Just wondering people’s opinions on wether this would be viable or not. I have been approached by a local arable/suckler farm about keeping sheep on their ground in return for a share in my flock of 150 ewes. Instead I was going to put forward a proposal where by we each bought 100 ewes and joined them together as one 200 ewe flock, I would be doing all of the work, have them at their farm for autumn/winter grazing, and at mine for lambing, spring and summer grazing. I was thinking a 60/40 split in my favour of the lamb crop in return for doing the shepherding and all other associated costs. Does this sound about right?
Sheep farming proposition
- Thread starter Db1490
- Start date
- Location
- Scottsih Borders
If they are just grazing your neighbour's ground for say 6 months, that might be worth £20/head. So, if you could buy the extra 100 ewes yourself, would your neighbour be happy to accept £4000?
But owning half the flock would make them a bit more involved and committed.
But owning half the flock would make them a bit more involved and committed.
Thanks hadn’t looked at it that way, he’s looking to have a share in the sheep, hence why I thought about keeping my ewes separate and starting a second flock with him so if things got ugly i would still have my ewes, but can see there would be more profit if I owned them all.
- Location
- Scottsih Borders
I'll have a think about it today. Maybe he could have his own pack of, say, 20 ewes of his choice (plus the use of your tups) and you split the sale value of their lambs. So £3000 to him for the grazing, and approx £1000 (+or-) to him for the lambs
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Why doesn't he just buy a flock and let you manage it for him?
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
You need to be very careful , things can turn ugly quite quickly , sheep are notorious for profitability and health issues , i personally would keep my own flock and manage theirs separately, share the rams , is fencing good or will that be down to you ?
Thank you.
Good question, I guess from his point of view I have the sheep and he has the grass.
Yes that was a concern of mine too, it’s all cattle fencing so I would be electric fencing it all.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
through summer, electric is a real pain ,will ramp up tension on both sides in a busy harvest time , it needs fencing properly even if its only stock fence tied to hedge or posts and moved or removed end of summer. Been there done that !
Chris123
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
How many acres is he allowing you, what if grazing gets a bit tight in a dry summer and his sucklers need to run another few fields? Don’t want to be pessimistic but there are a whole bunch of issues that could occur with such an agreement, all depends on who your dealing with I suppose. But don’t think I would fancy an agreement along those lines
The sheep dipper man
Member
- Location
- north east
That would make more sence
- Location
- Cheshire
All I can say is be bloody careful. One of my friends over the back had an agreement similar to this on 140 acre farm, put in 200 ewes each. Worked for 3 years until the landowner became convinced that Jim was working a fiddle as the sheep weren't very profitable. Ended very nasty and Jim has had to sell most of his sheep as well as the landowners too buy his way out of the agreement. I don't know the fine points but Jim ended up in quite a bad place for a while.
- Location
- Derbys/Bucks.
As we all know, There’s a lot of labour with sheep so thread carefully... if fencing is not great who will be out bringing them back or fixing the electric fence at 9 pm at night? Yourself.
When sheep get struck with maggots you will b out there catching ewes ( yours and his) while he is having his tea...
Are you going to lamb theirs as well?
If labour 50/50 i would see it a bit better but the way you explained you will get browned off when sales go 50/50 but labour goes 100/0..
Let them rent you the land and you can increase your flock.. they get paid set price and you manage the sheep and take profit or hit there.
Or as suggested let them buy the sheep and you get paid for managing/shepherding their flock..
Just my opinion..
When sheep get struck with maggots you will b out there catching ewes ( yours and his) while he is having his tea...
Are you going to lamb theirs as well?
If labour 50/50 i would see it a bit better but the way you explained you will get browned off when sales go 50/50 but labour goes 100/0..
Let them rent you the land and you can increase your flock.. they get paid set price and you manage the sheep and take profit or hit there.
Or as suggested let them buy the sheep and you get paid for managing/shepherding their flock..
Just my opinion..
No
sheep would be on my ground through spring and summer so strike isn’t a concern there, and I was thinking a 60/40 split in lamb crop to make up for some of the extra work and cost I would be putting in.
Skintagain
Member
- Location
- Perched on the Pennines
Rent the grazing.
You will feel like you are working for nothing.
You will feel like you are working for nothing.
Alexander27
Member
Sounds like alot of hassle to me....without been doom amd gloom ,whilst most things start off as good intentions they dont always end up like that unfortunately. Like has been said earlier is he not just keen on renting you wi ter grazing probably save you alot of headache