Mules are still supreme

Agrivator

Member
Part of the report from the recent Kirkby Stephen sale of 10,580 Mule Gimmer (ewe) Lambs. :)


''After a couple of years of some sheep producers looking to alternative breeds of sheep, the North of England Mule Gimmer lamb bounces back to prove herself as possibly the most resilient longstanding and prolific breeding sheep in the UK and this resulted in an abundance of sheep producers from Aberdeen in the north to Cornwall in the South being present keen to secure Mule Gimmer Lambs.

Aside from top pens the strongest well bred tupping lambs met fantastic competition from start to finish with plenty of these selling from between £125-£150 regardless of the size of pens.''
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
“DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highlands Marts Ltd, (September, 14th) sold 3,907 ewe lambs and gimmers at the Highland Mule Breeders Association annual show and sale.
Highland Mule gimmers (1,127) averaged £179.24 (+£36.21 on the corresponding sale of last year) and sold to £210 from Mountrich Farm, Dingwall.
Highland Mule ewe lambs (2,743) averaged £112.50 (+£26.65 on the corresponding year) and sold to £155 from Milton Farm, Aberarder.”
 

sean m

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Northants
Part of the report from the recent Kirkby Stephen sale of 10,580 Mule Gimmer (ewe) Lambs. :)


''After a couple of years of some sheep producers looking to alternative breeds of sheep, the North of England Mule Gimmer lamb bounces back to prove herself as possibly the most resilient longstanding and prolific breeding sheep in the UK and this resulted in an abundance of sheep producers from Aberdeen in the north to Cornwall in the South being present keen to secure Mule Gimmer Lambs.

Aside from top pens the strongest well bred tupping lambs met fantastic competition from start to finish with plenty of these selling from between £125-£150 regardless of the size of pens.''
this year maybe,all the arable boys/estates jumping on the back of a good lamb trade,easy to source,plenty about etc,ideal for the man that has little idea of the job and does'nt intend been in it to long :)
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Part of the report from the recent Kirkby Stephen sale of 10,580 Mule Gimmer (ewe) Lambs. :)


''After a couple of years of some sheep producers looking to alternative breeds of sheep, the North of England Mule Gimmer lamb bounces back to prove herself as possibly the most resilient longstanding and prolific breeding sheep in the UK and this resulted in an abundance of sheep producers from Aberdeen in the north to Cornwall in the South being present keen to secure Mule Gimmer Lambs.

Aside from top pens the strongest well bred tupping lambs met fantastic competition from start to finish with plenty of these selling from between £125-£150 regardless of the size of pens.''

Haven’t the sale reports from mule sales (& all other sales come to that) always spoken of buyers coming from all ends of the country?:scratchhead:

‘Paper never refuses ink’ is the old saying, and never more try than when an auctioneer starts writing a report.
 

Bracklandbarn

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Suffolk
But you can’t compare popularity of Mules over other breeds by their public selling tactics surely? 🤨 Other maternal breeds in the UK are popular because shepherds want to know a bit more about the sheep they are working with I.e closed flocks, genetics, disease risk etc... so more private sales. How else are you to sell a mule if you can’t tart it up admire it pretty face in a market? 😉
 
But you can’t compare popularity of Mules over other breeds by their public selling tactics surely? 🤨 Other maternal breeds in the UK are popular because shepherds want to know a bit more about the sheep they are working with I.e closed flocks, genetics, disease risk etc... so more private sales. How else are you to sell a mule if you can’t tart it up admire it pretty face in a market? 😉
The last bit is the worst part of it all
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
But you can’t compare popularity of Mules over other breeds by their public selling tactics surely? 🤨 Other maternal breeds in the UK are popular because shepherds want to know a bit more about the sheep they are working with I.e closed flocks, genetics, disease risk etc... so more private sales. How else are you to sell a mule if you can’t tart it up admire it pretty face in a market? 😉


But mind on these old boys bidding away on these pretty faces are hell bent on winning her... to make up for the failure in their youth when they thought they were it, but didn't get that pretty face in the nightclub


They won't be runner up twice ;)
 
Talking to a neighbour today who was planning on cutting mule lamb production down a touch and keeping more mule ewes.
The fortnight getting them tarted up for the sale was unpleasing for him when he has other jobs looking at him.
I reminded him how much they had gone up by this year and to think carefully before making his decision
Replacement draft Swale ewe depreciation was mentioned too
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Talking to a neighbour today who was planning on cutting mule lamb production down a touch and keeping more mule ewes.
The fortnight getting them tarted up for the sale was unpleasing for him when he has other jobs looking at him.
I reminded him how much they had gone up by this year and to think carefully before making his decision
Replacement draft Swale ewe depreciation was mentioned too


One of the most prominent Scotch Mule breeders in this area who has always sold 400 first draw lambs at the Nithsdale Trophy Scotch Mule Ewe Lamb Sale (Thornhill, now Dumfries) - and more often than not won the trophy and top priced pen - packed the job in about 4 years ago. Sells the whole lot privately off the farm. No dressing, no colouring, no drama or hassles... Best thing he ever did he says.


We stopped selling ewe lambs as soon as the face and neck trimming crept into it
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

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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