Selling lambs deadweight, how does it work?

[GreenerGrass]

I've about 150 lambs, and have always sold them via box sales... However with lamb prices the way they are I'm thinking I might be as well to sell a lot of them deadweight. But I've never done this before and have some questions

I'm near Frome but I don't want to send them to the market. How does it work to sell direct to the factories, do they have collection centres or do I have to drive to the factory doors. Any recommendations on companies to speak to.

The first batch would be Organic but after that I'm almost sure to be stopping as there is v limited premium. Then I wouldn't be with an assurance scheme would that affect things? Aiming to send them at weights of 38-45kg

 

[unlacedgecko]

I've about 150 lambs, and have always sold them via box sales... However with lamb prices the way they are I'm thinking I might be as well to sell a lot of them deadweight. But I've never done this before and have some questions

I'm near Frome but I don't want to send them to the market. How does it work to sell direct to the factories, do they have collection centres or do I have to drive to the factory doors. Any recommendations on companies to speak to.

The first batch would be Organic but after that I'm almost sure to be stopping as there is v limited premium. Then I wouldn't be with an assurance scheme would that affect things? Aiming to send them at weights of 38-45kg

Contact a fieldsman from an abattoir. He will give you a grid price. Your lambs will earn bonuses or deductions according to how they grade on the grid.
Dunbia have a 15p per kg deductions for being non farm assured.

Some abattoirs will arrange collection from your farm. Others you must arrange delivery to their lairage. The fieldsman will advise.

You can also contact independent stock agents, such as SDS Livestock https://www.facebook.com/SDSlivestock/

And SellMyLivestock recently launched a deadweight scheme PrimeStock.

 

[GreenerGrass]

Thanks very much indeed couldn't have asked for more. Will do exactly that. My breed is a bit unusual so will be a bit of a step in the dark with respect to the grid. Will just have to give it a try, the way prices are hopefully this is a good a time as any.

 

[gone up the hill]

Thanks very much indeed couldn't have asked for more. Will do exactly that. My breed is a bit unusual so will be a bit of a step in the dark with respect to the grid. Will just have to give it a try, the way prices are hopefully this is a good a time as any.

If your not farm assured none of the big abattoir's will buy your stock!

You will need to find one that is export or caters for the ethnic market if your not assured.

 

[lloyd]

Wont you loose repeat customers if you ran out of supply?

 

[unlacedgecko]

If your not farm assured none of the big abattoir's will buy your stock!

You will need to find one that is export or caters for the ethnic market if your not assured.

Dunbia buy non farm assured with a 15p per kg deduction.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Take them to the mart...no need to worry about being fa or not
Selling like hot cakes atm

 

[andybk]

they need to be FA to sell deadweight , and you need a decent number of lambs to make it worthwhile to cover hassle and cost , take them to sedgemore on a saturday (wider market and ethnic ) or monday (fat only but grader will sort them on ramp ) Frome always under performs for me , not a lot but maybe £5 compared to sedge .

 

[Tim W]

@GreenerGrass Make sure you know how they will grade out when sending dead ---if you haven't graded lambs before get some help

 

[hill farmer]

If your not farm assured none of the big abattoir's will buy your stock!

You will need to find one that is export or caters for the ethnic market if your not assured.

Farmers fresh do, with no deductions for not being FA

 

[LAMBCHOPS]

Not all Abattoirs insist on Fassurance

 

[spin cycle]

Not all Abattoirs insist on Fassurance

mine go to independant and not fa....but base price is 20p/kg lower

 

[JSmith]

Get them to store market, lambs off the clock in Ludlow yesterday!! Friend sold hundred white faced welsh mules to average £116 up to £120!! Why finish them at that, get them gone and enjoy looking at the cheque an not having to feed them!!?

 

[GreenerGrass]

Get them to store market, lambs off the clock in Ludlow yesterday!! Friend sold hundred white faced welsh mules to average £116 up to £120!! Why finish them at that, get them gone and enjoy looking at the cheque an not having to feed them!!?

Good prices, not for me as the breeds a bit unusual, they have their balls and I want to know a) they are going to be killed and b) where they are going to be killed. I personally couldn't have my lambs ending up at a non-stun place.

@Tim W I will be in touch if that's an offer ??

@lloyd you are right, but change of business focus, firstly we have a lot more lambs this year than previous due to expansion but long term we're going to focus on breeding animals for sale now built the numbers of pure bred up ? can sell them via boxes but if I can recoup similar without the added work entailed then happy days.

 

[d williams]

Dunbia buy non farm assured with a 15p per kg deduction.

And plenty others buy them out of the markets also never see them split going on the lorries

 

[spin cycle]

Good prices, not for me as the breeds a bit unusual, they have their balls and I want to know a) they are going to be killed and b) where they are going to be killed. I personally couldn't have my lambs ending up at a non-stun place.

@Tim W I will be in touch if that's an offer ??

@lloyd you are right, but change of business focus, firstly we have a lot more lambs this year than previous due to expansion but long term we're going to focus on breeding animals for sale now built the numbers of pure bred up ? can sell them via boxes but if I can recoup similar without the added work entailed then happy days.

looking at those in the photo.....not being rude but stick to the box ......you won't get box price for those dwt IMO and you don't want to loose your customers

 

[Hilly]

If your not farm assured none of the big abattoir's will buy your stock!

You will need to find one that is export or caters for the ethnic market if your not assured.

I bet they will ! And use someone else’s number.

 

[Hilly]

Good prices, not for me as the breeds a bit unusual, they have their balls and I want to know a) they are going to be killed and b) where they are going to be killed. I personally couldn't have my lambs ending up at a non-stun place.

@Tim W I will be in touch if that's an offer ??

@lloyd you are right, but change of business focus, firstly we have a lot more lambs this year than previous due to expansion but long term we're going to focus on breeding animals for sale now built the numbers of pure bred up ? can sell them via boxes but if I can recoup similar without the added work entailed then happy days.

They will shaft you for them stick to box.

 

[farmerm]

If your not farm assured none of the big abattoir's will buy your stock!

You will need to find one that is export or caters for the ethnic market if your not assured.

sell them though the live market and the buyers seem to be able to find them an abattoir home, farm assured or not.. You would struggle to spot a price premium or penalty based on pens bases on their FA status whilst watching them sell at my local markets...

Dunbia buy non farm assured with a 15p per kg deduction.

Last week the average penalty at Shrewsbury for none FA was just 1.3p/kg!


Shrewsbury 11th Feb

Its not a 1 off either, I can find plenty of examples of weeks where none FA averaged more than FA, has occurred twice at Shrewsbury in the past 4 weeks alone... Over these last 4 weeks FA lambs at Shrewsbury achieved on average just 1p/kg more than none FA...

Penalty for none FA at Bridgnorth this weeks was 7p/kg which I guess is closer to 15p/kg DW however that was an exceptionally high difference...

Bridgnorth 11th Feb

Look at the last 4 weeks for Bridnorth and the averaged benefit of FA over none FA was only 2p/kg Interestingly over this last 4 weeks Bridgnorth has averaged 10p/kg more than Shrewsbury

Why are we paying for Farm Assurance, the market clearly doesn't value it!! ?

 

[andybk]

Why are we paying for Farm Assurance, the market clearly doesn't value it!! ?

Quite simply spend the cost of FA on better quality sheep / rams , good quality lambs always sell at any weight . different if you sell grain or cattle of course .
4 of my ram customers regularly top sedgemoor pretty sure none are FA