Cull ewes.

Dangerous Dan · Aug 22, 2021

Good Afternoon TFFers.

In recent months a buyer of cull ewes at a local auction has been revealed to have been seriously mistreating them. I wont go into details but im after different/alternative ways for cull ewes with out going to minority cull dealers with little care of welfare.

Im a wee bit soft and have never really liked just packing the poor buggers into a trailer after years of service to be left in a field, some left to die and potentially killed in a way most of us don't agree with.

So I'm In a position now, with a trailer of culls....what other options are there? We thought about getting them slaughtered at a place we use and selling the meat as dog food. Im after ideas, no matter how left field they are. There has to be something better.....

spin cycle · Aug 22, 2021

difficult one for us all.....could you tell your mart not to sell to the miscreant :scratchhead:

other than that.....grade them according to cull reason/condition....ie perhaps some could have another setta lambs in easier circumstances?.....get some more in really good nick so they're to valuble to mistreat?....euthanase the 'hat racks'

find a someone...perhaps a small holder to take them.....fatten + move on as joint venture?

unlacedgecko · Aug 22, 2021

Dangerous Dan said:
Good Afternoon TFFers.

In recent months a buyer of cull ewes at a local auction has been revealed to have been seriously mistreating them. I wont go into details but im after different/alternative ways for cull ewes with out going to minority cull dealers with little care of welfare.

Im a wee bit soft and have never really liked just packing the poor buggers into a trailer after years of service to be left in a field, some left to die and potentially killed in a way most of us don't agree with.

So I'm In a position now, with a trailer of culls....what other options are there? We thought about getting them slaughtered at a place we use and selling the meat as dog food. Im after ideas, no matter how left field they are. There has to be something better.....

Send them dead weight

Estate fencing. · Aug 22, 2021

We sell culls direct to pitstocks, they are all pre stunned (even tups) and are killed 2 hours after they leave us.

Highland Mule · Aug 22, 2021

Electricfencer said:
We sell culls direct to pitstocks, they are all pre stunned (even tups) and are killed 2 hours after they leave us.

I really wouldn't be too bothered about foregoing prestuning for sheep, after having witnessed plenty without. From fully concious to head detached in a fraction of a second with the sheep I saw. Perhaps the examples I have seen were not representative of the wider industry, but I'd say there's a real risk that the "many of us" have fallen into the trap of forming an opinion on emotion rather than anything concrete - a trait that we (rightly) criticise plenty others for doing too.

Not so sure it would be the same for cattle, but only because of the size of them and practicalities of doing it quick enough.

unlacedgecko · Aug 22, 2021

Highland Mule said:
I really wouldn't be too bothered about foregoing prestuning for sheep, after having witnessed plenty without. From fully concious to head detached in a fraction of a second with the sheep I saw. Perhaps the examples I have seen were not representative of the wider industry, but I'd say there's a real risk that the "many of us" have fallen into the trap of forming an opinion on emotion rather than anything concrete - a trait that we (rightly) criticise plenty others for doing too.

Not so sure it would be the same for cattle, but only because of the size of them and practicalities of doing it quick enough.

I've personally non stun killed sheep when abroad and I agree not an issue at all.

I also agree on the cattle. They have an artery within the spinal column which keeps the brain supplied with oxygenated blood after their throat has been cut.

Northeastfarmer · Aug 22, 2021

Dangerous Dan said:
Good Afternoon TFFers.

In recent months a buyer of cull ewes at a local auction has been revealed to have been seriously mistreating them. I wont go into details but im after different/alternative ways for cull ewes with out going to minority cull dealers with little care of welfare.

Im a wee bit soft and have never really liked just packing the poor buggers into a trailer after years of service to be left in a field, some left to die and potentially killed in a way most of us don't agree with.

So I'm In a position now, with a trailer of culls....what other options are there? We thought about getting them slaughtered at a place we use and selling the meat as dog food. Im after ideas, no matter how left field they are. There has to be something better.....

Dog food

what’s wrong with selling it as mutton?? Be ideal for slow roasts, curry’s and hot pots

Nithsdale · Aug 22, 2021

Northeastfarmer said:
What’s wrong with selling it as mutton?? Be ideal for slow roasts, curry’s and hot pots

Waste of a bloody good Kebab that

Guiggs · Aug 22, 2021

spin cycle said:
difficult one for us all.....could you tell your mart not to sell to the miscreant

other than that.....grade them according to cull reason/condition....ie perhaps some could have another setta lambs in easier circumstances?.....get some more in really good nick so they're to valuble to mistreat?....euthanase the 'hat racks'

find a someone...perhaps a small holder to take them.....fatten + move on as joint venture?

Where abouts in the country are you?

spin cycle · Aug 22, 2021

Northeastfarmer said:
Dog food what’s wrong with selling it as mutton?? Be ideal for slow roasts, curry’s and hot pots

selling it is the problem.....local butcher used to take mine for gastro pubs....but stopped during pandemic

Guiggs said:
Where abouts in the country are you?

north norfolk.....remote abbatoir...mart wise

Dangerous Dan · Aug 22, 2021

Northeastfarmer said:
Dog food what’s wrong with selling it as mutton?? Be ideal for slow roasts, curry’s and hot pots

We rear and sell mutton as well. Without sounding snobbish, selling an old swale as mutton is what gave it a bad name.

ARW · Aug 22, 2021

I agree, no problem sending in fat lambs, however I have got attached to my old ewes

Dangerous Dan · Aug 22, 2021

Highland Mule said:
I really wouldn't be too bothered about foregoing prestuning for sheep, after having witnessed plenty without. From fully concious to head detached in a fraction of a second with the sheep I saw. Perhaps the examples I have seen were not representative of the wider industry, but I'd say there's a real risk that the "many of us" have fallen into the trap of forming an opinion on emotion rather than anything concrete - a trait that we (rightly) criticise plenty others for doing too.

Not so sure it would be the same for cattle, but only because of the size of them and practicalities of doing it quick enough.

The killing of the sheep is something that we sometimes have to just turn a blind eye to as a result of not having other options, however, seeing poor/rough/ill sheep bought at auction, dumped in a field and left without due care or attention is something i dont want a part of and due to politics and money, my tiny voice will have no effect of anothers business.

On a soft side, i would like an option for the end of life sheep. Ive lambed them, reared them, lambed them and then what? Id like to have a good conscience option where i know the beginning to the end.

neilo · Aug 22, 2021

As above, just send them direct to an abattoir, then the dealers don’t get a chance to buy them.

Don’t expect to get rich though, if they are the type that such dealers are buying.

Highland Mule · Aug 22, 2021

Dangerous Dan said:
seeing poor/rough/ill sheep bought at auction, dumped in a field and left without due care or attention is something i dont want a part of and due to politics and money, my tiny voice will have no effect of anothers business.

Don't sell poor/ rough/ ill sheep then - keep any retired ladies until they are fit to go straight to slaughter. If nothing else, the price they are at the moment would certainly deter anyone from buying them to subsequently dump/ make them a welfare issue.

Estate fencing. · Aug 22, 2021

neilo said:
As above, just send them direct to an abattoir, then the dealers don’t get a chance to buy them.

Don’t expect to get rich though, if they are the type that such dealers are buying.

In my experience the poor culls make more dead weight than at market. It’s surprising what a lean old ewe kills out at.

Smith31 · Aug 22, 2021

Dangerous Dan said:
Good Afternoon TFFers.

In recent months a buyer of cull ewes at a local auction has been revealed to have been seriously mistreating them. I wont go into details but im after different/alternative ways for cull ewes with out going to minority cull dealers with little care of welfare.

Im a wee bit soft and have never really liked just packing the poor buggers into a trailer after years of service to be left in a field, some left to die and potentially killed in a way most of us don't agree with.

So I'm In a position now, with a trailer of culls....what other options are there? We thought about getting them slaughtered at a place we use and selling the meat as dog food. Im after ideas, no matter how left field they are. There has to be something better.....

Send them to a mart where ethnic buyers operate they will be dead within 12 hours, I have yet to visit a farm where animal welfare standards are higher in comparison to fully licensed abattoirs. They have full veterinary and cctv surveillance.

DanM · Aug 22, 2021

Dangerous Dan said:
We rear and sell mutton as well. Without sounding snobbish, selling an old swale as mutton is what gave it a bad name.

If you already have a customer base for meat sales; I’d suggest getting them boned out and mince the lot for burgers. Sell like hot cakes! Should yield c.200 burgers/ewe.
If your inclined, cook them up at local events/shows/festivals. Depending on your audience you can retail them at £4+. £800 per ewe before costs/time and you’ve controlled the whole process.

Top Tip. · Aug 22, 2021

DanM said:
If you already have a customer base for meat sales; I’d suggest getting them boned out and mince the lot for burgers. Sell like hot cakes! Should yield c.200 burgers/ewe.
If your inclined, cook them up at local events/shows/festivals. Depending on your audience you can retail them at £4+. £800 per ewe before costs/time and you’ve controlled the whole process.

When you see it written out like that it is amazing the margin in old ewes after they leave us. The retailer certainly gets the biggest cut.

Nithsdale · Aug 22, 2021

Top Tip. said:
When you see it written out like that it is amazing the margin in old ewes after they leave us. The retailer certainly gets the biggest cut.

Aye but in that example above you need food hygiene/handling certs to allow you to cook it... a van, gas... your time. You need to process it into burgers

Depending on the event you might only get through 1 ewe a day. And I imagine you'll need to pay up to trade on site

It isn't easy money, sadly.

Cull ewes.

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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