Getting started with sheep

[K35TR3L]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Plopper]

If it’s good grazing don’t waste it on a pathetic specimen like a herdwick.

 

[Plopper]

Don’t buy any livestock

This is the best advice you are going to get

 

[K35TR3L]

If it’s good grazing don’t waste it on a pathetic specimen like a herdwick.

What should I use instead?

 

[Plopper]

What should I use instead?

Only messing, if that’s what you want then get them , no point getting something you don’t like looking at everyday , reasonable money compared to other breeds aswell.

 

[Highland Mule]

What should I use instead?

What acreage do you have, and what grade is the land? How old is the grass, what length is it and what fertiliser have you applied this year?

 

[Highland Mule]

Only messing, if that’s what you want then get them , no point getting something you don’t like looking at everyday , reasonable money compared to other breeds aswell.

What price were the linked ones? I’m not registered on SML.

 

[Plopper]

What price were the linked ones? I’m not registered on SML.

Bloody hell I missed the link I take back what I said about reasonable money
£90 a life !!!

 

[Fendt516profi]

What price were the linked ones? I’m not registered on SML.

£900 for 5 ewes with 5 lambs £90 a life

 

[Highland Mule]

Bloody hell I missed the link I take back what I said about reasonable money
£90 a life !!!

For cast ewes and young native lambs? Ouch!

 

[Fendt516profi]

£90 a family nearer mark

 

[Plopper]

I can sell you some broken mouth swales with lambs at foot for £89 a life

 

[Highland Mule]

£900 for 5 ewes and various lambs at foot

Old ewes though, and very slow growing lambs. Overpriced by quite a percentage !

 

[K35TR3L]

What acreage do you have, and what grade is the land? How old is the grass, what length is it and what fertiliser have you applied this year?

~10 acres - nice land

 

[K35TR3L]

Old ewes though, and very slow growing lambs. Overpriced by quite a percentage !

OK - that's why I'm here. There are cheaper ones though

 

[CopperBeech]

Ignore this lot, they just want all of the money for themselves. Sheep are easy to keep, love life and you'll make loads of lolly.

 

[Highland Mule]

~10 acres - nice land

What does “nice” mean?

I’d stick by my earlier - five ewes and lambs will be no use on that, so get someone else to mob it. I’d put 100 mouths on that if it were closer.

 

[Fendt516profi]

I can sell you some broken mouth swales with lambs at foot for £89 a life

I'll do some at a unbeatable £88.95 a life