Local Cattle prices Australia

[malleefarmer]

Fyi

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[westernvicki]

The cattle industry in Canada is just not a good business model.
Many sales averaged this fall just over 1000 per animal, and today I was told after a few months of expensive feed returns are not much higher. Well below previous averages, and costs are higher.

Australia has a strong export processing market Canada,on the other hand have all but ignored our beef processing industry, custom processing is limited.

From the food guide to the environmentalists, seems no one is cow friendly these days, and certainly unless you own a lot of marginal land, there is not good reason to invest right now.

God rest your cows.

[grassfarmer]

The cattle industry in Canada is just not a good business model.
Many sales averaged this fall just over 1000 per animal, and today I was told after a few months of expensive feed returns are not much higher. Well below previous averages, and costs are higher.

Australia has a strong export processing market Canada,on the other hand have all but ignored our beef processing industry, custom processing is limited.

From the food guide to the environmentalists, seems no one is cow friendly these days, and certainly unless you own a lot of marginal land, there is not good reason to invest right now.

God rest your cows.

The comments about price are largely true but widely under reported. Cattlemens associations etc continue to talk about "strong prices" to keep ranchers doing what they do. Many cull cows on the eastern prairies traded around $55/cwt from late October to Christmas this year (easily the lowest since BSE days) yet not a peep from anyone in a position of office.

Canada also has a strong export processing market although it accounts for closer to 50% of Cdn production than the 70% Australia's does. The "big" processing industry in Canada has not been ignored it has been lavishly supported with tax payer dollars pre, during and post BSE - The Brooks plant through its IBP, Tyson, Nillsson and now JBS ownership. Cargill have been supported continuously throughout this period.

Custom processing is limited, that's for sure and Governments at all levels, and of all parties have fought to ensure that. When we tried to build independent processing capacity to get our product to higher price international markets and break the stranglehold of the North American packer we were fought tooth and nail. This corporate control continues to be the # problem causing low to negative returns for ranchers and as long as it continues the cow herd will continue to drift lower.

[westernvicki]

Great summary.

As Brad Wall notes: if we don't fight back they will shut down agriculture like they shut down the tar sands.

But when our own government fails to see the need for the 4 legged factory in the protein supply and feed grain utilization equation and processing capacity its' difficult for the individual to have much impact.

The song "mama don't let your babies grow up to have cows boys" is a sober economic reality.

Been a tough February, expensive feed, prices lousy, but Bill Geates will make a fortune off of meatless burgers soon.

[GDR]

Agreed cattle economics are poor in Canada relative to other potential business ventures. We keep around 70 cows as "converters" for poor ground and other sub par ag products like hailed crops, light grain etc. They fit nice into our operation and do provide economic benefit no question.

What I dont understand is the desire to be a beef rancher at all costs. No question margins are thin and have always been. What blows my mind is everytime there is potential to increase margins, as an industry we do everything we can to erase them. We've had a handfull of good calf prices the last few years but then bred cow prices soar, guys doubled the price of cows here the last couple years paying 32 to 3500 a cow... Why? Even last fall going into a winter with feed trading close to $200 a bale and heifers still $2500.

Same as crop rental, pasture rent has gone cutthroat and overpriced.

Just dont see why there is such a draw for guys to jump in or expand even if it means eliminating margins.

[grassfarmer]

...... but Bill Geates will make a fortune off of meatless burgers soon.

I don't know that Bill Gates is the biggest problem on that front - it's the very companies who process our cattle who are backing it. Based merely on the premise they can make more money off the pea farmer than they can off the rancher.

http://www.cbinsights.com/research/tyson-cargill-meatless-future/ http://https://www.cbinsights.com/research/tyson-cargill-meatless-future/



GDR, Too many oilfield cowboys in Alberta. It's living the dream - what's more iconic than being a cowboy? Lose money raising cattle and subsidizing it with off farm income - tax write off while building/holding real estate values for the future.

[westernvicki]

We are witnessing the single largest food revolution in history: plant based protein and cell based meats.
That is where the big money is headed. Factory meat, clean meat is the handle, is in the future, but first of all you need to destroy the cow.

I saw Bill Geates on TV today: seems if a cow eats grass she produces methane, if grass rots uneaten and produces zero protein and becomes a fire hazard that appears to be the better choice.
Thousands of jets everyday, the fashion & cosmetic industry polluting the world, but really it is the cows fault.

Real food, as mother nature intended or factory food, we will likely live long enough to see the change, with big money at stake, the lure of open range, blue sky, mountain air is a great story, lets hope is not history soon.

Brad Wall is right, we need to know what we are up against.

[westernvicki]

For dinner, fillets of beef or venison, pheasant, or salmon come from farms in Sandringham and Balmoral.
Shutterstock / Denis Kornilov
The meat is turned into Gaelic steak, and served with a sauce of mushroom, cream and whisky. She also loves a Sunday roast, when it's served well done.

From "What the Queen eats and drinks"
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/what-the-queen-eats-and-drinks-breakfast-lunch-dinner-a7602121.html

Maybe we could get a little boost of popularity as it seems the Her Majesty the Queen likes beef~
and indeed it does seem to have kept the Royal family in top shape and aging well.


Real proof that real food has long standing results.

[malleefarmer]

For your interest