Beef / Lamb & Pig Price Tracker

[Northeastfarmer]

I don't no why people are against the grid at abp. speak as I find I prefer it. Then again I'm not sending dairy x cattle thinking they should be ko better than they are. I believe woodheads are going to a 15 point grid in 2017 and are testing the system out at the moment.

I think they'll all be on 15 point grid before long...once one starts...

 

[beefandsleep]

Nothing wrong with the new grading system, the payment grid is the problem. The deductions on grade changes are way too harsh and the via system is rubbish at determining fat class.

 

[cull cows]

What are cast cow prices like?

Cows up 5p this week

 

[cattleman123]

Cows up 5p this week

To what?

 

[cowboysupper]

Nothing wrong with the new grading system, the payment grid is the problem. The deductions on grade changes are way too harsh and the via system is rubbish at determining fat class.

All the trials they did in Ireland years ago showed that the machines are more consistent than the manual graders. Most farmers on this side of the pond are happy with it. Our payment grid is different though with more gradual movements in p/kg up and down the grades than ABP England's.

Strange how in both NI and ROI VIA was brought in as an industry initiative in all the large plants and in consultation with farming organisations and the Government. Why is this not happening in GB?

 

[Victor]

Haven't abp put in manual graders to overrule the new electronic grading in England?

 

[RDL]

All the trials they did in Ireland years ago showed that the machines are more consistent than the manual graders. Most farmers on this side of the pond are happy with it. Our payment grid is different though with more gradual movements in p/kg up and down the grades than ABP England's.

Strange how in both NI and ROI VIA was brought in as an industry initiative in all the large plants and in consultation with farming organisations and the Government. Why is this not happening in GB?

Every beef finisher I know wants manual grading back, the payment deductions for not being the box are to harsh.
I smell something fishy about your posts on this thread, do you work for a meat processor, or somebody with very close links.

 

[beefandsleep]

It is a fact that the electronic grader is wildly inaccurate on fat class, the fields men are very reluctant to put their necks out on fat grade on farms because it is so unpredictable it makes them look stupid. The problem now is that there will be no one in abattoirs with the skills or knowledge to say, no that's not a 5H its a 4L and change the grade accordingly. The bods in the office will say (and are doing) that the computer says it's a 5H so it's a 5H, how can it possibly be wrong?

 

[beefandsleep]

To the above I would add dressing damage, which is very common is also something the machine cannot detect and adjust grading to take into account.

 

[cowboysupper]

Every beef finisher I know wants manual grading back, the payment deductions for not being the box are to harsh.
I smell something fishy about your posts on this thread, do you work for a meat processor, or somebody with very close links.

Not at all I just have an open mind. All I said was farmers in both NI and ROI are happy by in large with VIA. It's all regulated and it all was trialled by government before introduction. Farming groups were all involved too.

I also said that I recognise the deductions in ABP England are higher than in NI/ROI moving up and down the grades. I said I couldn't understand this as we're all producing the same type of cattle.

I understand and support your concerns with the payment grid but I disagree with you in relation to the accuracy of VIA. But I don't know of the same level of checks on accuracy are done in England on the machine as there are in Northern Ireland.

 

[cowboysupper]

It is a fact that the electronic grader is wildly inaccurate on fat class, the fields men are very reluctant to put their necks out on fat grade on farms because it is so unpredictable it makes them look stupid. The problem now is that there will be no one in abattoirs with the skills or knowledge to say, no that's not a 5H its a 4L and change the grade accordingly. The bods in the office will say (and are doing) that the computer says it's a 5H so it's a 5H, how can it possibly be wrong?

Fair enough, I appreciate that you guys will know more about the problems with the VIA machine operated at ABP in England than I will, but all I was arguing was that farmers over here are happy with it. We don't seem to have the problems that are being experienced over with you. In NI its all regulated as per:

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/beef-carcase-classification

Its sounds like its ABP self regulation over with you...

 

[joe soapy]

When i think back to all we went through to get a grid in the first place.
getting paid the same for U grade as O's was not good back then for the specialist beef breeder,
although it suited the dairy boys just fine and they had the most say back then

 

[Victor]

I've always thought there wasn't a big enough difference in price in the quality end and the poorer end but instead of raising the top end price they've lowered the bottom end

 

[Beef farmer]

When i think back to all we went through to get a grid in the first place.
getting paid the same for U grade as O's was not good back then for the specialist beef breeder,
although it suited the dairy boys just fine and they had the most say back then

Those where the days

 

[exmoor dave]

Collection lambs 390p/kg today

Pound has strengthened against Euro up to yesterday, but I see its slipped again today.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Any rise in beef?

 

[kps]

Any rise in beef?

foyle up 2p

 

[organic]

St Mirren stand on 325 plus 10 for beef breeds =3.35

 

[yellowbelly]

Anybody sold any lambs liveweight in the last couple of days?

 

[beefandsleep]

Woodheads up 2p