Does the hill shepherd get a fair share of the pie?

[hill shepherd]

Hi all, ive been following tff for about a year so thought I'd get involved. Don't want this to sound like sour grapes because I've sold my lambs store but we run a typical hill flock selling mule gimmer lambs and mule & swaledale store lambs. 2020 averages, mule gimmers £102, mule wethers £70, swale wethers £43, 2019 averages mule gimmers £72, mule wethers £47 swale wethers £22. I know brexit and covid have had a big impact on trade last couple of years and I wish everyone who took the risk on stores good luck but does the hill shepherd get a fair slice of the pie?

 

[Tim W]

Like everyone in the chain you sell to your best advantage when you think fit. Same as the store buyer , the processor & butcher
"Fair" doesn't come into it I'm afraid

 

[wdah/him]

farmering a gamble, just like the stock and shares market that everyone seem to be an expert in at the minute.

 

[Woolless]

Hi all, ive been following tff for about a year so thought I'd get involved. Don't want this to sound like sour grapes because I've sold my lambs store but we run a typical hill flock selling mule gimmer lambs and mule & swaledale store lambs. 2020 averages, mule gimmers £102, mule wethers £70, swale wethers £43, 2019 averages mule gimmers £72, mule wethers £47 swale wethers £22. I know brexit and covid have had a big impact on trade last couple of years and I wish everyone who took the risk on stores good luck but does the hill shepherd get a fair slice of the pie?

On those figures you are about £25/lamb better this time, which sounds fair enough. I know for certain that my average price per lamb sold didn't jump that much, all sold before Christmas. You have a fair point that everyone in the chain needs to share in these good times, otherwise there just won't be the stores and breeding sheep available to buy.

 

[Gedd]

If you sell in the ring you get what they worth on the day

 

[poorsheepfarmer]

Finish your stores if you don't think you are getting enough pie

 

[AftonShepherd]

Hi all, ive been following tff for about a year so thought I'd get involved. Don't want this to sound like sour grapes because I've sold my lambs store but we run a typical hill flock selling mule gimmer lambs and mule & swaledale store lambs. 2020 averages, mule gimmers £102, mule wethers £70, swale wethers £43, 2019 averages mule gimmers £72, mule wethers £47 swale wethers £22. I know brexit and covid have had a big impact on trade last couple of years and I wish everyone who took the risk on stores good luck but does the hill shepherd get a fair slice of the pie?

I get what you're saying, but the store buyers don't know how big the pie is going to be when they buy your lambs. If the fat price had collapsed post-Brexit then you'd have had the biggest share. You can only sell when it suits your system and accept the market value.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Finish your stores if you don't think you are getting enough pie

I’m afraid that this is my most used response when people aren’t happy with the store returns. This year I thought the hill boys (especially if you could hold until after September) had a fair share of the pie. I know it only takes a small wobble with us lowland boys for it too be passed back up the chain but it’s only the same when we’re selling at the other end.

If I could make my living without chasing around Cheshire & Lancashire fencing and moving sheep from August too May I would.... (actually that’s a lie, I’d still do it. I enjoy what I’m doing too much... )

 

[LTH]

Not really no, if there was more certainty in the market then stores and gimmer lambs would be worth more but the last two year’s there’s been brexit uncertainty towards the end of the year but then record prices in the new year.

 

[Nithsdale]

I think the way ewe lambs and gimmer trade has gone, there's plenty of pie in the hills...


If you feel there's not, change breeds and try a different pie

 

[AftonShepherd]

I get what you're saying, but the store buyers don't know how big the pie is going to be when they buy your lambs. If the fat price had collapsed post-Brexit then you'd have had the biggest share. You can only sell when it suits your system and accept the market value.

Just to add I was delighted with store prices this year, long may it continue, but I have no idea where the confidence in the market came from. They've been proven right though.

 

[LTH]

I think the way ewe lambs and gimmer trade has gone, there's plenty of pie in the hills...


If you feel there's not, change breeds and try a different pie

One year isn’t a fair reputation of what happens every year, if prices were similar to what they have been from now on then yes but Im sceptical over that

 

[Skintagain]

How much sub do your get per lamb sold?

 

[LTH]

Don’t get any per lamb sold, just BPS for amount of land you farm and hls type schemes on commons but we’re not in one of those anymore

 

[Nithsdale]

One year isn’t a fair reputation of what happens every year, if prices were similar to what they have been from now on then yes but Im sceptical over that

Ewe lamb trade has been pretty good for the last 5 years IMO.

Store trade has consistently looked decent next to fat trade, especially at certain times of year... Those complaining of poor trade tend to be selling lambs which are less desirable. Learn the market and sell what it wants

 

[cattleman123]

farmering a gamble, just like the stock and shares market that everyone seem to be an expert in at the minute.

Everyone who wins think they are an Expert

 

[LTH]

We sell all our swale lambs finished and get between 80 normally and up to 120 this year, but a lot of folk who can’t do that get pinched, two year’s ago store lambs and mule gunners were pretty poor but fat lamb prices In the January were fairly good so they they got a poor share, people need to be able to make money out of them but the bill farmer who’s done most of the work should get the fairer share

 

[unlacedgecko]

Ewe lamb trade has been pretty good for the last 5 years IMO.

Store trade has consistently looked decent next to fat trade, especially at certain times of year... Those complaining of poor trade tend to be selling lambs which are less desirable. Learn the market and sell what it wants

I sold my F1 shetlands before Xmas as stores at about 25-30kg. £49/hd.

I'm happy with that, as at this point they're effectively by products of the maternal line development. Power to the guy who bought them, I hope he makes a fortune. I didn't have the nerve to hold them past Bexit.

Got hammered on cull ewes last week though (£2 Shetland anyone?) Giving very serious thought to becoming FA and sending everything dead in future.

 

[Skintagain]

Don’t get any per lamb sold, just BPS for amount of land you farm and hls type schemes on commons but we’re not in one of those anymore

Sorry I meant what does your sub cheque equate to per lamb sold. It will likely be a lot higher than any lowland man gets for their lambs which offsets selling everything as stores.

 

[Top Tip.]

2019 second draw ewe lambs sold for £85 ,sold as gimmers in 2020 for £170 . 2020 2nd draw ewe lambs sold for £105 2021 who knows what they will sell for? As a producer I was happy with what I got but I think the buyer is getting a very good deal. I would say that he is getting the larger slice of the pie .