Broken mouthed ewes on twitter

Hes probably talking about the BFL

Its funny because, lots of folk get on with the mule and thats fine, different sheep for different folk.
But why if the mule is the big "money maker" like it says on a leaflet I received in the NSA managzine... when so many flocks switch to other self replacing breeds.. so few if hardly any make the switch back?

I spoke to someone the other day, who used to be traditional mule breeders in the heart of mule country. the whole family and area heavy on mules, even the husband was a big name and used to judge those pretty faces at shows.
They were absolutely terrified of making a change but when counting absolutely everything up realized they would make far more proift if they switched to a self replacing, heavily selected breed.
They sold the whole mule flock in one go, every single animal, and bought a large amount of easycares, they received an awful lot of flack for it and I believe lost some good friends over it. But when I asked if they would ever consider switching back, the answer was a very definite NO.

I know many flocks who have switched and wouldn't switch back, I dont begrudge the flocks who have always had mules and who WILL always have mules, as I said, different sheep for different people. But why do they get so hung up over the whole "Our sheep make the most money" thing when the majority have not actually tried a whole flock switch over themselves

It doesnt count buying one or two other breeds and running them alongside, as the cost differences get swallowed up if the majority are still run the same way...
Do people only go self replacing because they don't want mules?
Of course not, there are multiple reasons, health and animal background are the main reasons.
Mules are in much shorter supply due to a huge drop in numbers of hill sheep which has also forced some to breed their own replacements.
Why would people switch back?
Well if they made an educated decision to switch to a self replacing system they must see advantages.
It's not like they're jumping off a cliff to see how deep the water is, sane people don't just leap in and out of things.

I don't have mules and don't want to have to buy replacements, mainly for because I only want ewes that are twins and I don't want to risk another flock's disease problems, but plenty have mules and are happy to pay strong prices for them and plenty breed their own mules and do fine with them.
 

Ysgythan

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ammanford
True, so long as the extra costs & reduced output per ha don’t cost more than the extra those early lambs make. There are plenty that have most of the costs but still sell in the glut.

this ⬆️ It’s all about bang for buck on variable costs. If a £ spent gives >£ extra in profit then why not?
 
True, so long as the extra costs & reduced output per ha don’t cost more than the extra those early lambs make. There are plenty that have most of the costs but still sell in the glut.
Hopefully there is no extra costs and hopefully savings if anything.
Keeping grass down to stop spring calving suckler cows from bagging up too much allowing earlier turn out with a smaller calf.
Lambs being gone allowing us to build up a good wedge of grass for autumn grazing cows meaning a shortened housing for some of the cattle or grass can be made to last over the winter and no need to feed ewes.

Late running lambs knock that lower input running of the whole farm on the head.

I get what you mean though, feeding ewes or lambing early to sell now is the worst of all worlds.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I can’t help it, when I see Easycares on good ground I just think it’s a waste.

Exlanas running on good ground

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Charmoise lambs at foot... the lambs maybe don't do anything for me, but fair play to her. They're good stock all the same @Tim W
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Exlanas running on good ground

View attachment 900136View attachment 900137

Charmoise lambs at foot... the lambs maybe don't do anything for me, but fair play to her. They're good stock all the same @Tim W

Maybe you should tag @Keepers too?;)

They do look a tidy bunch of ewes, but when I saw it I couldn’t help but think of @JD-Kid , remembering a post where he wasn’t happy about folks with black spots in fleeces.🤐 I guess it doesn’t matter at all if there’s no wool value to downgrade though.

I was lookering my little group of dry Exlana hoggs this evening, who are running with my dry (shorn) Highlander hoggs. I have to say that it’s very difficult to tell which is which without checking the tags tbh, and have to admit that several of the Exlanas are better bodied sheep just now. You just have to keep remembering that you are effectively looking at recently shorn sheep every day, rather than a ‘chunky’ ewe, with 3” of wool on either side.
I’ve certainly no regrets getting them anyway...other than the price of course.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 35.1%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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