The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: littlelugs on February 25, 2013, 10:45:02 pm

Title: really stupid question
Post by: littlelugs on February 25, 2013, 10:45:02 pm

Ok folks my stupid question of the year is.....
on market (auction reports) is a calf breed report the price that was paid for each calf of that particular breed??? ie  in this report ayrshire bull calves went for £19?? etc... told you it was a stupid question  ??? :innocent:  is that the full price or price per kg? (or am i over complicating things?)

[size=-1]Bulls[/size][/t][/t] [/t] [size=-1]Qty[/size] [size=-1]Ave[/size] [size=-1]Min[/size] [size=-1]Max[/size] [size=-1]Vendor of Max         Price Lot[/size] [size=-1]FRIESIAN[/size] [size=-1]21[/size] [size=-1]36[/size] [size=-1]11[/size] [size=-1]125[/size] [size=-1]AYRSHIRE[/size] [size=-1]1[/size] [size=-1]19[/size] [size=-1]19[/size] [size=-1]19[/size] [size=-1]HEREFORD[/size] [size=-1]6[/size] [size=-1]205[/size] [size=-1]160[/size] [size=-1]262[/size] [size=-1]ABERDEEN ANGUS[/size] [size=-1]1[/size] [size=-1]80[/size] [size=-1]80[/size] [size=-1]80[/size] [size=-1]Heifers[/size][/t][/t] [/t] [size=-1]Qty[/size] [size=-1]Ave[/size] [size=-1]Min[/size] [size=-1]Max[/size] [size=-1]Vendor of Max         Price Lot[/size] [size=-1]HEREFORD[/size] [size=-1]2[/size] [size=-1]128[/size] [size=-1]118[/size] [size=-1]138[/size] [size=-1]LIMOUSIN[/size] [size=-1]1[/size] [size=-1]70[/size] [size=-1]70[/size] [size=-1]70[/size]

[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table]

Title: Re: really stupid question
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 26, 2013, 12:07:48 am

I can't read the table, it's all just formatting.  (Tip: use the Preview button befoe posting your message.)

However, yes, very young Ayrshire bull calves probably do fetch £19 each.  I saw six Jersey bull calves average £11 per head at Carlisle one Wednesday.  Ayrshires usually fetch tenners.  A friend bought 5 Jersey bull calves, at Darlington I think it was, for £10 the lot. 

Beefy types fetch anything from £170 to £450 at the moment at Carlisle.  Top dollar for British Blue or Limousin bull calves.  Beef breed heifer calves sell reasonably well as potential suckler cows.

Black-and-white bull calves are variable.  Sometimes they fetch up to £100, sometimes only around £30.  I'm not sure why the variation.

Title: Re: really stupid question
Post by: littlelugs on February 26, 2013, 08:18:31 am

ahh damn forgot to preview the post (it was late and my brain is mush at the best of times) thanks for the advice though. I always look at the maket reports in our area out of curiosity more than anything else and it helps to know im getting the info right instead of terribly wrong!
thanks again
 

Title: Re: really stupid question
Post by: Paul Sill on February 27, 2013, 09:46:58 pm

The variation in the price for black and whites is because they vary so much, if you have a more holstein type calf it will not be as meaty as a friesian calf but it can all depend on the type of cows in the herd, bulls that where used.

Title: Re: really stupid question
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 28, 2013, 09:15:33 am

There's more to it than that, Paul Sill.  It's not just the price range across all the calves in one week, which is due to the factors you list, but some weeks at Carlisle even the very best good framey B&Ws don't go over £50, then another they'll be into the low £00s.  There are probably seasonal and market factors I am unaware of, since we're not in the dairy or veal business.