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Special sales of suckler-bred weanlings are set to commence next week, with a bumper trade expected this autumn on the back of finished cattle prices which are 40p/kg ahead of this time last year.
Competition in the marts for lighter cattle is already intense, and with some farmers offloading weanlings earlier than normal due to difficult ground conditions, especially in the west, demand is likely to be ahead of supply this autumn.
The general run of prices for good-quality weanlings weighing 280kg to 350kg is typically 250p/kg to 280p/kg, with exceptional lots making as much as 300p/kg in some cases.
Stronger autumn-born weanlings weighing 380kg to 400kg are making closer to 240p to 270p/kg, with good demand for bull calves, which are returning higher prices compared to heifers.
This puts current weanling prices around 30p to 40p/kg ahead of the same period last year, and already on a par with what was paid at some of the leading specialist sales last year.
Early payment
The autumn weanling trade, and cattle trade in general, has benefited from BPS payments being issued in October rather than December.
With 100% of BPS payments being paid this October, this is also expected to have a positive impact on the weanling trade.
Where strong bull weanlings are being purchased with the intention of intensively finishing these cattle next June, farmers should be aware of the costs involved.
Take the example of a 380kg continental-bred bull purchased on 10 October at £920, or 242p/kg. A target slaughter weight of 680kg on 1 June means the animal needs to gain 400kg in 233 days, which works out at an average daily gain of 1.7kg/day.
Assuming the bull starts off on 5kg/day during October and concentrate intake increases by 1kg per month, the animal will consume approximately 2t of concentrate, which is a cost of around £420.
Factoring in fodder at £60, along with vet and miscellaneous at £50, basic inputs will amount to around £530.
At a finishing weight of 680kg and 60% kill-out, carcase weight is 408kg. The bull needs to make £1,450 or 355p/kg next June just to cover these costs, and not including a profit margin, or any contribution to fixed costs on the farm.
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