Lambing outdoors- catching ewe and lambs

[Highland Mule]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever written down what it costs to run a pair of sheepdogs for a year? Including buying the dogs, time spent training at a reasonable rate and all food/vet bills? I’d bet it’s a solid four figure sum - or the profit on a chunk of lambs. I can see why most do it, but I’m happy that my solution works too.

 

[JP1]

Each to their own but you can shout at the dogs if things go wrong and they'll still be delighted to be in your company. Wife, not so much..

Anything said during livestock movements should not be admissable in court !

 

[JP1]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever written down what it costs to run a pair of sheepdogs for a year? Including buying the dogs, time spent training at a reasonable rate and all food/vet bills? I’d bet it’s a solid four figure sum - or the profit on a chunk of lambs. I can see why most do it, but I’m happy that my solution works too.

A tidy amount and when they're a certain age not insurable for the inevitable vets bills either

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever written down what it costs to run a pair of sheepdogs for a year? Including buying the dogs, time spent training at a reasonable rate and all food/vet bills? I’d bet it’s a solid four figure sum - or the profit on a chunk of lambs. I can see why most do it, but I’m happy that my solution works too.

I'm sure you're system works well, but what about rented land etc where the fences can't altered or a pen made big enough that the first ones in don't loose interest in the treats and turn back even before the last ones get there.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever written down what it costs to run a pair of sheepdogs for a year? Including buying the dogs, time spent training at a reasonable rate and all food/vet bills? I’d bet it’s a solid four figure sum - or the profit on a chunk of lambs. I can see why most do it, but I’m happy that my solution works too.

I couldn’t imagine the farm without dogs...not just for moving cattle and sheep but they are my best companion....cost doesn’t come into it

 

[Highland Mule]

I'm sure you're system works well, but what about rented land etc where the fences can't altered or a pen made big enough that the first ones in don't loose interest in the treats and turn back even before the last ones get there.

It won’t work for everyone, that’s true. I have one patch on long term let that I’ve got right for me but otherwise it’s down to hurdles and the likes of needed.

I’d say setting the pens on the right place is the key, and rarely do I ever resort to treats for bribery. But the sheep don’t scatter when I walk through either, so I’ve been known to just catch one in the middle of a field, around the corner of the Ifor.

 

[gatepost]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever written down what it costs to run a pair of sheepdogs for a year? Including buying the dogs, time spent training at a reasonable rate and all food/vet bills? I’d bet it’s a solid four figure sum - or the profit on a chunk of lambs. I can see why most do it, but I’m happy that my solution works too.

I'll have a look, I have a separate column in the accounts for the sheep dogs. I grew up with an old aunt, who did it all by bribery, I was very fit when young!! however we do shepherd on the basis of the sheep coming to us, easy shepherding I call it, but we have dogs for getting them in, and that's also easy shepherding, my wife said we don't need another dog, but now we run up to 3 at a time, all I do is close the gate behind them.

 

[Woolless]

I'll have a look, I have a separate column in the accounts for the sheep dogs. I grew up with an old aunt, who did it all by bribery, I was very fit when young!! however we do shepherd on the basis of the sheep coming to us, easy shepherding I call it, but we have dogs for getting them in, and that's also easy shepherding, my wife said we don't need another dog, but now we run up to 3 at a time, all I do is close the gate behind them.

My older bitch costs £1/day in tablets to control epilepsy and hypoparathyroidism to start with. The last time I did a yearly breakdown, dog costs did come up regularly, I would admit that @Highland Mule.

 

[Highland Mule]

My older bitch costs £1/day in tablets to control epilepsy and hypoparathyroidism to start with. The last time I did a yearly breakdown, dog costs did come up regularly, I would admit that @Highland Mule.

I was gonna guess it would be a couple of grand a year, by the time you include depreciation/ cost of buying them.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Most would have a dog anyway, sheep or not. So arguably little extra cost.

 

[Woolless]

I was gonna guess it would be a couple of grand a year, by the time you include depreciation/ cost of buying them.

The price of dogs has gone through the roof recently, that's true.

 

[Moors Lad]

I wonder if the OP needs something like a trolley cum basket with wheels so the ewe can still see/ smell the lambs and maybe follow it if it has a long handle?
Couldn`t do without dogs here but lambing time is when they tend to get little use. A swale ewe is pretty single-minded with new born lambs and they just chase the dogs well out of the way!! Sometimes I get a knock too ! (don`t always laugh when it happens) They are tremendous good mothers (well, 99% of `em!!) and most of them can count too.

 

[hill farmer]

I think you’d be surprised what can be achieved with a bit of design work on fence lines, flight routes etc.

How would you get sheep down off the hill without dogs, our sheep try their best to get back past you and back up!!

 

[Highland Mule]

How would you get sheep down off the hill without dogs, our sheep try their best to get back past you and back up!!

I’d need to see the hill, but maybe you could ask yourself why the sheep are so keen to get away? Because there’s never a dog with me when I’m out, mine they have pretty much no flight response.

 

[neilo]

I was gonna guess it would be a couple of grand a year, by the time you include depreciation/ cost of buying them.

I've 3 working collies, and wouldn't be without (two of) them. Mrs NeilO has 3 of various types in the house, which apparently don't cost anything to keep.

 

[hill farmer]

I’d need to see the hill, but maybe you could ask yourself why the sheep are so keen to get away? Because there’s never a dog with me when I’m out, mine they have pretty much no flight response.

The hill is on my avatar.
We want the ewes to roam and look for grazing and not sit outside the gate wanting to come in. It makes gathering them up for things harder and we need dogs, 2 wheeler is good too.

 

[Highland Mule]

The hill is on my avatar.
We want the ewes to roam and look for grazing and not sit outside the gate wanting to come in. It makes gathering them up for things harder and we need dogs, 2 wheeler is good too.

As I said, it suits my situation but won’t suit all. It’s a fine balance between wandering and running and I seem to have sheep that get it right.

 

[steveR]

Each to their own but you can shout at the dogs if things go wrong and they'll still be delighted to be in your company. Wife, not so much..

Ahhhhh!

That's where I have gone wrong!!

 

[Greythundercloudys]

Iv a neighbour who hasn't a dog about the place and the carry on he has get ewes and lmbs in threw the summer is terrible, running about with a couple of quads isn't the same. Sometimes he has to give up and try another day. If he spent some money on a dog, he probably couldn't work it. But he spends it on plenty other things.

 

[steveR]

Just wanted to ask while this years lambing is still fresh in the mind.

My flock lambs outdoors in May, this year, despite giving them several hours to bond first. I found it hard catching the ewes once they had lambed,

I would either catch lambs, have her follow me into a pen, or failing that put lambs into the pen and chase the ewe with quad into the pen.

First technique didn't always work, ewe sometimes gave up despite seeing, smelling and hearing lambs in hand, returning to the last spot she'd seen them.

Second technique of chasing, tired out the ewe, adding unnecessary stress, burning up fuel for fun.

Would be great to have a better way of doing things for next year.

Thanks

I feel your pain!

No dog, and not enough sheep to warrant a big investment in permanent fencing on a wider scale.

Next year, I am aiming for 4 lambing paddocks, and get the ewes used to moving around them, so I when we move ewes and lambs, it will go more easily... This year was not an option after having enzo...