Profit (!) Per Ewe.

[Woolless]

I did wonder whether that might be a way of selling the pedigrees which we decide to keep but then don't make the grade at a year or two old.

Is there a "set age" for mutton?

Anything which has adult teeth erupted (in theory a year old plus) has to be split and the spinal cord removed before it's released to the food chain and so can't be classified as lamb. I think mutton is regarded as over two years and the 1-2 year old as hogget. I got a book about it at christmas, must double check.

Virtually any ewe would do for burgers. I get them made out of the old dears who've done me good service. It spares them being traipsed to St Boswells and then who knows where. For chops and joints, I prefer something 1-2 years old.

 

[MRT]

One of the best (and easiest) ways of increasing profit per ewe is to get an accountant with some sense who understands the industry you are in and where your business is going.

 

[newhollandfarmer]

It amazes me that a high percentage of farmers cannot quote their gross and nett margins off the top of their heads. I know there are a lot of variables and no 2 years are the same, but surely that's why it should be done annually to maintain a grip of reality?

 

[Hampton]

I don't know. There is something funny about farmers. I'm sure they are not making huge amounts of money, but many of them drive new cars. New tractors, feeder wagons etc land in yards. Land comes up for sale and they suddenly find £200,000+ to buy it. Even if these things are bought on borrowed money there has to be some money there to pay back the bank.

You clearly don't understand how mortgages work.
Just to let you know, they are these crazy things that enable you to buy things when you don't actually have the money!
I know I'm being flippant, but when a farmer buys something, they don't necessarily have to have any means to pay it back, just enough assets to guarantee the loan.

 

[GTB]

I'm still yet to meet a poor farmer.

Here I am!

 

[Paddington]

I did wonder whether that might be a way of selling the pedigrees which we decide to keep but then don't make the grade at a year or two old.

Is there a "set age" for mutton?

Had some 10y.o. Wiltshire Horn mutton at the weekend, very little fat, delicious ! Talking to our butcher the other day, mutton is still not that popular outside the Muslim culture, prefer it myself over lamb any day.

 

[yellowbelly]

Going back to the profitability theme, IMO it is very easy to make a small fortune out of sheep. The only draw back is that you have to start off with a large one.

 

[cooksey]

work out my costs every year this year has been the cheapest so far for me! but its still £70/head! no profit for me but only keep 20 at the moment due to not being able to find ground! and everything having to be brought in

 

[andybk]

basically pete if the phone rings and someone wants 1000 ac limed are you willing to say no if the sheep need worming / vaxing / shearing , ? when you looking at the extra up the road
most sheep enterprises and i include pedigree breeding in that,(extra feed , registrations , etc ) cover costs and maybe a bit extra in a good year . Anything you make will tend to be the bit you can save on costs , Unless its a bolt on operation to something else . and the savings come through experience .
Pare it to hard and it will bite you in the @r$e big time .

 

[Only]

my brother done a few sums and thinks 6000 per 100 ewes what does that sound like to others

Very hopeful depends on overheads no rent ,no debt it's prop correct

 

[Derrick Hughes]

£15 a head net profit is what I worked it out to be once.

is there any wage in that , if you employed a stock man full time you would have zero prifit even if you kept 2000 ewes

 

[GTB]

is there any wage in that , if you employed a stock man full time you would have zero prifit even if you kept 2000 ewes

Haven't we all known this for years. I know I've said quite openly that we depend on the SFP most years. Maybe people will start believing me now.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Haven't we all known this for years. I know I've said quite openly that we depend on the SFP most years. Maybe people will start believing me now.

if you can do all the work yourself then that wage is your profit , i cant so all my profit was going to pay my staff, so i sold them , the problem is its ok when your young and fit, but when you get on in years sheep work is just to hard

 

[Sheep]

is there any wage in that , if you employed a stock man full time you would have zero prifit even if you kept 2000 ewes

Wage incl.

 

[Sheep92]

We kept about 2200 ewes up until a few years ago and had to get in a help for a lot of the summer work aswel as the spring, we cut ewe numbers to 1200 and reckon we are far better off profit wise as there is less land rented, no more extra labour coming in and less headaches!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Wage incl.

how many ewes

 

[Sheep]

how many ewes

Anything over 250 ewes, the only reason for this is to justify additional help at lambing time. I'm not saying a full wage can be taken out of 250 ewes, but a £2.5k wage + profit can certainly be taken out.

 

[The Seeker]

Ok so this thread has been inactive for a while thats everyones thought in 2022? giving the sheep Jobs's some serious thought atm
enzovax toxovax
heptovac's
lameness
vets time
footroot injection ewe lambs
ovipack p all lambs
white wormers but sometime cydectin for lambs
click
scourguard
orf scratch
rent haulage
silage costs
shearing
labour
lambing
deadstock
365 days a year almost
sellers costs at the mart the list goes on where do people see the magic figure at in 2022?
oh year and no sfp

 

[Northeastfarmer]

enzovax toxovax
heptovac's
lameness
vets time
footroot injection ewe lambs
ovipack p all lambs
white wormers but sometime cydectin for lambs
click
scourguard
orf scratch
rent haulage
silage costs
shearing
labour
lambing
deadstock
365 days a year almost
sellers costs at the mart the list goes on where do people see the magic figure at in 2022?
oh year and no sfp

When you see it listed out like that then there’s no hope…

 

[The Seeker]

I probably missed several things off this list