Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge podcast to discuss what beef price you can afford to pay for stock, what impact costs will have on the bottom line and what price will be needed to cover these costs.

Aidan explains that the national kill has increased by 58,000 cattle so far this year and while obviously costs have risen, he compares how prices have increased in comparison to this time last year with an increase of €200/head paid at purchase.

Farmers that are doing up budgets at the moment are buying a continental steer 550kgs and paying €1,573 or €2.86kg needing €5.02 for a breakeven price. A similar price would be needed for heifers.

Aidan outlined that farmers only buying these type of steers next October and finishing them over the winter would need a breakeven price of €5.43 in spring 2023.

He also advised farmers that they need to maximise weight gain from grass steers over the summer and make high quality silage to feed to cattle intended to finish next winter.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

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