Don’t buy in bad Friesian bull calves
GALWAY farmers have been advised against buying in cheap Holstein Friesian bull calves that could ‘clog up’ the beef market again in two years time.
Michael Flynn, Galway IFA Livestock Chairman, told the Farming Tribune that a lot of the beef price problems of last year were caused by a glut of Holstein Friesian bull calves that were kept by farmers in 2012.
He said that 180,000 extra calves kept in 2012 had massive implications for the market situation in 2014, and over recent weeks, there were fears that farmers were again going down the same road.
“With the overall lift in prices across the cattle and beef sector, we know that some farmers are again going down the road of buying in the cheaper Holstein Friesian calves.
“We really do need to see those calves going abroad. I would caution farmers against buying them – they are nearly impossible to finish without keeping them for at least three to four years and all they’ll do is clog up the market,” said Michael Flynn.
He said that last year, there were 238,000 head of cattle exported from Ireland, a movement that made a significant difference to the home market situation.
Live exports in 2011, he said, were 260,000 but there was a huge drop in this figure in 2012 – down to 140,000 – a trend that led to the market glut during last year.
“Overall there has been a very positive outlook for cattle so far this year, although last week an effort was made by the factory to try and pull prices, as numbers began to increased after cattle were held back towards the end of last year.
“Farmers should bargain hard. Supplies will be getting tighter and the factories will need a steady supply over the coming weeks and months. It should be a seller’s market,” said Michael Flynn.