selling weren't too hectic. Might keep the best 3 and breed them aswell.

Mart prices are way ahead of factory prices. I was referring to 2013 cattle that were finishing and would be underage for a 6+ months. Anybody with such cattle that are sending them to slaughter is shortsighted as they will climb strongly.

Brass Tag wrote: »

Sold my dirty arse weanlings (another thread) out of the yard to fella who buys 600 weanlings every fall.
€2.70kg fully weaned already. I have to hang on to them for 9 or 10 days till he collects.
Anyway, he's intending on buying a lot more than normal this fall, as he reckons cattle for grass next spring will be very dear. Demand to well outstrip supply he estimates.

Not too sure if he will have much of a margin on such cattle. Buying 350 kg weanlings at 2.7/kg after haulage and maybe mart fees is 950/head. Even at 280kgs they make 760. Allow 175 to get to next march( you have to have a very very tight ship in reality over 200 may be necessary) them calves would need to be making 1200 and 1000 to have a margin. I think at present farmers are overpaying even considering outlook.

AP2014

on the river wrote: »

Fair enough. However basic maintenance on handling facilities and sheds not
be a factor.

Of course, but the crush stands and so does the walls around it, I don't see myself needing to maintain it for awhile yet. They will be standing next year as well. Only haysheds and few cow sheds. Same scenario, rarely used.

AP2014

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Mart prices are way ahead of factory prices. I was referring to 2013 cattle that were finishing and would be underage for a 6+ months. Anybody with such cattle that are sending them to slaughter is shortsighted as they will climb strongly.

Pudsey, I have a few 17/18 month olds to go to mart. Do you reckon prices will pick up for these kind of stock if I hold off for another few weeks.

on the river

AP2014 wrote: »

Of course, but the crush stands and so does the walls around it, I don't see myself needing to maintain it for awhile yet. They will be standing next year as well. Only haysheds and few cow sheds. Same scenario, rarely used.

Talk about conservatism :rolleyes:

TUBBY

on the river wrote: »

Talk about conservatism :rolleyes:

Not this again lads....

AP2014

on the river wrote: »

Talk about conservatism :rolleyes:

If it ain't broke don't fix it! I may get a grant in a few years for maintaining it anyway.

on the river

AP2014 wrote: »

If it ain't broke don't fix it! I may get a grant in a few years for maintaining it anyway.

That's not sustainable . when is the farm going to pay for itself.

AP2014

on the river wrote: »

That's not sustainable . when is the farm going to pay for itself.

Its a bloody crush, it's sustainable, it ain't going anywhere for a few years. The farm is paying for itself now because I'm not bloody painting crushes and knocking and rebuilding crush walls every year.

sandydan

on the river wrote: »

That's not sustainable . when is the farm going to pay for itself.

dont tell us your get worried about things like that and it aint even Xmas week yet. money is made round to go around, that's why they got rid of the 50 pence coins:rolleyes:

Brass Tag

AP2014 wrote: »

Its a bloody crush, it's sustainable, it ain't going anywhere for a few years. The farm is paying for itself now because I'm not bloody painting crushes and knocking and rebuilding crush walls every year.

You seem to have a unique business model. If I understand your situation from the various threads you have contributed to, your farm does not need maintenance, it doesn't require fencing, it doesn't require any fertilizer to speak of ( even in the absence of slurry), you don't / can't administer injections, it required very little if any labour input from yourself, etc etc!
If you ever decide to have an open day I would like to attend, to get an education. I could seriously do with having my eyes opened.

AP2014

Brass Tag wrote: »

You seem to have a unique business model. If I understand your situation from the various threads you have contributed to, your farm does not need maintenance, it doesn't require fencing, it doesn't require any fertilizer to speak of ( even in the absence of slurry), you don't / can't administer injections, it required very little if any labour input from yourself, etc etc!
If you ever decide to have an open day I would like to attend, to get an education. I could seriously do with having my eyes opened.

I'm thinking of having one....maybe I'll float it at the farming forum xmas party. Dont twist things though....I have fences and I do fertilize. An hr input on a saturday

Feckthis

AP2014 wrote: »

I'm thinking of having one....maybe I'll float it at the farming forum xmas party. Dont twist things though....I have fences and I do fertilize. An hr input on a saturday

Just curious. How many acres are you farming AP?

AP2014

Feckthis wrote: »

Just curious. How many acres are you farming AP?

30....I'm part part time. Dry stock so it ain't alot of work.

just do it

Charliebull wrote: »

how reliable is the gestation length for HCA and FTY on ICBF website

HCA is showing 286-289 days, I have a heifer 279 days in calf to him

FTY is showing 288-290 days, I have a heifer 274 days in calf to him

4 FTY calves here in last few weeks and I'd say the cow influence is important. Gestations - 275, 284, 292, & 301. First 3 were handy slips of calves that fill out quickly once born. Other one was a good bit larger and back end needed some help with the jack. 3 of them were bull calves.

towzer2010

just do it wrote: »

4 FTY calves here in last few weeks and I'd say the cow influence is important. Gestations - 275, 284, 292, & 301. First 3 were handy slips of calves that fill out quickly once born. Other one was a good bit larger and back end needed some help with the jack. 3 of them were bull calves.

Did you use any other maternal Lims?
FTY's docility would be a problem for me. I used EFZ hoping for heifers and only got one.

I said

Moved cattle into new paddock yesterday when I counted today the followed me to the gate as if they were hungry and looking for fresh grass.
Loads of grazing left in paddock leafy grass so are they lacking something from this paddock?
Lots of rain last few days should I supplement with meal from now until I stick them in the shed.

Willfarman

I said wrote: »

Moved cattle into new paddock yesterday when I counted today the followed me to the gate as if they were hungry and looking for fresh grass.
Loads of grazing left in paddock leafy grass so are they lacking something from this paddock?
Lots of rain last few days should I supplement with meal from now until I stick them in the shed.

A bale of hay or straw just to give them a bit of fibre.

on the river

The cattle are eating down the after grass well. Its seems the extra fert I put out a few months ago is paying
dividend now

_Brian

I said wrote: »

Moved cattle into new paddock yesterday when I counted today the followed me to the gate as if they were hungry and looking for fresh grass.
Loads of grazing left in paddock leafy grass so are they lacking something from this paddock?
Lots of rain last few days should I supplement with meal from now until I stick them in the shed.

Hear lots of lads saying that "the good is gone from grass at this stage".. Not really sure, small bit of meal or rolled barley would be handy fed too.

on the river

_Brian wrote: »

Hear lots of lads saying that "the good is gone from grass at this stage".. Not really sure, small bit of meal or rolled barley would be handy fed too.

The rain is ruining it. It was a good summer though

Charliebull

if they are dry cows they will be fine, mine are at the same ****e, tough love this year

sandydan

I said wrote: »

Moved cattle into new paddock yesterday when I counted today the followed me to the gate as if they were hungry and looking for fresh grass.
Loads of grazing left in paddock leafy grass so are they lacking something from this paddock?
Lots of rain last few days should I supplement with meal from now until I stick them in the shed.

same here so i avoid going near them after 3, they just follow and get unsettled for evening. thinking back a few years an old timer told me never feed cattle in evening for same reason and he added they more or less have their spot for lying for night picked out and are warm, if they get up he reconed meant they had lost an hours feeding ie heating up their spot and may not even lie if weather bad enough,anyway i recon grass has lost its feeding value especially if manured recently as opposed to grass saved 5 weeks , but who has that, so nuts or barley and maize or rolled oats is good supplement but costs

Sunset V

Anybody see yer man from Dawn in the rag this week? Outrageous arrogance telling farmers to farm better and make more money!!! Has me in a rage

onyerbikepat

Just on shelter and cattle lying down at night. I split a 10 acre field into 3 paddocks this year. On of the paddocks has no shelter so I was keeping an eye on the weather while they were in it. Moved them on the Saturday morning before the bad weather, but even at that noticed they all had being lying down in the only hallow in the paddock. You could see all the dung there. Shelter - very important for cattle. As good as any house in bad weather.

Farmer

Sunset V wrote: »

Anybody see yer man from Dawn in the rag this week? Outrageous arrogance telling farmers to farm better and make more money!!! Has me in a rage

Whatever happened with the protests over specs? Were they deemed to be ineffective. Is the fat little pig laughing out from his brick house as the battle weary wolf huffs and puffs in vain?

just do it

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Just on shelter and cattle lying down at night. I split a 10 acre field into 3 paddocks this year. On of the paddocks has no shelter so I was keeping an eye on the weather while they were in it. Moved them on the Saturday morning before the bad weather, but even at that noticed they all had being lying down in the only hallow in the paddock. You could see all the dung there. Shelter - very important for cattle. As good as any house in bad weather.

And even the most exposed flat paddocks have shelter! I've one such field and on a very windy day I got down low where they lie and amazingly there wasn't a puff of wind.

sandydan

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Just on shelter and cattle lying down at night. I split a 10 acre field into 3 paddocks this year. On of the paddocks has no shelter so I was keeping an eye on the weather while they were in it. Moved them on the Saturday morning before the bad weather, but even at that noticed they all had being lying down in the only hallow in the paddock. You could see all the dung there. Shelter - very important for cattle. As good as any house in bad weather.

wind breaks have benefit no doubt but careful planning has to be done to put in proper location. some i know around here wish they left some ditches in place,but they need a little thought as if in line with prevailing wind they serve no purpose. being alongside forestry causes ground to stay wet for longer,

Charliebull

ANYONE else get a form from ICBF regarding the Beef Genomics Scheme asking to fill out info, I have already completed on line

whelan2

scanned sucklers today, 1 that had a section was not in calf and another is carrying dead twins:( 10 others in calf. Also did dna on all suckler calves and weaned some

sandydan

whelan2 wrote: »

scanned sucklers today, 1 that had a section was not in calf and another is carrying dead twins:( 10 others in calf. Also did dna on all suckler calves and weaned some

do you run a blood test on cows to detemine mineral levels. copper iodine,selenuim . its rather disheartening to get those results despite as they say around here"at least it's outside door" never had any luck getting cows with c sections back in calf so earmark them for factory. luckily had none with about 8 years then calf and cow went west.

whelan2

glad section cow isnt in calf, she was a lunatic to deal with, had bloat and calf was upside down, knew she wasnt in calf as she was bulling a week or 2 ago. Other cow had twins this year too, scanning man said she was a mess inside and twins where about 3 months old. No we dont blood them for minerals, we are winding down the sucklers, too much hassle

just do it

just do it wrote: »

4 FTY calves here in last few weeks and I'd say the cow influence is important. Gestations - 275, 284, 292, & 301. First 3 were handy slips of calves that fill out quickly once born. Other one was a good bit larger and back end needed some help with the jack. 3 of them were bull calves.

Correction. The one that needed assistance was a bull calf by ADX and had the longest gestation.

just do it

just do it wrote: »

4 FTY calves here in last few weeks and I'd say the cow influence is important. Gestations - 275, 284, 292, & 301. First 3 were handy slips of calves that fill out quickly once born. Other one was a good bit larger and back end needed some help with the jack. 3 of them were bull calves.

Correction. The one that needed assistance was a bull calf by ADX and had the longest gestation.

Charliebull

just do it wrote: »

Correction. The one that needed assistance was a bull calf by ADX and had the longest gestation.

heifer with FTY went 290 days here and was a big bull calf that had to be jacked

he looks like a drowned rat this morning lying out in a corner of the field

heifer with HCA went 279 days and was a heifer and she calved unassisted

Charliebull

any one apply for the liver fluke testing

if so anyone hear anything back yet

also see a couple labs are giving reduced rates for PI free Herd Status

I said

Factory quotes are back will store prices drop or will the grass men pickup
The slack as the weather improves,

I said

Ballymahon Thursday some of the steer prices would love to be selling lots. 61.62 and 63

Mad4simmental

Put 90 on that list to. I didn't think lmx would outsell chx. Hard to know not seeing them but they must have been savage stock.

I said

Mad4simmental wrote: »

Put 90 on that list to. I didn't think lmx would outsell chx. Hard to know not seeing them but they must have been savage stock.

That's Ballymahon ch or lm nothing else gets a look in great place for selling

Reggie.

I said wrote: »

Ballymahon Thursday some of the steer prices would love to be selling lots. 61.62 and 63

Lot 61 must have been some animal

I said

Reggie. wrote: »

Lot 61 must have been some animal

Plenty of men in for them always drives them on

Reggie.

I said wrote: »

Plenty of men in for them always drives them on

Supply and demand

Miname

250kg Charolais bull 1080 and a 220kg made 990. How can anyone justify this.

Mad4simmental

Miname wrote: »

250kg Charolais bull 1080 and a 220kg made 990. How can anyone justify this.

Long may it continue :-)

Farrell

Miname wrote: »

250kg Charolais bull 1080 and a 220kg made 990. How can anyone justify this.

Is that Carrigallen?
Must of been a good calf

Kovu

It's ridiculous. We're our own worst enemy at times.

You'd be as well look in the paper, stick a pin in a race of horses and put a bet on it. You've about the same chance of making money only the horse could have better odds!