Getting started with sheep

K35TR3L

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hi all

I'm interested in getting about Herdwick ewes with lamb at foot to fatten up and sell - I've got a few acres of good grassland to use. Please could I have any advice - lambing, what you need to do in terms of injections - do I need an ATV/trailer, and if so, which one? Are Herdwicks OK - I know they're good at escaping and also take a long time to fatten up but also require minimum intervention and can lamb outside (and look great too). How would I sell the meat, too? Which way makes the most money, and do you think ic ould make a profit?

Any help greatly appreciated.

https://sellmylivestock.com/view/listing/herdwick-breeding-ewes-lambs-BCBD2805
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hi all

I'm interested in getting about Herdwick ewes with lamb at foot to fatten up and sell - I've got a few acres of good grassland to use. Please could I have any advice - lambing, what you need to do in terms of injections - do I need an ATV/trailer, and if so, which one? Are Herdwicks OK - I know they're good at escaping and also take a long time to fatten up but also require minimum intervention and can lamb outside (and look great too). How would I sell the meat, too? Which way makes the most money, and do you think ic ould make a profit?

Any help greatly appreciated.

https://sellmylivestock.com/view/listing/herdwick-breeding-ewes-lambs-BCBD2805

Don’t buy any livestock until you have experience of looking after someone else’s, or else full time access to an experienced shepherd. There are plenty complications to be considered and animal welfare will suffer if you don’t, no matter how well meaning you are.

And no, you won’t make any profit out of sheep, not unless you have many more than that and probably not even then.

If you’re keen to have some cute fluffy animals in your garden, get a local shepherd to graze your fields for you for a few seasons and help out when you’re able. Don’t expect payment as he won’t be making any meaningful profit either, but if you’re lucky you will gain skills and maybe a few bits for the BBQ.
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
Hi all

I'm interested in getting about Herdwick ewes with lamb at foot to fatten up and sell - I've got a few acres of good grassland to use. Please could I have any advice - lambing, what you need to do in terms of injections - do I need an ATV/trailer, and if so, which one? Are Herdwicks OK - I know they're good at escaping and also take a long time to fatten up but also require minimum intervention and can lamb outside (and look great too). How would I sell the meat, too? Which way makes the most money, and do you think ic ould make a profit?

Any help greatly appreciated.

https://sellmylivestock.com/view/listing/herdwick-breeding-ewes-lambs-BCBD2805


It could be worthwhile to enrol in a sheepkeeping course at the nearest place of Higher Education to you that offers one. Livestock keeping is continuous learning, and very rewarding for it. There are good farmers who only have a few sheep on a few acres.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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  • 50-75%

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  • 75-100%

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  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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