Medium plan for for us will be to cut numbers of suckler cows. We calved over 60 this year in total. 45 to 50 might be a more realistic target and keep a finger in a couple of pies - sell some weanlings, bring some to stores, and slaughter some. The way things are gone this year, the pie just isn't big enough in the suckler game for everyone to get a slice. Selling weanlings below cost just sucks the life out of us. We can bring a good % of them to a level where we can achieve the top 20% price at sales. Where we lose is with calves of a different breed, colour, off a heifer etc. We have no option but to cross a certain % of our better cows to breeds suitable for future breeding and its inevitable that 50% of these are bulls. Selling something that we know is of good breeding and will make a very good animal for a poor price just because of his breed (Non CH) or his colour (mousey brown), is where money is lost for us. There can be €200 in the difference as a weanling, but they will kill just as well as the yellow Charolais. We have tried to hold on to most of these types of animal this year for to finish ourselves.
At the end of the day, we can't blame finishers for not buying our cattle if the end price is not available from the factories. The problem lies with the factories, not with the suckler breeders or finishers. We have been stripped to the bone for the last 10 years on price. One good year has been followed by 3 bad ones consistently.