Beef price tracker 2

Last year I more than doubled my initial Financial outlay so I can't be going too far wrong. What you think l will always fight for a higher price for Farmers who need a Financial boost.

It might seem logical but with Hereford and AA cattle it depends on how much of the AA and HE bonus you lose. Generally the HE bonus is 10/kg locally but is not paid on over 30 months . The AA will probably pay part of the bonus over 30 months but it's 10c instead of 20c/kg.

Off a 4.65/kg base you get 4.83-4.93 for HE and AA cattle grading O+.

Even give that they grade R next February at a base of 5/kg you are looking at a price of 5.08 and 5.18 for HE and AA off that base.

@StevenToast the first loss is usually the cheapest loss. Say you carry them to February you are facing into the same mistake as last Spring paying too much for stores

You will buy around the edges at present and pick you coloured cattle for 2.2-2.4/ kg. They will do 100+ kgs cheap gain on grass, they will need no meal.over the winter and hit grass next spring. You will have a better chance of having some of them gone by July.

I am dribbling cattle into the factory in bunches of 2-4 getting no spectacular price but replacing as I go along. Have 40 cattle bought for net year. Have three tall HO bullocks that will not be hung until next June. The stores are probably averaging 650/ head and are 50/50 Friesians and Continental's.

Surely Cattle prices have to go up the Turks will be back for our Weanlings and Factories will have to get in line if they want the flesh?

Irish cattle puts manners on the British price. Its vital to have meat plants in both jurisdictions.

Send what I would consider my worst load of bullocks to the factory yesterday. All Friesians those small butty ones that will neither grow, finish or put on weight. There was also an 38 month old Bullock that that we bought as a single that we were not watching the board probably regarding his age.

1XO=......4XO- and 2XP+. Three were over 30 months so QA on three only.

Average DW weight 305kgs from 293-336kgs. 38 month Bullock lightest.

Average LW at purchase 345kgs

Average cost 580 inc fees

Average length of time on farm 11.5 months.

Average factor price 1335 net of slaughter fees

Gross return 755 euro

Net margin 305 euro allowing 450 costs (472 inc mart and Slaughter fees)

They did ok grading saved the bacon IMO probably very marginal on that bunch. However they wouldn't be gone without feeding for about 7-9 weeks which depended on when they went into the finishing bunch.

I would not like to be fooling myself. I will probably feed slightly over 200kg/head at a bit over 70 euro at present it's 35c/kg of ration. However they wouldn't be out the door without it. Too many push up the meal bill too few reduces the output. While I have reduced numbers from last year my output (numbers) would be high for a grass based system especially for poor conversion animals.

450 it is.

Feeding meal at grass is all about set up. If they are used to an electric fence you can fence them out while you fill the troughs or fence a corner outside the gap to feed them in.

I had two bunches feeding 17 in one and 15 in the other. I was feeding them inside the gaps most of the time except during the very wet weather.

I am 61. I do not feed meal in the shed while housed

I use the tall white posts when strip grazing the meadows this time of year in a leader follower system. Once you get the calves trained they fly. Leaves it easier to wean when at grass too

I am looking for a bit of advice as a hobby beef farmer,I normally only keep friesans but there is a big tall Blonde bullock (approx 720kg) who will be 30mths on September 5th.I don't intend to sell the friesan bullocks until oct/Nov,would I lose much letting him go over 30 months to stay with the others.He is on very good grass but has had no meal as yet,I intend to start feeding everything this weekend,the farm is QA.Thank you in advance.

are there many non suckler beef farmers on this forum? like beef farmers that dont calve cows? it kind of puts me off all the beef open days like Grange etc, they seem to be dominated by talk about sucklers cows, bulls and breeding and very little on systems like buying in weanlings and yearlings to finsh systems. anytime you ask questions on it the advisors sound like their bluffing a lot? is it more economics and business more than science and thus they get a bit stuck for answers?

 Steers and heifers aged 30 to 36 months grading will attract a payment of 8c/kg provided all the in-spec criteria (above) are met so basically You’ll lose 12 cent.

but if he’s not fit then you’re better off keeping him and feeding him on.

what more can teagasc do, everything they could possibly give you regarding , grassland management,animal husbandry is available for free . in grange newford or any of them places, all the cattle are slaughtered, so a weanling or yearling to finish system happens just after the cattle are weaned