The abbatoir/butchers where I have sold-in Dexters before has told me today that they will take nothing under 600kg liveweight, 300kg deadweight and will not consider buying-in Dexters at all.
Someone locally with more customers than meat tells me that the less than £1 a kg (estimated) liveweight I suggested is far too much for them to pay.
Frankly I am so sick of this situation that my inclination is to put a reasonable reserve on all the animals going to market and if they do not sell bring them back and have them shot.
I bought Dexters in good faith, paying good money for them. We have a heathy herd and have been very successful in breeding good sound animals but what is the point when it comes to reducing the herd and all I can feel is vultures gathering to pick up these good animals for next to nothing at the sale.
What a great start to the new year this is going to be.
The final straw
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jeanthomas
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:09 pm
- Location: Hundon, Suffolk.
Hi, Sylvia.
In your post you mention someone locally who has more customers than meat, so there is obviously a market for it. I know you could not instantly reduce your herd numbers in this way, but could you not get one/several butchered, vacuum packed and sell locally. We all know how brilliant dexter beef is, can you not advertise your beef for sale? Possibly even approach pubs/restaurants etc. At least you should achieve a reasonable price this way.
I wish you well.
Jean
In your post you mention someone locally who has more customers than meat, so there is obviously a market for it. I know you could not instantly reduce your herd numbers in this way, but could you not get one/several butchered, vacuum packed and sell locally. We all know how brilliant dexter beef is, can you not advertise your beef for sale? Possibly even approach pubs/restaurants etc. At least you should achieve a reasonable price this way.
I wish you well.
Jean
I realise now, Jean, that I am not cut out for this at all.
If I had more customers than meat I'd say to said customers try so and so, I know you can get some there. When I started in Dexters, and before I had meat to sell, I cheerfully sold meat for the person I'd bought them from. Even kept meat in my freezer for them for no recompense at all thinking that it would help my customer base when I did have some of my own to sell.
I suggested to the local group that someone kept a list of suppliers and customers so that it was always possible to match up one to the other and keep customers happy, and I would have done the work involved fairly, but that went done like the proverbial lead balloon.
I tried adverts in the local freebie, the local shop and the hairdresser without one call from those ads.
I do have loyal customers but I could easily find enough for them from just a handful of cows. My freezers are half full at present and I will keep a few back to send in batches through the year.
It is just one thing after another that gets blocked and the change in policy at the local abbatoir (which was always a last resort anyway) is just one step too far.
If I had more customers than meat I'd say to said customers try so and so, I know you can get some there. When I started in Dexters, and before I had meat to sell, I cheerfully sold meat for the person I'd bought them from. Even kept meat in my freezer for them for no recompense at all thinking that it would help my customer base when I did have some of my own to sell.
I suggested to the local group that someone kept a list of suppliers and customers so that it was always possible to match up one to the other and keep customers happy, and I would have done the work involved fairly, but that went done like the proverbial lead balloon.
I tried adverts in the local freebie, the local shop and the hairdresser without one call from those ads.
I do have loyal customers but I could easily find enough for them from just a handful of cows. My freezers are half full at present and I will keep a few back to send in batches through the year.
It is just one thing after another that gets blocked and the change in policy at the local abbatoir (which was always a last resort anyway) is just one step too far.
Don't be too disheartened - I fell foul of my abattoir and the weight problem and ended up with about £130 per cow.
I don't know if the Rare Breeds Meat Scheme still accepts Dexters - but that is one option. Where I am I have people needing young steers and also customers waiting for my meat boxes. I have also half-heartedly asked my local pub if they had thought of selling Dexter beef - they told me that they have restricted cooking facilities.
I think we breeders have to sell our beef and create a market. Mince up all of your cheaper cuts and as Jean suggested approach hotels, pubs and restaurants and persuade them to sell some good old fashioned British grub, cattage pies, pasties etc.
I also think that it is an area where the society could take a lead.
How many head are you calving and need to get rid of per annum ?
Keep your pecker up
Regards
Ted
I don't know if the Rare Breeds Meat Scheme still accepts Dexters - but that is one option. Where I am I have people needing young steers and also customers waiting for my meat boxes. I have also half-heartedly asked my local pub if they had thought of selling Dexter beef - they told me that they have restricted cooking facilities.
I think we breeders have to sell our beef and create a market. Mince up all of your cheaper cuts and as Jean suggested approach hotels, pubs and restaurants and persuade them to sell some good old fashioned British grub, cattage pies, pasties etc.
I also think that it is an area where the society could take a lead.
How many head are you calving and need to get rid of per annum ?
Keep your pecker up
Regards
Ted
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monica waltho
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 11:10 pm
- Location: staffordshire
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Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
- Contact:
Silvia, while you have all my sympathy in your present situation, I don't think rationally that it would be a good idea to shoot your cattle as you would financially be even worse of than letting them go cheap at an auction as the disposal fees would run into several hundreds pounds. I can fully appreciate your feeling that people are trying to get cattle cheap, however that does not necessarily mean that they would not get good homes. Over the years I have picked a couple of older cows up cheaply, not because I was looking to buy more stock, but because I felt that they still had much to offer and both of them stayed with me until they went of to the big place in the sky.
I am lucky because I got all my silage and hay in early, but some people where not so lucky and I guess with Blue tongue F& M and TB most people are being very cautious about adding to their herds.
Here's hoping 2008 will be kind to you and yours
I am lucky because I got all my silage and hay in early, but some people where not so lucky and I guess with Blue tongue F& M and TB most people are being very cautious about adding to their herds.
Here's hoping 2008 will be kind to you and yours
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Louisa Gidney
- Posts: 858
- Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 11:00 am
- Contact:
I was in much the same situation after the 2001 F&M, grossly overstocked, desperately short of cash & fodder. I did turn down some "joke" offers. However, when selling privately I allow a significant reduction for the fact that the purchaser is collecting, so I don't have to spend my time, fuel, B+B, entry fee etc taking the animals to a rare breed sale at York or Carlisle or Melton Mowbray. I will deliver but for a price agreed in advance.
Have you asked your auctioneer what he thinks they are likely to make through the ring? When I do take cattle to marts, I like to know the base line "commercial" value of the animals before setting a reserve to reflect their pedigree breeding value.
Have you asked your local dealer? We have a very good chap locally who will look for private homes for unusual or rare breed stock. He travels all over the north so has an amazing network of contacts, including asking me if I know anyone who would be interested in.....
I did once offer an old cow very cheaply to a home off the hill & the chap went away with a trailer load to keep her company.
I used to hate my father coming out with this, but I'm now learning the value of "first loss is least loss".
Have you asked your auctioneer what he thinks they are likely to make through the ring? When I do take cattle to marts, I like to know the base line "commercial" value of the animals before setting a reserve to reflect their pedigree breeding value.
Have you asked your local dealer? We have a very good chap locally who will look for private homes for unusual or rare breed stock. He travels all over the north so has an amazing network of contacts, including asking me if I know anyone who would be interested in.....
I did once offer an old cow very cheaply to a home off the hill & the chap went away with a trailer load to keep her company.
I used to hate my father coming out with this, but I'm now learning the value of "first loss is least loss".
Zanfara Dexters
Tow Law
Co. Durham
Tow Law
Co. Durham
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Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
- Contact:
I don't know whether this might plant some ideas, but according to my average prices and weights, 40% of the value of an average carcass is in 20% of the weight. And that is the best steaks, fillet, rump, sirloin and a few minutes steaks perhaps. And that should amount to about £440 of best steaks on an average carcass. The bull I just did yealded about £650 worth of best steaks. That's at end-user prices which you can see on www.broomcroft.com in the "Shop".
That means you can get 5 animals' worth of best steaks in a freezer that would normally just take one carcass, as long as you can do a deal on the rest almost as a give-away perhaps in exchange for butchery/killing!
Edited By Broomcroft on 1199100184
That means you can get 5 animals' worth of best steaks in a freezer that would normally just take one carcass, as long as you can do a deal on the rest almost as a give-away perhaps in exchange for butchery/killing!
Edited By Broomcroft on 1199100184
Clive
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AlisonKirk
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:16 pm
Sylvia - Before Christmas, Dexter cattle at Cirencester Market, Glos, sold for between 20p kg liveweight for a bull up to 48p kg liveweight - not sure if they went for meat or for breeding. The vendor would then receive a cheque minus deductions, so you're probably talking a return of approx £70 -£80 per animal.
Sometimes in farming, circumstances mean you have to sell at less than or whatever you can get for your livestock. I am sure it would be better for you to do that than bring them home & arrange for them to be shot with all the upset & extra costs. Most farmers at some time have had to sell & accept whatever bid their animals reach.
See if your current abattoir would slaughter/hang & pack for you. If you can get that sorted, you will then be in a position to go out and sell the beef to pub/restaurants. To save costs, produce your own literature (one side of A4, with a nice picture of your cattle on well managed pasture and brief details of how you manage your herd).
Dexter beef is for a niche market and the higher class establishments with good chefs are very keen to have Dexter beef on their menu.
Farming is notorious for its ups & downs (usually not of the farmer's making), this is quite normal - we've had years of ups & downs ourselves, had to make decisions, some of which we're not happy with, but keeping our heads down & carrying on.
Good luck for 2008 and keep your chin up. Believe me, Dexter beef does sell itself.
Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters
Sometimes in farming, circumstances mean you have to sell at less than or whatever you can get for your livestock. I am sure it would be better for you to do that than bring them home & arrange for them to be shot with all the upset & extra costs. Most farmers at some time have had to sell & accept whatever bid their animals reach.
See if your current abattoir would slaughter/hang & pack for you. If you can get that sorted, you will then be in a position to go out and sell the beef to pub/restaurants. To save costs, produce your own literature (one side of A4, with a nice picture of your cattle on well managed pasture and brief details of how you manage your herd).
Dexter beef is for a niche market and the higher class establishments with good chefs are very keen to have Dexter beef on their menu.
Farming is notorious for its ups & downs (usually not of the farmer's making), this is quite normal - we've had years of ups & downs ourselves, had to make decisions, some of which we're not happy with, but keeping our heads down & carrying on.
Good luck for 2008 and keep your chin up. Believe me, Dexter beef does sell itself.
Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters
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Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
- Contact:
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Caroline Ryder
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 1:22 pm
Dear Sylvia,
We were very disheartened to read your posting.
As you may know we run a Dexter beef business and are often looking for stock - we generally pay a minimum of £1.00/Kg live wt. and above. More often above as we feel that quality animals are worth the price. We understand from experience that not all Dexters are of a sufficient quality for beef and this has a justifiable effect on value. Being a dedicated Dexter beef outlet we charge a premium price for our beef and thereby get a good return.
It is a sad fact that there are plenty of cull cows of all breeds that rattle through the mart and we know of many that go for beef for as little as £20.00 per head. Your abbatoir will be facing ever greater restrictions and they like everyone else want to maximise profit in the shortest/easiest way and unfortunately an animal weighing 600kg takes as much work as one of less than 400kg (which is often the weight with Dexters) and there is a lesser value on the hide.
Having said all this do not lose faith - when the new Council of management is in place we must lobby them to get a database going for these surplus animals and help each other as breeders to raise the standard and profile of the beef and make it a commodity that people want to pay a premium for.
Martyn and Caroline Ryder
Pike End Farm
We were very disheartened to read your posting.
As you may know we run a Dexter beef business and are often looking for stock - we generally pay a minimum of £1.00/Kg live wt. and above. More often above as we feel that quality animals are worth the price. We understand from experience that not all Dexters are of a sufficient quality for beef and this has a justifiable effect on value. Being a dedicated Dexter beef outlet we charge a premium price for our beef and thereby get a good return.
It is a sad fact that there are plenty of cull cows of all breeds that rattle through the mart and we know of many that go for beef for as little as £20.00 per head. Your abbatoir will be facing ever greater restrictions and they like everyone else want to maximise profit in the shortest/easiest way and unfortunately an animal weighing 600kg takes as much work as one of less than 400kg (which is often the weight with Dexters) and there is a lesser value on the hide.
Having said all this do not lose faith - when the new Council of management is in place we must lobby them to get a database going for these surplus animals and help each other as breeders to raise the standard and profile of the beef and make it a commodity that people want to pay a premium for.
Martyn and Caroline Ryder
Pike End Farm