Do sheep make any profit

[startinghandle]

I was not going to put this here but I changed my mind
A few days ago I was talking to a semi retired farmer and he knew of 2 brothers that had rented land for rearing sheep but had finished because the sheep were not even paying for the petrol used in the quad bike!!

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

No, for the last 3 years sheep have not made any money for the person who produced them.
This year is likely to be the largest losses of all for most flocks.

Store lamb buyers have made small profits but those who have had all the work and lambed ewes have not made a realistic profit when time is taken into account.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Must be loads in sheep the price breeding stock is

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

You beat me to it. Why are breeding sheep such a good trade this year?

 

[Old Tip]

You beat me to it. Why are breeding sheep such a good trade this year?

Because folk have culled hard the last few years on the back of bad wet winters in the north and dry summers in the south leading to a lot of geld ewes. Secondly a lot are getting out of cattle because of Tb and they lose even more than sheep

 

[Werzle]

Plenty of young lads about keeping anywhere from 200-700 breeding ewes on rented ground while also working pretty much full time making very tidy money at both. Ground rent would be cheap if your willing to take odd patches all over the place.

 

[Boydvalley]

Even when there was more money in the job some people couldn’t make it pay. Sorry to the OP but another third hand story with no detail.

 

[Hilly]

Going by store and fat the breeding trade is unreal ! Pleased I don’t need anything.

 

[Ysgythan]

No, but inflation and tax would eat a hole in the capital if you sold up and moved to town. And you’d be bored.

 

[Jellyfarm]

I have taken decision not to buy all the flock replacements we need due to high breeding stock prices. Only time will tell whether that is right or wrong (like most things!)
J

 

[It was already broken.]

Plenty of young lads about keeping anywhere from 200-700 breeding ewes on rented ground while also working pretty much full time making very tidy money at both. Ground rent would be cheap if your willing to take odd patches all over the place.

That is my business plan in its entirety right there.

 

[jendan]

Because folk have culled hard the last few years on the back of bad wet winters in the north and dry summers in the south leading to a lot of geld ewes. Secondly a lot are getting out of cattle because of Tb and they lose even more than sheep

Cull ewes must be putting some bottom in the market.£60-£80 against a shearling at £100-£120 maybe.Running mule ewe lambs are always a mystery to me,if they are more than £60 or so.Does anyone have any stats to the number sold every year? I guess 100 stately homes parkland,at 1000 a time would put a big hole in the numbers?

 

[michael N123]

There’s money in anything if you get your inputs and outputs organised correctly

 

[Jackov Altraids]

The simple answer is no.
It is possible to manipulate figures to say what you want them to, but what most consider profit, is really a feeble contribution to paying for your time.
Almost everyone subsidises their own production. This is usually done by not costing their time and land rents. Even those doing direct meat sales.
You can make a living, but a profit requires more than that.

 

[Ysgythan]

The simple answer is no.
It is possible to manipulate figures to say what you want them to, but what most consider profit, is really a feeble contribution to paying for your time.
Almost everyone subsidises their own production. This is usually done by not costing their time and land rents. Even those doing direct meat sales.
You can make a living, but a profit requires more than that.

was it not ever thus?

 

[HarryB97]

With the right genetics on good ground or temporary leys in an arable rotation they leave a decent margin. Low capital and start up costs, very little machinery, small depreciation, low risk in nearly every way especially compared to cattle and poultry etc. The biggest cost for most people is fuel and time driving between various blocks of land

 

[michael N123]

With the right genetics on good ground or temporary leys in an arable rotation they leave a decent margin. Low capital and start up costs, very little machinery, small depreciation, low risk in nearly every way especially compared to cattle and poultry etc. The biggest cost for most people is fuel and time driving between various blocks of land

Yes but a few farmers will make it a full time job /hobby just driving to and from blocks of land ‘shepherding’

 

[Nithsdale]

If you're running stock on a single unit, and you live there, then there is no reason you can't turn a profit unless you're paying through the nose for an extortionate rent or servicing a huge mortgage

Too many take land 10miles away here, 15miles away there then waste their day travelling all over and blow their money on fuel going back and forth. Or buy ewe lambs at £100 and say, but I'll sell them next year for £150 - I've made £50 doing nothing and it's cheaper than keeping ewes... they don't do the maths.


You'll never make millions but you can make something with sheep. But keep that quiet, I'm getting fed up as soon as lamb prices look decent every w*nker and their brother pile into the job and f**k it for everyone.

 

[Ysgythan]

If you're running stock on a single unit, and you live there, then there is no reason you can't turn a profit unless you're paying through the nose for an extortionate rent or servicing a huge mortgage

Too many take land 10miles away here, 15miles away there then waste their day travelling all over and blow their money on fuel going back and forth. Or buy ewe lambs at £100 and say, but I'll sell them next year for £150 - I've made £50 doing nothing and it's cheaper than keeping ewes... they don't do the maths.


You'll never make millions but you can make something with sheep. But keep that quiet, I'm getting fed up as soon as lamb prices look decent every w*nker and their brother pile into the job and f**k it for everyone.

A sheep’s prime enemy is another sheep. Ditto sheep farmers

 

[deleted user 837354]

So let me get this right, there is no profit to be had in sheep yet every man and his brother spend all winter carting sheep all over Somerset to eat grass that has grown too long in the fudging rain all for the lulz. Maybe investing a grand in a Hornyby trainset would be a more useful occupation.

And lamb is dear as sin on the supermarket shelf.