Gimmer lambs or shearlings

[poorsheepfarmer]

Got 6k to spend, 46 shearlings @ £130 or 75 running lambs @ £80?

 

[David.]

Got 6k to spend, 46 shearlings @ £130 or 75 running lambs @ £80?

I'd have the runners. They are closer to the price of what I am selling, and 2015 mid April born lambs probably won't be a bonanza.

 

[S J H]

Have the shearlings lambed?

 

[BELOWAVERAGE]

I'd have the running lambs put them on some good keep and put a tup in.

 

[poorsheepfarmer]

Have the shearlings lambed?

No

 

[Hillfarmer18]

I'd go for the lambs myself

 

[farmerclare]

I'd definitely go for the lambs put them to the tup if they're big enough.

 

[harperfarmer]

lambs, but wouldnt tup them

 

[GTB]

Or buy some draft hill ewes. Plenty of 3/4 yr olds in Dolgellau for £30 to £40. It's a no brainer as far as return on capital is concerned.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Lambs if they are big enough to tup otherwise cast ewes, forget the shearlings.

 

[$Sheep]

The best buy will depend on what you regard as a satisfactory return on your investment.
Are the two age groups of the same breeding? If not what is the preferred breed choice between the two?
Are both age groups in a ready condition to take a tup given your requirements for liveweight, condition score, animal health vaccination and drench and other?
The quoted price differential between the two age groups reflects what? Is it simply market pricing regardless of quality or is there a premium price being paid on the shearlings having known breeding qualities i.e. bred from a high index tup or vice versa a discount on the lambs?
If all things being equal I would generally favour the shearlings as the return from the next production season is more known with less likelihood of losses.

 

[CopperBeech]

Aye, you could buy 100 or so draft ewes, and a good tup and probably get a better return on your investment!