How will dairy cows do in the factory

KingPanko

Generally I bring my cull cows to the mart in October over a few weeks, straight from the parlour as I do not have the space or silage to feed and finish them. The price I get varies week to week for no clear reason. Ive a neighbour that claims he did better than me last year bringing his culls straight to the factory with no extra feeding and he just leaves them make what they make. This seems unlikely to me but can we go through the figures and work it out?

My cows live weight, lets assume they are 550kg as a lot would be around that, what would they kill out at with no feeding? 40 - 45%?

Would there then be price penalty for low carcass weight?

What price would they get as they would grade poorly? 400cent - 430 cent? More or Less?

What else should I factor in?

jaymla627

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058370003/how-will-dairy-cows-do-in-the-factory

If they havent the correct fat scores and over 250kgs deadweight, you could end up getting roasted 2-2.50kgs deadweight

Anto_Meath

Don't know about cull dairy cows but I know with sucklers if you just land them into the factory after taking the calf off them you ll be disappointed.. wouldn't kill out anywhere near their potential. Cows need a reat period to firm up before you kill them.

crybaby

I've been in that situation with culls before, and when I sent mine to the factory at around 550 kg, they typically killed out around 40-45%, though it really depends on their condition. If they're not in great shape, you can get hit with a price penalty for lower carcass weights, and last time I checked, prices were around 400 to 420 cent for those that didn’t grade well. It’s a balancing act between feeding costs and what you might get back at the mart, so keeping an eye on market trends and demand can help.

yewdairy

Check with the factory on what minimum dead weight is and fat score before you kill them. As others have said you could get roasted.

Dunno where your based but dunleavly meats in ballina would have a lower minimum weight. I killed small crossbred cows a few weeks ago there and they paid a flat price cows were 240kg dead. They were 3 on fat though

DukeCaboom

Last year when there was a glut in the back end out local was 1:60 /kg for under 200kg dead 180 for above it.

KingPanko

Great, thanks all for you for the info.

My local factory is ABP Bandon. I'll find out what the min carcass weight is. If it is around 250kg, and a roasting for under that then the mart is likely the place to go and let somebody try and turn a profit on them.

Some would make 250kg but most would need a bit of feeding for that

kevthegaff

Another thing is going to the Factory u could be locked up if they have a lesion etc. Mart they go to feedlots.

older by the day

I send anything young, under 5 or big bony cows to the mart, the bones weight well.

The old cows or the short butty ones do better in the factory.

Not by much though. I sent a few very alike finnished older cows to the factory and the mart this spring, the factory worked out 50euro better.

Definitely the young feeder cows do better in the mart, "I think "

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122643924#Comment_122643924

Which still go to a factory and you'll still be locked up if they show a legion.

Think it's about a couple of months if they go to a factory after they can come back on you.

K.G.

Factories will probably stop taking parlour cows this drying off season.