Profit (!) Per Ewe.

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Sounds like you have already made your decision 🥴
Just thinking here we are better off selling the sheep, renting ground out(can grow wheat and maize) and doing some off farm work. Easier life but still not the same as farming your own farm.
Where are you and how much land?
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Ok so this thread has been inactive for a while thats everyones thought in 2022? giving the sheep Jobs's some serious thought atm
enzovax toxovax don't do it
heptovac's use bravoxin 10 it's cheaper
lameness use betamox and NSAIDs. 3 treatments 48hrs between treatment. If that doesn't cure it, shoot it. anything treated gets cull marked.
vets time only see the vet for flock health plan
footroot injection ewe lambs don't use it
ovipack p all lambs bravoxin 10
white wormers but sometime cydectin for lambs 1x white wormer at tagging. Then FEC. Grazing management can reduce the need
click don't use it. Dysect is cheaper, and only used till whole flock sheds.
scourguard don't use it
orf scratch don't use it
rent haulage
silage costs don't use it. Check costs, it may well be cheaper to send sheep on tack
shearing transitioning to shedders so won't be needed in 3 years
labour
lambing done outside. Sheep seen once or twice a day,.around off farm work
deadstock
365 days a year almost relief staff can be employed
sellers costs at the mart the list goes on where do people see the magic figure at in 2022?
oh year and no sfp

I'm doing what I can to reduce costs. And the kind of sheep I'm breeding towards should still do well sold live or dead. Flock is on track to make a (small) net profit this year, as per projections. Sale of breeding 2tooths last year meant last year was also a (small) net profit. Sooner than expected, but has slowed plans for flock expansion.

I'd like to develop a direct selling side, but that takes time.

If you want to reduce your work load and exposure, partner with someone else to joint venture/share farm/contract farm for you. You'll retain active farmer status for tax benefits and subsidy reasons. But someone else will do the work without you having to pay out a wage.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I'm doing what I can to reduce costs. And the kind of sheep I'm breeding towards should still do well sold live or dead. Flock is on track to make a (small) net profit this year, as per projections. Sale of breeding 2tooths last year meant last year was also a (small) net profit. Sooner than expected, but has slowed plans for flock expansion.

I'd like to develop a direct selling side, but that takes time.

If you want to reduce your work load and exposure, partner with someone else to joint venture/share farm/contract farm for you. You'll retain active farmer status for tax benefits and subsidy reasons. But someone else will do the work without you having to pay out a wage.

I did the same, selling 200 shearlings after the horrendous 2012/13 winter (my first year on a new farm too), to help reduce the OD. I regret it now, as it took several years to make up the numbers lost (culls still leave, regardless of replacement numbers). I appreciate that needs must sometimes, but in hindsight, I should have grown a pair and extended borrowings instead.
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
The Seeker said:
Ok so this thread has been inactive for a while thats everyones thought in 2022? giving the sheep Jobs's some serious thought atm
enzovax toxovax don't do it
heptovac's use bravoxin 10 it's cheaper
lameness use betamox and NSAIDs. 3 treatments 48hrs between treatment. If that doesn't cure it, shoot it. anything treated gets cull marked.
vets time only see the vet for flock health plan
footroot injection ewe lambs don't use it
ovipack p all lambs bravoxin 10
white wormers but sometime cydectin for lambs 1x white wormer at tagging. Then FEC. Grazing management can reduce the need
click don't use it. Dysect is cheaper, and only used till whole flock sheds.
scourguard don't use it
orf scratch don't use it
rent haulage
silage costs don't use it. Check costs, it may well be cheaper to send sheep on tack
shearing transitioning to shedders so won't be needed in 3 years
labour
lambing done outside. Sheep seen once or twice a day,.around off farm work
deadstock
365 days a year almost relief staff can be employed
sellers costs at the mart the list goes on where do people see the magic figure at in 2022?
oh year and no sfp

Some interesting points there @unlacedgecko . I would agree with most of what you say but would question the ones I've highlighted in red....

1. Enzovax, Toxovax. Don't use either here but, although we have decent scanning percentages we never seem to get the 'dizzy heights' that some report on here, so, just wonder if we have something 'in the background' that could be improved by vaccinating :scratchhead:
Would need to cost it out to see how many more lambs we'd need.

2. Bravoxin. Already using it on the ewes but our lamb losses when we've tried not vaccinating have been mainly pasturella so stuck with ovivac/heptavac. Just wish another manufacturer would come up with something in competition.

Dysect. Already use it (can't get a full fly season down here with Click anyway) but use Ectofly on lambs as we sell live and Dysect spoils the look of lambs.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I did the same, selling 200 shearlings after the horrendous 2012/13 winter (my first year on a new farm too), to help reduce the OD. I regret it now, as it took several years to make up the numbers lost (culls still leave, regardless of replacement numbers). I appreciate that needs must sometimes, but in hindsight, I should have grown a pair and extended borrowings instead.

I had no further borrowing available and loss of the pig units left me without any other income. Fortunately I don't have your health status complications, and an excellent agent keeps me well supplied with draft ewes.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
The Seeker said:
Ok so this thread has been inactive for a while thats everyones thought in 2022? giving the sheep Jobs's some serious thought atm
enzovax toxovax don't do it
heptovac's use bravoxin 10 it's cheaper
lameness use betamox and NSAIDs. 3 treatments 48hrs between treatment. If that doesn't cure it, shoot it. anything treated gets cull marked.
vets time only see the vet for flock health plan
footroot injection ewe lambs don't use it
ovipack p all lambs bravoxin 10
white wormers but sometime cydectin for lambs 1x white wormer at tagging. Then FEC. Grazing management can reduce the need
click don't use it. Dysect is cheaper, and only used till whole flock sheds.
scourguard don't use it
orf scratch don't use it
rent haulage
silage costs don't use it. Check costs, it may well be cheaper to send sheep on tack
shearing transitioning to shedders so won't be needed in 3 years
labour
lambing done outside. Sheep seen once or twice a day,.around off farm work
deadstock
365 days a year almost relief staff can be employed
sellers costs at the mart the list goes on where do people see the magic figure at in 2022?
oh year and no sfp

Some interesting points there @unlacedgecko . I would agree with most of what you say but would question the ones I've highlighted in red....

1. Enzovax, Toxovax. Don't use either here but, although we have decent scanning percentages we never seem to get the 'dizzy heights' that some report on here, so, just wonder if we have something 'in the background' that could be improved by vaccinating :scratchhead:
Would need to cost it out to see how many more lambs we'd need.

2. Bravoxin. Already using it on the ewes but our lamb losses when we've tried not vaccinating have been mainly pasturella so stuck with ovivac/heptavac. Just wish another manufacturer would come up with something in competition.

Dysect. Already use it (can't get a full fly season down here with Click anyway) but use Ectofly on lambs as we sell live and Dysect spoils the look of lambs.

1. I'm no anti vaxxer, but think in my current model there's little need for these vaccines. If/when I have an abortion storm in home bred young sheep I might reconsider.

2. I'm not convinced as to the effectiveness of the P past of those vaccines.

3. I've not noticed a difference in the look post dysect. But I don't tend to sell lambs till the autumn/winter.

As ever, flexibility is key 👌


You going to the EasyCare open day in Bradford?
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
1. I'm no anti vaxxer, but think in my current model there's little need for these vaccines. If/when I have an abortion storm in home bred young sheep I might reconsider.

2. I'm not convinced as to the effectiveness of the P past of those vaccines.

3. I've not noticed a difference in the look post dysect. But I don't tend to sell lambs till the autumn/winter.

As ever, flexibility is key 👌


You going to the EasyCare open day in Bradford?
I Bravoxin my ewes, but don't vaccinate lambs at all, having cut my shepherding teeth on a farm that did the same. (They lambed 2000 mules).
 
This is going to offend someone in a serious way I’m sure.

See a lot of stuff about cost cutting which I am all in favour of!

However someone the marginal costs that folk obsess over ...... it sort of makes me think their business must be pretty much f*cked. If a 50p a year saving per ewe is the difference between success and failure.

Not going to go into profit 😂 but will tell you that my commercial ewe with the highest gross output last year would have brought in £390. She was a broker. And that didn’t involve killing her. She is still here and set to give something like £260 - £300 this year.
 

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
This is going to offend someone in a serious way I’m sure.

See a lot of stuff about cost cutting which I am all in favour of!

However someone the marginal costs that folk obsess over ...... it sort of makes me think their business must be pretty much f*cked. If a 50p a year saving per ewe is the difference between success and failure.

Not going to go into profit 😂 but will tell you that my commercial ewe with the highest gross output last year would have brought in £390. She was a broker. And that didn’t involve killing her. She is still here and set to give something like £260 - £300 this year.

Is that triplets both times?
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
I did the same, selling 200 shearlings after the horrendous 2012/13 winter (my first year on a new farm too), to help reduce the OD. I regret it now, as it took several years to make up the numbers lost (culls still leave, regardless of replacement numbers). I appreciate that needs must sometimes, but in hindsight, I should have grown a pair and extended borrowings instead.
That’s easy said afterwards. When we bought the farm Grandad sold an 8 acre field too a friend straight away too get some money too stock everywhere up straight away. After 3 years he says he regretted it and when they eventually sell it it will have too be bought and will probably cost us the same as we paid for the whole farm 40 years ago! At the time Grandad was mortgaged too the hilt and needed every penny!
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
This is going to offend someone in a serious way I’m sure.

See a lot of stuff about cost cutting which I am all in favour of!

However someone the marginal costs that folk obsess over ...... it sort of makes me think their business must be pretty much f*cked. If a 50p a year saving per ewe is the difference between success and failure.

Not going to go into profit 😂 but will tell you that my commercial ewe with the highest gross output last year would have brought in £390. She was a broker. And that didn’t involve killing her. She is still here and set to give something like £260 - £300 this year.

Go on then, give us some fodder to chew on.

I’m guessing she had, and reared, quads, without any inputs, and without you even looking sideways off a quad?

Edit: I wasn’t far off.😂
 
Go on then, give us some fodder to chew on.

I’m guessing she had, and reared, quads, without any inputs, and without you even looking sideways off a quad?

Edit: I wasn’t far off.😂

To be fair she’s a rare old ewe. Just one of those quiet sheep you never really notice or do anything with. I’m pretty sure she reared three the year before as well, but would have to look.

It just stuck in my mind that she reared three ewe lambs last year and I sold them well.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
To be fair she’s a rare old ewe. Just one of those quiet sheep you never really notice or do anything with. I’m pretty sure she reared three the year before as well, but would have to look.

It just stuck in my mind that she reared three ewe lambs last year and I sold them well.

Maybe you should have left the ram lambs on, for retention, instead? Use them for a few years and you’ll have a flock of ewes with similar gross output maybe.
 

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