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Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 10:14 am
by hazel clarke
Does anyone know what prices were like at York last week?
Have heard they were not good but would like an indication of what animal went for.
Thanks
Hazel
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 12:33 pm
by Penny
Hi Hazel,
there were not alot of buyers, and some of the stock showed that they were coming out of a hard winter, quite a few had horns etc.
The highest price was for a halter trained, nicely presented black, non-short heifer, which went for 580 guineas, a nice red cow went for 480 guineas, otherwise prices were genrally significantly lower than this.
There were some late entries at the end, registered red heifer with heifer calf at foot, which looked good but many buyers had gone and they only sold for 260 guineas! in otherwords there were some good bargains to be had, but many people still felt they were too short of grass to take on much stock
Not a good day for dexters, I'm afraid.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:40 am
by John C
In the light of this would it be fair to say that some of the prices on our Cattle for Sale section could in some instances be a little on the inflated and very optimistic side ?
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:44 am
by Martin
You may be right in some instances John but when I look through and see a 2001 born cow due to calve in August for £400 odd, I don't class that as expensive, do you? I believe one or two people that advertise are a little optimistic, but their bubble is normally burst when the animal gets no interest. On the other hand there are animals out there that are worth whats being asked for them, because of their bloodlines and if they are halter trained, in calf, calf at foot, or in calf with calf at foot. Only the buyer can decide what an animal is worth. What must happen is that sellers must put a floor on the market by not accepting such low figures for their stock, and sending the not so good heifers to the butcher rather than expecting them to go for breeding.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 3:30 pm
by Louisa Gidney
Plus ca change....
Walter of Henley C13th agricultural treatise " and if you must buy stock buy it between Easter and Whitsuntide because then beasts are in bad condition and cheap"
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 3:53 pm
by John C
Martin. You are correct in as much as quality usually demands and gets money .
Whether its in the world of horses,dogs or just about anything its not very often that top quality comes onto the open market.
This is due to two main reasons .Firstly because there isn't that much of it about and secondly because the people in the know tend to be aware of when and where its available before it has to be advertised .
Would it be that big a problem to the breed if dexters were actually sold at market meat value? This would of course where applicable have to take into account a premium for well looked after beef
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:00 pm
by Jo Kemp
Just look at bull prices, for instance.
A good bull is worth his money and the bottom price must be the meat price.
If I (or anyone else) sold through a market the price would probably be low however, if we sell direct to the customer a decent carcase will raise £1000-£1300 gross (my last net of killing and cutting up charges brought in £900)
It is senseless therefore, to sell a bull for peanuts.
I also agree that the quality of the animal is important... though I must admit that a very plain cow I have consistantly produces lovely calves when put to a good bull.
I may sell a bull for less than the meat price but not vastly less.
Jo
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 1:45 pm
by ann
It is quite some years since I have sold anything at a sale but if I do, it is halter trained and has a reserve price on it which reflects its worth in my eyes.
However in the case of York this year, the problem with quite a few of the animals, was that they where their to sell, so it was a buyers market.
I think this may be the case with this spring sale, as last year the prices where not good, probably if it was two weeks later it might make a difference as in the last few days my grass has shot away.
Some of the prices for young stock being so low, anyone looking for something to eat the grass and eventulaly go into the freezer would have got a bargain, but I think people must start looking at their heifers with a more critical eye and if it is really not a good example of the breed, eat it, other wise we are going to be overrun with poor quality, I only do about 4 shows a year, but as a breeder of pedigree cattle I expect my cattle to confirm to the breed standard and really don't accept the old excuse, well they are not show animals so it doesn't matter if they have awful bags or don't look like dexters, because I think it does.
I will now get of my soap box
Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 5:55 am
by Louisa Gidney
I agree, I wish this sale was a couple of weeks later. I'm still lambing around 23rd April and no grass. Traditional date for cattle turn out up here is May 15th, though I like to get mine out in April if the ground will take them - advantage of a dry spring. So, beasts not looking anywhere near their best for a sale.
Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 8:13 am
by stew
hi im new to site but i bought at the york sale on the 29 of aprill im new to dexters but not to stock
there seemed a lack of intrest in the dexters, red were fetching more £
i bought
in calf cow and bull calf £367
cow and bull calf £273
heifer £136
red cow and heifer calf £283
and 2 highland heifers £440
i got what i wanted at not bad money what do you guys think
Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 10:41 am
by John C
Stew , it looks as though you had a Beano ! Good for you !