Lambs deadweight

[beardface]

Thinking about selling some lambs deadweight this year and wondered how people go about it. We've always sold live weight through the local mart. Do most people have a contract for fat lambs, or is it a case of ringing the abattoir and finding out what day there killing lambs and how much there paying a kg?

 

[GTB]

or is it a case of ringing the abattoir and finding out what day there killing lambs and how much there paying a kg?

Yes, just that. But different abattoirs like different types of lambs so do your homework first. Ask for spec sheets, min/max weights accepted, deductions for out of spec etc.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Thinking about selling some lambs deadweight this year and wondered how people go about it. We've always sold live weight through the local mart. Do most people have a contract for fat lambs, or is it a case of ringing the abattoir and finding out what day there killing lambs and how much there paying a kg?

there i s buyers for abbatoirs to get to know and that's ok. - we have had contract before -but now just sell through a co-operative which has about half a dozen or so main abattoirs /buyers on the list they get the best bid for us then tell me the price and I choose whether to go or not they also organise an insurance on every lamb we sell and not to dear either considering I got caught when an abbatoir went bust years ago and it cost a packet.

 

[Man_in_black]

Gonna sound stupid but here goes.. Once you've called abbatoir, lamba slaughtered....then what? Is the abatoir actually buying (and keeping) the animals? When do you get paid?

 

[GTB]

Yes they keep and sell the lambs. They usually pay within a week or ten days.

 

[Man_in_black]

Thanks.
After payment, if you disagree with classification of carcass & therefore amount received, can you speak to someone?

 

[neilo]

Ring them up, book your lambs in at the price offered, send them off....... then pull down your trousers, bend over and prepare for the result when they don't all kill out as well as you thought, etc.

Sorry, someone had to say it.

 

[Man_in_black]

Haha that's what I was worried about!!

 

[Johnny400]

Phone fieldsman, discuss when it suits us both to send lambs, ask for price, send lambs in on day, look online that night what weight and grades i have, money paid into bank within the week....easy.

Oh forgot, then look at mart reports in the paper and find that, 9 out of 10 times, you are getting and extra fiver or so.

 

[GTB]

Thanks.
After payment, if you disagree with classification of carcass & therefore amount received, can you speak to someone?

Yes you can speak to someone but they rarely take any notice. Best advice is to go and see your lambs graded a few times. This way the grader and abattoir staff can put a face to your name and get to know you and vice versa. Very often when you see your lambs on the line you can see that the grader isn't far off the mark. In other words many farmers lambs aren't as good as they think they are

 

[hillman]

, waiting a week for the cheque ? Why?
If deliver lambs and wait to go up the line can pick up cheque once through or else in the post that day for next day , same goes for cattle

Too risky these days even do you might still get caught you might have a greater chance to be paid

 

[ajcc]

First lot is usually the best deal you get! (the decoy/honey trap) its the subsequent lot(s) that will more likely have you kicking the dog!

 

[Northumberland]

Yes you can speak to someone but they rarely take any notice. Best advice is to go and see your lambs graded a few times. This way the grader and abattoir staff can put a face to your name and get to know you and vice versa. Very often when you see your lambs on the line you can see that the grader isn't far off the mark. In other words many farmers lambs aren't as good as they think they are

I've been once and two graders were arguing over what the lambs were.
A think it depends what mood there in

 

[CharcoalWally]

Phone fieldsman, discuss when it suits us both to send lambs, ask for price, send lambs in on day, look online that night what weight and grades i have, money paid into bank within the week....easy.

Oh forgot, then look at mart reports in the paper and find that, 9 out of 10 times, you are getting and extra fiver or so.

Do you mean a fiver over market average Johnny?

 

[Hampton]

Do you mean a fiver over market average Johnny?

And for how long? Maybe we should all take them dead and end up like the pig job?

 

[Farmer Keith]

Used to sell all the lambs through the auction but tending to move more and more through the deadweight side now, it is cheaper to send them that way usually about half the cost, no commission ect.

We think the price paid is very similar except maybe when the market is rising fast the deadweight price doesn't quite keep up! You also don't have to spend the day stood in the auction waiting your turn!!

 

[Hampton]

Used to sell all the lambs through the auction but tending to move more and more through the deadweight side now, it is cheaper to send them that way usually about half the cost, no commission ect.

We think the price paid is very similar except maybe when the market is rising fast the deadweight price doesn't quite keep up! You also don't have to spend the day stood in the auction waiting your turn!!

I'm sure you are right, but is it short termism?
I suppose business is every man for himself, but is it good that markets are struggling due to more people selling on the hook? Is it going to be better for us longterm when markets go?
Also, if abattoirs know exactly what numbers they are getting as you have to book them in before you take them, should you be surprised when they drop the price before you manage to get them there!

 

[Woolless]

Article in FG last week said more prime sheep than ever were being sould at auction.

I prefer deadweight, as you get what should be a fair assessment of each individual sheep as it's hung up and you don't need to worry about the prejuidices of the buyers' cartel. But live has its place, no doubt.

 

[Beef farmer]

Ring them up, book your lambs in at the price offered, send them off....... then pull down your trousers, bend over and prepare for the result when they don't all kill out as well as you thought, etc.

Sorry, someone had to say it.

Or take em to the live market, wait round all day, find that they buyers have filled there order and your lambs aren't wanted so take them home. Least you had a fry up and a day doing naff all.

Sorry someone had to say it.

Original poster refer to beef and lamb price tracker, you'll soon catch on that some of us are live sellers and some dead weight.

 

[Hampton]

Or take em to the live market, wait round all day, find that they buyers have filled there order and your lambs aren't wanted so take them home. Least you had a fry up and a day doing naff all.

Sorry someone had to say it.

Original poster refer to beef and lamb price tracker, you'll soon catch on that some of us are live sellers and some dead weight.

I do agree about the time issue, that is why I'm lucky that my old chap loves the market and is happy to do the selling.
I cannot get my head around the fact that by booking them in deadweight weeks ahead (so that they know exactly how many they are getting), before they set the price can be a good thing. I watch the price tracker with interest and people will post constantly about lag times and then moan that dunbia/St merryn/ a n other have dropped the price for the week when they are due to take theirs, despite the fact that the abattoirs know they are guaranteed all these beasts and so play the farmers against themselves.
I've said it before, but I still can't believe how easily many farmers have forgiven them over the foot and mouth scandal.