NEW SHEEP COLLABORATIVE VENTURE.

[llamedos]

Lamb producers can tap into a collaborative venture this Autumn, receiving low cost production advice and bonuses from one of Europe’s leading meat processors by using Alpha Rams.

The Meatlinc Sheep Company and EasyRams, are to supply rams to ABP’s Alpha Lamb Producer Group from this autumn, enabling producers to tap into guaranteed bonuses.

The creation of this new group confirms ABP’s commitment to the long term profitability of UK sheep farming. Group members will receive bonus payments for lambs sired by Alpha Ram sires and produced according to protocols designed to improve both the quality of lamb produced for the table and the profitability of individual member’s sheep enterprises.

Alpha Rams will only supply grass fed sires from high health status and fully recorded flocks. Ultrasound and CT scanning will be mandatory allowing their ram breeders to incorporate the benefits of recent research into carcase yields and meat eating quality into their breeding programmes. FEC analysis will be carried out in all ram breeders flocks, enabling them to produce rams with reduced worm burdens requiring less anthelmintic drenches.

Steven Feehan, ABP’s Head of UK Procurement, says: “Ensuring that commercial sheep farmers have long term profitable and sustainable businesses that are able to withstand future challenges is in the interests of all in the lamb supply chain from ram breeder to processor. By collaborating with some of the UK’s most innovative ram breeders we will help bring about the necessary changes required in the sheep industry more quickly.

“Alpha Producer Group members will not only be receiving bonuses on their Alpha Ram sired lambs, but will also be given access to group meetings and

consultancy advice that will concentrate on developing low cost production systems through improved grazing management, sheep genetics and animal health.”

EasyRam’s Robyn Hulme says: “I am delighted that ABP are giving industry recognition to the message that the ram breeders primary objective must be to meet the needs of the commercial sheep farmer. This collaborative venture will allow all participants to develop their individual businesses through the exchange of information.”

George Fell of the Meatlincs says: “Alpha Rams will offer open access to other breeders of both terminal and maternal rams who are willing to meet our group’s protocols and who are committed to our ideals.”

 

[hillman]

If in a producer group will you get those bonuses ?
15p ain't a lot for gold standard cause I assume that's the pitch to buyers know the mummy daddy etc

Scary strap line profitable low cost production ,
20 kg lamb £3 over normal for gold less eid tag back say £2 , selling a lamb and half extra £3 per ewe is that enough ?

500 ewe flock extra £1500 a yr the advice and genetics would need to be good

Will this be the thin end of the wedge for smaller producers

Don't want to start a mart V factory argument again

 

[Tim W]

Well done Robyn & George---great initiative to get financial recognition for those trying to be efficient through use of proven genetics.
Amongst other things this will help reduce the need for anthelminics and increase the bottom line for many producers

 

[focussed]

Looks very interesting - would like to know more!

 

[neilo]

If in a producer group will you get those bonuses ?
15p ain't a lot for gold standard cause I assume that's the pitch to buyers know the mummy daddy etc

Scary strap line profitable low cost production ,
20 kg lamb £3 over normal for gold less eid tag back say £2 , selling a lamb and half extra £3 per ewe is that enough ?

500 ewe flock extra £1500 a yr the advice and genetics would need to be good

Will this be the thin end of the wedge for smaller producers

Don't want to start a mart V factory argument again

All lambs here have to have an EID tag anyway now, so you're looking at £4.50 per ewe (at 150%), so 'potentially' £2250 for a 500 ewe flock.

A lot of the management requirements to sell 'Gold' lambs are probably not a bad thing to adopt anyway. If you get paid a premium to encourage you to achieve them, what's not to like, apart from having to pay a premium price on the rams used of course.

A cynic might wonder why ABP are trying to encourage low cost production, and whether they are planning for the day when they can pay even less for lamb? Maybe they genuinely want to increase the producer's bottom line?

 

[Tim W]

A cynic might wonder why ABP are trying to encourage low cost production, and whether they are planning for the day when they can pay even less for lamb? Maybe they genuinely want to increase the producer's bottom line?

MY guess is that ABP (like most of us) recognise that the price of lamb can only rise to the detriment of sales & so maintaining the present price to consumers is important
It is therefore to everyone's advantage to try and find a lower COP via reduced inputs and improved systems...for instance they recognise that well managed grass is one of the cheapest feeds available to ruminants and that the anthelmintic option for parasite control is becoming smaller every day , alternatives need to be found

 

[easyram1]

Although I am not an official ABP spokesperson the thinking behind this whole scheme is as follows. If individual sheep farmers are unable to make a profit in the future they will reduce sheep numbers or go out of sheep entirely. If there are less sheep around there are less sheep for an abattoir to kill and an abattoir running at less than optimal capacity will be a much less sustainable operation. So ABP like all of us in the sheep industry want commercial sheep farmers to make a profit.
The question then is how to you ensure that commercial sheep farmers run profitable enterprises particularly in the longer term post Brexit. ABP representatives have over the years heard Global Ovine speak at various EasyRam meetings and are in total agreement with his analysis of what makes for a profitable sheep system in a post or reduced subsidy era.
I am sure that GO is able to encapsulate his own views better than me but in a nutshell he has said that the NZ post subsidy removal they had to learn to grow more and better grass ( largely through rotational grazing ) and at the same time they had to use better sheep genetics that could make optimum use of the grass. He also constantly emphasises the critical importance of cost reduction through more functional sheep and better overall management within your own farm gate. So basically ABP want sheep farmers to follow the GO route to ensure that everyone in the lamb supply chain is still in business in five or ten years time and they are prepared to put money into the industry ( not just the bonuses but more importantly the free advice etc )
So I am not a cynic but I do think that ABP are to be applauded for taking this proactive stand

 

[liammogs]

Whats wrong with just improving your own stock to hit the better grades etc!! Enough people telling us what to do now without them telling us what stock to keep and not to keep!!

 

[hillman]

Looking at the grid for grades my question will the average grade drop to R for the majority of partaking farmers?

Is it an attempt by the factory to break producer groups by maybe insisting that the above will become the normal standard ?

We can lower our cop to nill but if nothing is been put into marketing and introducing new products it won't matter ?

What is the expected cost bonus apart from the lamb price producers can expect to see will it add as much again to bottom line as lamb bonus ?

Feel it's just another layer to support that are making a living off farming

Hats off to @easyram1 and meatlinc a great coup and good idea but as always I question abp motives

 

[dogandstick]

Milk marque all over again. Very good marketing job by Easyram and Meatlinc, BUT, why give so much power to the processors. In the end, the aim is to control supplies, and when they get rid of the opposition, prices too. Why are farmers so blind?

And another thing, aren't farmers capable of improving grassland production and utilisation without being linked to ABP/Easyram/Meatlinc?!!!

And Govt. support in future will be directed at no input habitat creation grassland- hardly the way to go if you wish to improve pasture and grassland output. So very mixed messages.

Maintain independence!

 

[Robertollie]

Who do that think they are trying to tell me what ram breeder to use there are plenty of good breeders out there they just don't have the same marketing budget

 

[easyram1]

Milk marque all over again. Very good marketing job by Easyram and Meatlinc, BUT, why give so much power to the processors. In the end, the aim is to control supplies, and when they get rid of the opposition, prices too. Why are farmers so blind?

And another thing, aren't farmers capable of improving grassland production and utilisation without being linked to ABP/Easyram/Meatlinc?!!!

And Govt. support in future will be directed at no input habitat creation grassland- hardly the way to go if you wish to improve pasture and grassland output. So very mixed messages.

Maintain independence!

I do not see how this scheme is giving "so much power to the processors" This is one scheme offered by one processor to existing or new suppliers who wish to join a specific group of like minded sheep producers. It is totally voluntary and the benefits - cash bonuses and advice from top experts are clearly laid out as are the conditions you have to meet to join the Alpha Lamb Producer Group. The lamb supply industry does not and never has had an all controlling body like MMB or its derivatives

Increasing sheep farmers profitability will depend on many factors from better grass management to use of better sheep genetics and more functional sheep as well as improved health management. So I see ABPs efforts as 100% compatible with the requirements of sheep farmers

With regards to your reference to the marketing job done by EasyRams and Meatlincs the Press announcement explains that Alpha Rams will not be suppliers of ONLY Meatlincs or EasyRams but will be open to other approved breeders of both terminal and maternal rams who are willing and able to meet Alpha Ram management protocols and health standards. Criticism is cheap and easy and I am more than happy to accept it if it is justified. All I would ask is this - if you are a ram breeder what are you doing to help your clients make money? If you are a ram buyer what is your ram supplier doing to increase your bottom line?

 

[meatlinc]

I think Robyn and I would agree that this is a start and a work in progress. We have a processor keen to reward those producers using the best genetics and management practises within their sheep business. I believe it is right that those that go the extra mile within their business deserve to be rewarded above those that simply bumble along constantly moaning about the price of lamb.
Our hope is that other ram breeders will join the Alpha Ram Group to offer a large choice to members of the Alpha Lamb producer group. I would like to think this will help the smaller ram producer that is doing a great job, as it will enable them offer market incentives to their ram customers without been part of a large ram breeding business.
I think something like this will always have its critics, however it is not compulsory. You may buy whatever ram you like, grow it how you wish and sell it where ever you like. If you wish to have a little more integration with the supply chain and work as part of a forward think group then by all means get in contact, whether you are a commercial lamb producer or forward thinking commercial ram breeder.

 

[sheepman1]

@easyram1
Any word of those nice Irish men at abp giving the same bonus to us poor easyram users on this side of the water

 

[Robertollie]

I do not see how this scheme is giving "so much power to the processors" This is one scheme offered by one processor to existing or new suppliers who wish to join a specific group of like minded sheep producers. It is totally voluntary and the benefits - cash bonuses and advice from top experts are clearly laid out as are the conditions you have to meet to join the Alpha Lamb Producer Group. The lamb supply industry does not and never has had an all controlling body like MMB or its derivatives

Increasing sheep farmers profitability will depend on many factors from better grass management to use of better sheep genetics and more functional sheep as well as improved health management. So I see ABPs efforts as 100% compatible with the requirements of sheep farmers

With regards to your reference to the marketing job done by EasyRams and Meatlincs the Press announcement explains that Alpha Rams will not be suppliers of ONLY Meatlincs or EasyRams but will be open to other approved breeders of both terminal and maternal rams who are willing and able to meet Alpha Ram management protocols and health standards. Criticism is cheap and easy and I am more than happy to accept it if it is justified. All I would ask is this - if you are a ram breeder what are you doing to help your clients make money? If you are a ram buyer what is your ram supplier doing to increase your bottom line?

I'm not a ram breeder but I buy grass fed recorded rams I can not afford to pay£900 for a ram and this will be more expense which the buyer will end up paying .PS I have nothing against easyram or meatlink you are very good business people

 

[hillman]

@easyram1
Any word of those nice Irish men at abp giving the same bonus to us poor easyram users on this side of the water

They haven't a lamb plant yet......or have they

 

[sheepman1]

They haven't a lamb plant yet......or have they

Lurgan

 

[hillman]

Ah forgot about that , just his moves down south to take over a plant or three !

 

[meatlinc]

I'm not a ram breeder but I buy grass fed recorded rams I can not afford to pay£900 for a ram and this will be more expense which the buyer will end up paying .PS I have nothing against easyram or meatlink you are very good business people

Hopefully you ram breeder you buy from would be interested in being a member of the ram group so that you could benefit. if they are grass fed and recorded, then they would be meeting much of the criteria.

 

[easyram1]

Who do that think they are trying to tell me what ram breeder to use there are plenty of good breeders out there they just don't have the same marketing budget

Hopefully you ram breeder you buy from would be interested in being a member of the ram group so that you could benefit. if they are grass fed and recorded, then they would be meeting much of the criteria.

Don't wish to jump on everyone but we at EasyRams have never asked £900 for any ram and I am sure the Meatlincs are the same. In general terms the bonus should cover most if not all of the cost of a ram that you buy off Alpha Rams over his lifetime