Confessions of the Sheep/Beef Cattle/Pig Addicts

JockCroft · Oct 17, 2023

Suffolkfarmer82 said:
I know of one 9000acre up for sale

One up here for sale, IIRC about 25,000 acres. Anither just on the market, 7 or800 acres and 2 Castles.

Anymulewilldo said:
Christ, it’s worrying how many hill sheep dispersals there are happening. What is going to happen in 10 years I don’t know

If we ever meet up ask me about my sheep clients 30+ years ago. Recon must be about 100k less ewes over the 4 counties. Probably about 20% less. @Top Tip. do you have any numbers?
If we believe rumours, if woodland schemes go ahead another 10k plus to go next year. Some before lambing.

Cant find current suckler numbers, but talking to a livestock haulier during summer, his thinking 40% less cows than 1990.
When I am at a local sale and I'm often second youngest in the group of spectators. Makes me wonder if in a very few years there will even be a mart.
There are a good few young ones there, mostly female, but they are herds ("Drovers", to Sassenachs).

kfpben · Oct 17, 2023

JockCroft said:
One up here for sale, IIRC about 25,000 acres. Anither just on the market, 7 or800 acres and 2 Castles.

If we ever meet up ask me about my sheep clients 30+ years ago. Recon must be about 100k less ewes over the 4 counties. Probably about 20% less. @Top Tip. do you have any numbers?
If we believe rumours, if woodland schemes go ahead another 10k plus to go next year. Some before lambing.

Cant find current suckler numbers, but talking to a livestock haulier during summer, his thinking 40% less cows than 1990.
When I am at a local sale and I'm often second youngest in the group of spectators. Makes me wonder if in a very few years there will even be a mart.
There are a good few young ones there, mostly female, but they are herds ("Drovers", to Sassenachs).

The manager of a farm near me moved up your way with his family and bought his own place a couple of years ago. Loving it by all accounts.
Brought his whole flock with him too!

choochter · Oct 17, 2023

I was busy today. Watching.

Top Tip. · Oct 17, 2023

JockCroft said:
One up here for sale, IIRC about 25,000 acres. Anither just on the market, 7 or800 acres and 2 Castles.

If we ever meet up ask me about my sheep clients 30+ years ago. Recon must be about 100k less ewes over the 4 counties. Probably about 20% less. @Top Tip. do you have any numbers?
If we believe rumours, if woodland schemes go ahead another 10k plus to go next year. Some before lambing.

Cant find current suckler numbers, but talking to a livestock haulier during summer, his thinking 40% less cows than 1990.
When I am at a local sale and I'm often second youngest in the group of spectators. Makes me wonder if in a very few years there will even be a mart.
There are a good few young ones there, mostly female, but they are herds ("Drovers", to Sassenachs).

I know of three estates in Sutherland that used to run 6000 ewe’s between them all been bought by a Scandinavian and are now reduced to 100 ewe’s on one. They are all being rewilded absolute sacrilege. Destroying communities,culture and heritage. All this to satisfy one rich assholes whim.

livestock 1 · Oct 17, 2023

Top Tip. said:
I know of three estates in Sutherland that used to run 6000 ewe’s between them all been bought by a Scandinavian and are now reduced to 100 ewe’s on one. They are all being rewilded absolute sacrilege. Destroying communities,culture and heritage. All this to satisfy one rich assholes whim.

Last year I was told a lot of Eskdale is trees now or going to be trees

JockCroft · Oct 17, 2023

Top Tip. said:
I know of three estates in Sutherland that used to run 6000 ewe’s between them all been bought by a Scandinavian and are now reduced to 100 ewe’s on one. They are all being rewilded absolute sacrilege. Destroying communities,culture and heritage. All this to satisfy one rich assholes whim.

Think its 5 estates mostly ajoined. He nearly stopped the SPace Rocket base,
IIRC rib 1800 tupped ewes, Smr 850 tupped. H&M over 2500 tupped, Er over 2000 tupped.
Not sure if he has Alt yet but another 2500 tupped.
8 or 9 Shepherds jobs gone and most of the Keepers.
The new Highland Clearances.

JockCroft · Oct 17, 2023

kfpben said:
The manager of a farm near me moved up your way with his family and bought his own place a couple of years ago. Loving it by all accounts.
Brought his whole flock with him too!

PM'd you.

andyt87 · Oct 17, 2023

choochter said:
I was busy today. Watching.
View attachment 1142954

Absolute unit of a cow there!

e3120 · Oct 17, 2023

Half a day late posting but me too:

Cattle off field yesterday morning, slurried in afternoon, mucked today. Gates closed for first cut. No sheeps welcome!

Nithsdale · Oct 17, 2023

livestock 1 said:
Last year I was told a lot of Eskdale is trees now or going to be trees

There's only 1 or 2 farms left.

That area used to keep Annan market full of sheep. The market went 23-24 years ago

EDIT; I presume you mean Eskdalemuir? Apologies if there's another Eskdale - don't know the situation there if there is...

Optimus · Oct 17, 2023

Think I've just been robbed.paid £4 to toast 2 marshmallows at the enchanted Forrest!

Anymulewilldo · Oct 17, 2023

e3120 said:
Half a day late posting but me too:

View attachment 1142971
Cattle off field yesterday morning, slurried in afternoon, mucked today. Gates closed for first cut. No sheeps welcome!

We’ll have no heretic talk on this thread thank you!!

no sheep welcome

really! I tell you, some people make me want to cry!

Gulli · Oct 17, 2023

@Estate fencing. Did you get lost after all that moretti?

Anymulewilldo · Oct 17, 2023

14 500gns for a south Welsh mountain tup at Penderyn

unlacedgecko · Oct 17, 2023

Anymulewilldo said:
14 500gns for a south Welsh mountain tup at Penderyn

And those Welshmen reckon hill farming has no profit.

hill shepherd · Oct 17, 2023

Anymulewilldo said:
Christ, it’s worrying how many hill sheep dispersals there are happening. What is going to happen in 10 years I don’t know

If you lowland fellas want store and breeding stock to keep coming out of the hills you're gonna have to send a bit more money our way. Folk think mule lambs have been a good trade but they're a joke really, we've averaged this year the same as we did in 2012, people have short memories and think if they're a couple of quid up on last year they've done well, you fellas are selling culls for the price you're giving us for a replacement anyone buying swale yows needs at least 3 culls to buy a replacement, bps is whats keeping us going in the hills and when we're all gone there's no store and breeding stock for you fellas

Anymulewilldo · Oct 17, 2023

hill shepherd said:
If you lowland fellas want store and breeding stock to keep coming out of the hills you're gonna have to send a bit more money our way. Folk think mule lambs have been a good trade but they're a joke really, we've averaged this year the same as we did in 2012, people have short memories and think if they're a couple of quid up on last year they've done well, you fellas are selling culls for the price you're giving us for a replacement anyone buying swale yows needs at least 3 culls to buy a replacement, bps is whats keeping us going in the hills and when we're all gone there's no store and breeding stock for you fellas

Wish my mule culls made what I pay for ewe lambs…

but yes I get what you mean

although I do think a lot of it is zero to do with the price of stock and 100% to do with outside forces (bloody trees and rewilding) being paid ridiculous amounts of money to do other things with the land. It’s an entirely skewed and unfair playing field

neilo · Oct 17, 2023

Optimus said:
Think I've just been robbed.paid £4 to toast 2 marshmallows at the enchanted Forrest!

Is that a Sunday euphemism?

Anymulewilldo · Oct 17, 2023

Nithsdale said:
There's only 1 or 2 farms left.

That area used to keep Annan market full of sheep. The market went 23-24 years ago

EDIT; I presume you mean Eskdalemuir? Apologies if there's another Eskdale - don't know the situation there if there is...

Did I buy some inlambers from a man up that way in Longtown this spring? Sure it was Eskdalemuir or something like that.

Bob the beef · Oct 18, 2023

neilo said:
Is that a Sunday euphemism?

No it’s nighttime robbery. The enchanted forest is a visual and musical walk through the woods un the dark up at Pitlochry. Did it with the kids years ago. Very good but like all these things way overpriced

Confessions of the Sheep/Beef Cattle/Pig Addicts

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Up to 25%

25-50%

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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