Explain to me cattle auctioneering and what really goes on

[gone up the hill]

Would nt you have been working with variable premium and set guide prices then ? I think unpunched store lambs used to make more than fat then didn't they sometimes ?

Not sure as I was only a wee little lad back then so had nothing to do with the politics of it but even if that was the case lambs still havent doubled in price in that time when things like machinery/ fuel etc have gone up 5 times or more of their prices back then.

 

[Top Tip.]

Can you explain how much feeding margin is left on 300+ kg calves bought at well in excess of £3 /kg as I've always wondered how it's done ?

Sorry can't help you there,I only breed them. The only thing I would say is that the folk who are paying it have been in the job a long time so they must know.

 

[Hilly]

Only if you don’t lime it, muck it, or fertilise it

Dunt grow then, sadly.

 

[Henarar]

Only if you don’t lime it, muck it, or fertilise it

didn't use as much fert this year, seemed plenty of grass about without it

 

[gone up the hill]

didn't use as much fert this year, seemed plenty of grass about without it

You can save on these areas for one year but long term that isn't sustainable.

 

[west coast angus]

Sale Av for steers only back 3.4p on last year, does not seem cheap too me.

1st fort William sale av £2.79 A kg 1st Oban sale av nearly £2.70 A kg both up on the year and Dalmally av £2.35 back on the year.

I am just saying it was a bit unexpected and I would say the calfs were as good as normal, the west coast had a very good May and hill calfs got off to a better than normal start and grew really well, so helped with the disastrous July, Aug, Sept,

Sale reports can be very miss leading!

@CharcoalWally will agree , we watched some very good calfs going cheap.

 

[digger64]

Ķ

Not sure as I was only a wee little lad back then so had nothing to do with the politics of it but even if that was the case lambs still havent doubled in price in that time when things like machinery/ fuel etc have gone up 5 times or more of their prices back then.

The first fat lambs I ever sold came to about £18 in the early 90's another big cheque came in the post following week I think , the scheme finished at the end of that year though

 

[Henarar]

You can save on these areas for one year but long term that isn't sustainable.

don't spread much other than nitro anyway and then it depends on the year

 

[Northeastfarmer]

don't spread much other than nitro anyway and then it depends on the year

What about potash or phosphate?

 

[digger64]

Sorry can't help yomisunderstood stood I only breed them. The only thing I would say is that the folk who are paying it have been in the job a long time so they must know.

But you seem to think that is where the trade should be or have I misunderstood ?

 

[Top Tip.]

But you seem to think that is where the trade should be or have I misunderstood ?

No you haven't misunderstood,the trade needs to be there or higher to keep suckler cows on farms.If finishing is not profitable why are there more folk getting out of sucklers and into finishing ?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

No you haven't misunderstood,the trade needs to be there or higher to keep suckler cows on farms.If finishing is not profitable why are there more folk getting out of sucklers and into finishing ?

Cos it’s easier

 

[Top Tip.]

Cos it’s easier

True but profitability must come into it as well,the ones I speak to are saying it is more profitable than cows.

 

[Henarar]

What about potash or phosphate?

not much

 

[Fossil]

Cos it’s easier

Because they still need something to eat grass to claim their BPS but don’t want the work of cows...

 

[digger64]

[Qdon't know="Top Tip., post: 4371930, member: 1078"]No you haven't misunderstood,the trade needs to be there or higher to keep suckler cows on farms.If finishing is not profitable why are there more folk getting out of sucklers and into finishing ?[/QUOTE]
I dont know but in a lowland situation probably overheads labour and land opportunity cost , I did the opposite because I couldn't cope with the massive amount of capital required to stock the land when the £ devalued in 2007 /8 couldn't buy them so bred my own gave me more options and stability I was also finding grain to expensive then and moved onto maize in response and have moved away from cont× cattle also ,the land wasn't good enough for grass finishing either (but cows ok )but probably much easier than yours though , having been both sides of the fence I don't find £900+ calves a very attractive proppsition I sold a 550 kg bull ( u +)last week for about £1210 perhaps you see what I mean

 

[Northeastfarmer]

[Qdon't know="Top Tip., post: 4371930, member: 1078"]No you haven't misunderstood,the trade needs to be there or higher to keep suckler cows on farms.If finishing is not profitable why are there more folk getting out of sucklers and into finishing ?

I dont know but in a lowland situation probably overheads labour and land opportunity cost , I did the opposite because I couldn't cope with the massive amount of capital required to stock the land when the £ devalued in 2007 /8 couldn't buy them so bred my own gave me more options and stability I was also finding grain to expensive then and moved onto maize in response and have moved away from cont× cattle also ,the land wasn't good enough for grass finishing either (but cows ok )but probably much easier than yours though , having been both sides of the I don't find £900+ calves a very attractive proppsition I sold a 550 kg bull ( u +)last week for about £1210 perhaps you see what I mean[/QUOTE]


Why did you sell a bull at such a low weight?

 

[digger64]

I dont know but in a lowland situation probably overheads labour and land opportunity cost , I did the opposite because I couldn't cope with the massive amount of capital required to stock the land when the £ devalued in 2007 /8 couldn't buy them so bred my own gave me more options and stability I was also finding grain to expensive then and moved onto maize in response and have moved away from cont× cattle also ,the land wasn't good enough for grass finishing either (but cows ok )but probably much easier than yours though , having been both sides of the I don't find £900+ calves a very attractive proppsition I sold a 550 kg bull ( u +)last week for about £1210 perhaps you see what I mean

Why did you sell a bull at such a low weight?[/QUOTE]
It was the last one ,age ,needed it gone for space ,the others 620- 700 kg but still 12-1300 earlier on , sold it live got 2.20 was expecting £2 but was good beast a good trade that day

 

[CharcoalWally]

1st fort William sale av £2.79 A kg 1st Oban sale av nearly £2.70 A kg both up on the year and Dalmally av £2.35 back on the year.

I am just saying it was a bit unexpected and I would say the calfs were as good as normal, the west coast had a very good May and hill calfs got off to a better than normal start and grew really well, so helped with the disastrous July, Aug, Sept,

Sale reports can be very miss leading!

@CharcoalWally will agree , we watched some very good calfs going cheap.

I do agree. I was surprised at the sale average reported. The sale must have been a lot more buoyant after the restart ?

 

[Top Tip.]

I do agree. I was surprised at the sale average reported. The sale must have been a lot more buoyant after the restart ?

I did hear that there were 4 fresh buyers appeared up when word got out that the sale was delayed 1 of which bought 50 calves.