Cost of contract sheep work

[tepapa]

I gave up this type of work 10 years ago but I wouldn't go back to do it for less than £20/hour but realistically £25-30, self employed obviously. With a minimum charge of £100 even if it was just an hours work. You'd get a dog included in that.

I know a lot would think it was too dear but it's a business not a farm, it also concentrates a farmers mind when he's paying you to mess around in crappy pens tied with string or you turn up as arranged but he's forgotten to buy drench so can you come back another day.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Who needs to shear if you can earn that much!

I probably do 10 or so days contacting a year.

I could drop my rates and get loads more work but I'm not interested in subsidising someone else's operation with cheap labour.

I pay myself £15/hr. For a 12 hr day that's £180.

That leaves £70 to run my truck, dogs, insurance and business profit.

If you're happy with the amount you charge and the volume of work you get, power to you and crack on. If you're not, change something.

 

[hill shepherd]

For example I would love £30 an hour as well, but I reckon I’d get told to do one more than I got asked to work

And there was me thinking £30/ hour was reasonable, certainly compared to 50p / head to dose, but yes I know what you're saying, I certainly wouldn't be paying a contractor £30/ hour to come and gather up and dose a few sheep but like you say, I'm not looking for work

 

[hill shepherd]

I know ive contradicted myself in that last post but I'm sure you all know what I mean

 

[unlacedgecko]

I charge £15hr for me and my dog and handling system, too cheap but if Iv nout on that’s what I’ll come for 💁‍♂

If my choices were contracting or nothing I might have a different perspective. But I can get £240+/day sat on my arse in a truck.

 

[Mc115reed]

If my choices were contracting or nothing I might have a different perspective. But I can get £240+/day sat on my arse in a truck.

I sit on my arse driving a tractor 7 days a week 90% of the time stuffing my face with food watching Corrie for £13hr so I’m really not fussed about taking on any more sheep work than my own really

 

[Moors Lad]

I sit on my arse driving a tractor 7 days a week 90% of the time stuffing my face with food watching Corrie for £13hr

I`d want a lot more than £13 / hr to watch "Corrie"...

 

[Kernowkid]

Very rarely get anyone to help me with sheep work at home. A top local lad comes and helps tailing/hep p ing pre lambing for £12.50 an hour with his own machine. Think I’ll offer him £15 this year as self employed it’s not fair to pay them less for a switched on chap

 

[hill shepherd]

For me its the good dogs that are being under valued here, a builder or mechanic would be on £30/ hr with his tools, so why not a shepherd with good dogs

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Effectively you're a tradesperson if you show up with dogs, gear etc, and other tradies aren't scared to charge their clients.

If the clients aren't in a position to afford to pay someone what they're worth, then they have cheaper options - like pressuring their spouse/kids to help, or the time-proven DIY method... that's where the cut-price labour is

 

[d-wales]

How much do plumbers, carpenters etc charge per hour?

They are skilled labour, just like someone whose competent at worming sheep.

 

[CopperBeech]

How much do plumbers, carpenters etc charge per hour?

They are skilled labour, just like someone whose competent at worming sheep.

A skilled carpenter is at the same level as someone competent at worming sheep ?

I’ll tell you what, let’s both take one 15 year old, we both have ten mins, I’ll up skill mine to worm sheep and you teach yours carpentry

 

[Tomo23]

I think we're starting to blur the lines between a shepherd and a gfw.

 

[hill shepherd]

A skilled carpenter is at the same level as someone competent at worming sheep ?

I’ll tell you what, let’s both take one 15 year old, we both have ten mins, I’ll up skill mine to worm sheep and you teach yours carpentry

Its not just teaching them to worm sheep though is it, you'd also have to teach them how to run a dog

 

[CopperBeech]

Its not just teaching them to worm sheep though is it, you'd also have to teach them how to run a dog

That’s not what he said though was it.

Also I’ve two dogs here who would work for a six year old or a mute

 

[tepapa]

Also I’ve two dogs here who would work for a six hour old or a mute

They're probably worth more per hour then you doing the dosing then

 

[CopperBeech]

They are !

Luckily I don’t dose ewes and probably dose lambs once a year so it’s not too bad

They're probably worth more per hour then you doing the dosing then

 

[CopperBeech]

 

[CopperBeech]

I’m just the driver, they do all the work

 

[DanM]

Dosed 1200 lambs today; so chuffed to bits I’ve made or perhaps saved £600, based on above rates. Plus the sweat spent saved me another £50 in gym fees…. Suppose I could of earnt £250 driving a truck… but then that’s dull and means negotiating the idiots on the road and I’d of spent £20 on food to get fat on to kill the boredom. On reflection I’ll stick with the shepherding