Ewes and lamb couples

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
I always lamb 50 older mule ewes feb to sell as couples and iv just bought a load more hill ewes (cheap) so will sell 50 March Suffolk x and mule 3 year olds. What do people think the trade will be like this spring?
 

ffukedfarmer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
West Kent
...and for in lambers??

I’m going to have a major reduction in numbers for various reasons and will look to sell 150 ish texel and Suffolk cross early April lambing ewes. Will be scanned early next month but usually scan around 185%
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I always lamb 50 older mule ewes feb to sell as couples and iv just bought a load more hill ewes (cheap) so will sell 50 March Suffolk x and mule 3 year olds. What do people think the trade will be like this spring?

I think the trade will have gone bang by then, with them being worth next to bugger all. However, as I’m a charitable sort of chap, I’ll take them off your hands in mid-March. If you could just get them on a lorry and deliver them to Welshpool market for me on a Monday, I’m sure I can help you out.:)

Unless something very drastic happens (which has been known of course, remember 2001🤐), I can’t see that they can be any less than on fire tbh.
 

JSmith

Member
Livestock Farmer
I always lamb 50 older mule ewes feb to sell as couples and iv just bought a load more hill ewes (cheap) so will sell 50 March Suffolk x and mule 3 year olds. What do people think the trade will be like this spring?
You wouldn’t be able to value them, good lamb trade always brings out the dreamers who think Higgs will be £200 a piece 😉
Go an get your self an oxygen mask because you’ll never of been so high in your life, price wise!!
 
Are ewes and couples worth anything just now? As in this week? Shortage of grass I suppose.

My lad has decided he’s not fussed on sheep so is going to sell his huge flock of 2 Lleyn ewes. They’re both scanned for twins at any time in the next few days.
 

Mc115reed

Member
Livestock Farmer
Are ewes and couples worth anything just now? As in this week? Shortage of grass I suppose.

My lad has decided he’s not fussed on sheep so is going to sell his huge flock of 2 Lleyn ewes. They’re both scanned for twins at any time in the next few days.

Couples averaging around £80 a life at the minute for good aged ewes .. not really sure how anybody makes money at that but it’s where they’re at...
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
All sounds promising for a good season, it works well for me keeping the older ewes and lambing them one more time. You never sell as many sheep as when they go as couples, people seem to forget they do die and some of they ewes wont be as strong once they kick them out onto some rouge old grass.
If the old ewes and lambs make £60 a life and the youngers ones make £67 I will be very happy. I will probably sell most of the mules (250) if they are on fire and buy ewe lambs in the autumn.
I have just bought a load of hill ewes in lamb to BFL so should be able to keep the ewe lamb out of them as well.
 
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All sounds promising for a good season, it works well for me keeping the older ewes and lambing them one more time. You never sell as many sheep as when they go as couples, people seem to forget they do die and some of they ewes wont be as strong once they kick them out onto some rouge old grass.
If the old ewes and lambs make £60 a life and the youngers ones make £67 I will be very happy. I will probably sell most of the mules (250) if they are on fire and buy ewe lambs in the autumn.
I have just bought a load of hill ewes in lamb to BFL so should be able to keep the ewe lamb out of them as well.
Makes sense. Often a good idea to be selling when most people are buying, and vice versa 👍🏻
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
In lamb ewes seem cheap sedgemoor had 400 averaged £94 best to £120 yet cull ewes were making more. With store lambs at £100 surely in lamb ewes would be a better buy?
They are. Just paid half the prices quoted for some. Of course they are a massive risk, but have kept them separate from any other sheep.
 

serf

Member
Location
warwickshire
In lamb ewes seem cheap sedgemoor had 400 averaged £94 best to £120 yet cull ewes were making more. With store lambs at £100 surely in lamb ewes would be a better buy?
Thinking the same , they seem way out of kilter , suppose some people don't want the work and risk of lambing ,
he who dares wins Rodney!
 

JSmith

Member
Livestock Farmer
I bought 40 in lamb ewes a few years ago an ended up with 12 with live lambs, the rest either had ring womb with dead lambs or lambed dead lambs, 7-8 dead ewes!! Put me off buying other people’s problems!! Vet said toxo!! Ewes with lambs safer bet if you treat for scabb, at least your starting with a life
 

serf

Member
Location
warwickshire
I bought 40 in lamb ewes a few years ago an ended up with 12 with live lambs, the rest either had ring womb with dead lambs or lambed dead lambs, 7-8 dead ewes!! Put me off buying other people’s problems!! Vet said toxo!! Ewes with lambs safer bet if you treat for scabb, at least your starting with a life
Yep , there's bound to be problems out there , but if you can buy privately at the right money that is either genuine flock reduction or they just selling older ewes you may have better chances , bit easier to tell if some one is genuine eye to eye than taking your chances blind out of mart.
 

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