Average lamb price

[will6910]

Having sold my final lambs of year yesterday it was suggested I work out my average price for few years.
2017 avg £65
2016 £64
2015 £58
2014 £75
Just wondering how that compares to other and if I should be pleased with them or not. Considering I lamb inside and house ewes for 3 months a year. I know it's mostly to do with lamb prices per year at same time tho but wondering if anything I can do to lift averages Abit again

 

[copse]

Though you would have averaged nearer to £80 with lamb prices as they have been this year.

 

[will6910]

Only was able to sell 40 or so fat. Rest all had to be stores as they never grew

 

[copse]

Can you make any money from selling lambs at £65?

 

[will6910]

I'm not sure. Specially with having to house and lamb inside. For years did well. Even when prices were low still made good income from the amount I had but lambs been slipping and poorer each year. If I knew what was wrong I'm 100% sure why system worked as it has done for years

 

[copse]

You have quite a high cost system and need to be getting good numbers of lambs to make it pay. Do you know how many lambs you have sold from ewes put to the tup?

 

[will6910]

Not sure fully on exact numbers but sold 190 lambs this year and tipped 210 sheep. But 15 ewes died wth fluke and 30 or so were culled after scanning. Last few years was roughly 230 lambs sold and around 180 tupped

 

[will6910]

Have had issues with fluke and milk issues cause of the fluke I'm told

 

[GTB]

Too many ewes on too few acres for too long springs to mind. Maybe reduce numbers and get some cattle instead? Or just keep cattle for a few years? You should be able to keep a few sucklers and earn a living off farm if you have a simple system.

 

[copse]

Going on your 230 lambs from 180 ewes is only about 1.3 lambs per ewe. When you scan what % do you get?

 

[will6910]

Haven't really any facilities for cattle any more. No crush or herd number any more. I suggested introduce cattle but some have said there no point. Have had 180 ewes tupped roughly since 2012 maybe. Had 35 acres at home and since 2015 have had a extra 15 acres with same number except last autumn I tipped 210 as grass was wasted in summer and baled all I could

 

[will6910]

Scan usually 180% I'm trying work out and record to see where loses happen with lambs but can't find a result

 

[copse]

About 100 lambs missing from scanning to selling. Or about £6000 worth of lamb sales.

 

[will6910]

Should say to last years scan was 150% for cross breeds and the pure lleyn was 185% so had a lower over all scan to. Which made me think that at least s lower scan with lots of singles will mean lambs sold sooner and more chances of adoptions but that wasn't the case

 

[will6910]

I'm not sure where next to examine to see where issues is. Numbers were reduced this year and had fec done before dosing once and said weren't to bad but to dose with such and such and see. They got dose and mineral dose and creep feeder. I'm sure I probably doing something wrong some stage from tupping to after lambing but I don't know what it is or I'm just not able to see it

 

[copse]

Do you have a plan for next years lamb crop and find out what your problem's are? If you just carry on as you are and don't address you problems you will be in the same situation next year. You need to get a good vet Involved and get them sorted out or might as well pack them in and do something else. I don't want to sound nasty but feel your wasting your time at the mo.

 

[will6910]

That's what I'm wondering really. If could get some help with a plan for next year or this tuppijg and lambing coming. The way I am personally I haven't a huge option of careers and for years I loved breeding good sheep and producing good lambs and did well. But last while it's be struggle and il admit even hard to go outside and work with them. But makes me just want it even more to get back to improving things and get back on track

 

[devonbrion1998]

Interesting topic, guys round here have all ave £80 plus,but i guess like me you have not got them away in time and also left with some tiddlers,Im going to run mine on with some cake just to hold them till spring grass then hope for a up in the lamb trend April/May....its all fun

 

[will6910]

I sold my last tiddlers yesterday. 7 of them only got £32 but I know what caused those 7. They were pet lambs that were on creep feed inside. Then senior member of family decidsd they must go out with rest. So went from creep feed to no meal at all

 

[copse]

Flock health plan with a vet would be a good start and a good time of year to do it.