Buying Cull Hill ewes

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
Im sure this thread has been done 10 times over, but I have been offered a farm next door 90 acre lowland pp, (neighbour has been ill ) free from october to april, sourcing cull hill ewes at around £15-£20 and running them on grass only a good profitable idea? Would they need any feed? When is best to sell them? I would imagine cull ewe prices wont be hit hard due to brexit ? Any input would be much appreciated.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Look at the price graphs. On a 5 year average the selling price has peaked at April.

Feeding requirements depends on pasture cover length and ewe teeth availability.
 

DB67

Member
Location
Scotland
You’ll get decent ones for £30 now. Could get £50-£60 in spring.

Alternatively you could buy blackie wedders for similar money and might get £120 in spring like this year!
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
I do it but the whole profit/loss depends largely on the bought and sold price of the ewes. Last year they did very well, a higher lambing % this year with better ewes didn’t make the same margin as the rough ewes the year before did.

Be careful where you buy from. Scab is a MAJOR issue!

If you’ve only got the land until April you won’t have time to lamb the ewes and rear the lambs.

Either buy feeding ewes or Hill lambs? Half 8 week lambs and half long term lambs so you always have turnover as the short term lambs are going fat regurarly you can replace them to suit grass situation. Don’t expect mass profits from short term lambs, the best money is from long term lambs but it’s a gamble waiting 6months.
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
I do it but the whole profit/loss depends largely on the bought and sold price of the ewes. Last year they did very well, a higher lambing % this year with better ewes didn’t make the same margin as the rough ewes the year before did.

Be careful where you buy from. Scab is a MAJOR issue!

If you’ve only got the land until April you won’t have time to lamb the ewes and rear the lambs.

Either buy feeding ewes or Hill lambs? Half 8 week lambs and half long term lambs so you always have turnover as the short term lambs are going fat regurarly you can replace them to suit grass situation. Don’t expect mass profits from short term lambs, the best money is from long term lambs but it’s a gamble waiting 6months.

I don’t intend on lambing them just running the through winter to sell in spring.
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
You’ll get decent ones for £30 now. Could get £50-£60 in spring.

Alternatively you could buy blackie wedders for similar money and might get £120 in spring like this year!

Breeding ewes at gaerwen today welsh mountain from £27 to £31 decent strong ewes even x bred ewes were as low as £40, I would be hoping to buy ewes cheaper than that or am I being to optimistic?
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
Breeding ewes at gaerwen today welsh mountain from £27 to £31 decent strong ewes even x bred ewes were as low as £40, I would be hoping to buy ewes cheaper than that or am I being to optimistic?

The cheaper they are the closer they are to dying!
I know someone who often buys ewes and stores for under £10, even calves. It’s a massive risk he says and some don’t make it but huge margins can be made sometimes, I think he runs a 42 day policy. 42 days regardless of size they leave.
When we could bury on farm it was definetly on, now having to pay £15/ewe if she dies you have to be a bit more selective on how rubbish you buy.
 

Guiggs

Member
Location
Leicestershire
15 -20 pound sounds too cheap for culls, as said above your losses are likely to be higher at that price range, I think you will almost certainly need to put feed into those ewes on that ground to get them sold for the peak in April.
There's money to be made if you look after them, buy at the right money, have a decent market to sell into, get the right feed at the right price, don't lose too many, have luck on your side, don't expect to much money.... and on and on..
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
Alternatively I know someone from near Tregaron way who is looking for tack for her ewes or ewe lambs. PM me if you are interested and i’ll Get her number for you.
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
15 -20 pound sounds too cheap for culls, as said above your losses are likely to be higher at that price range, I think you will almost certainly need to put feed into those ewes on that ground to get them sold for the peak in April.
There's money to be made if you look after them, buy at the right money, have a decent market to sell into, get the right feed at the right price, don't lose too many, have luck on your side, don't expect to much money.... and on and on..

X bred stronger ewes would be better than welsh hill ewes maybe? Full mouth welshies around here barley reach £30 45kg - 50kg
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
Broken mouthed hill ewes sold in age classes used to be a good deal at Lairg.They'd not manage the heather but would do well on grass and chopped turnips on the low ground. Sold with lamb at foot by a Suffolk tup in the spring. Just needed to be careful they weren't being sold for other reasons!
 

Cymro 33

New Member
Old welsh ewes would be you're best bet. They live on much less than other ewe's, And cost less to buy. Spring 2016 ewes did not sell well all winter! Was talking to fella who had bought a lot of ewe's and expected to sell them in march ,they were falling £2 a week in value and costing 50p a week in keep. But last year a friend of mine sold ewes end October/November getting £4 for them! Kept the rest it'll march and got £50 for them! In farming no 2 years are the same!
 

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