Shepherding cost?

[Hilly]

Sheep low skilled job when actually doing the work,can pick it up after a few goes ,

but
gathering in, picking up on issues, sorting those issues,
Planning the future for the flock etc
and doing all the above speedily ,
I dont think they should be on anything less than £25 an hour,

Maybe so , but then highly skilled workers in other ind say hey a sheep man can get £25 hr i want £65 . Then sheep man still low paid

 

[Hilly]

The last part is who i think should at least be on 25hour

I know some shepherds who are top of the game , they will make their wage plus in adding value they will get your farm name and stock a good name they will win shows with your sheep etc etx non will be on £25 hr .

 

[Retired Red]

Instead of price per hour , maybe an annual price per ewe would be more interesting

 

[The law of sod]

I know some shepherds who are top of the game , they will make their wage plus in adding value they will get your farm name and stock a good name they will win shows with your sheep etc etx non will be on £25 hr .

In that situation id be off,
but its
Maybe because i went straight to work away from farming i realise how much others get,and the amount of work needed to earn that £25 per hour.
I understand just labouring should be £15-£18 per hour as thats what most i knowwho labour only and dont have to do the thinking and planning ,
just turn up do the 8 hours and then switch off go home,get paid in construction,landscsping etc

im more thinking of self employed managers / shepherds full control of the flock /running there own business,
Should at least charge out £25 per hour,

But same in some contractors ,
i know some one hedge cutting ,fencing etc £35 per hour labour and tractor inc fuel,now how can that pay ,it cant thats why i see them working all hours every day,night etc,
if they put prices up even £10 per hour the accumulated money over the year would be the healthy profit.

 

[Hilly]

In that situation id be off,
but its
Maybe because i went straight to work away from farming i realise how much others get,and the amount of work needed to earn that £25 per hour.
I understand just labouring should be £15-£18 per hour as thats what most i knowwho labour only and dont have to do the thinking and planning ,
just turn up do the 8 hours and then switch off go home,get paid in construction,landscsping etc

im more thinking of self employed managers / shepherds full control of the flock /running there own business,
Should at least charge out £25 per hour,

But same in some contractors ,
i know some one hedge cutting ,fencing etc £35 per hour labour and tractor inc fuel,now how can that pay ,it cant thats why i see them working all hours every day,night etc,
if they put prices up even £10 per hour the accumulated money over the year would be the healthy profit.

I dont disagree all agg workers are underpaid but its because the farmer is vasty under paid , invest in land for say say 1500 ews pay herd 50k do you thjnk that would add up ? It wont .

 

[unlacedgecko]

I dont disagree all agg workers are underpaid but its because the farmer is vasty under paid , invest in land for say say 1500 ews pay herd 50k do you thjnk that would add up ? It wont .

I know a shepherd who's on £40k plus free accommodation and work truck. That'll be a £50k+ package

 

[Hilly]

I know a shepherd who's on £40k plus free accommodation and work truck. That'll be a £50k+ package

Yes it will , thats one .

 

[Hilly]

I know a shepherd who's on £40k plus free accommodation and work truck. That'll be a £50k+ package

And i bet it works under creative accounting , possibly on bought paid for land/house ? Figure in a hefty mortgage rent etc, be doubtful if that would work .

 

[unlacedgecko]

And i bet it works under creative accounting , possibly on bought paid for land/house ? Figure in a hefty mortgage rent etc, be doubtful if that would work .

It's an enterprise on all rented land.

 

[Hilly]

It's an enterprise on all rented land.

Impressive.

 

[tepapa]

I know a shepherd who's on £40k plus free accommodation and work truck. That'll be a £50k+ package

I know someone that would be getting close to that 10+ years ago lambing 2500 ewes 5-600 replacements and 4-5k hoggs/culls over winter.

 

[Hilly]

I know someone that would be getting close to that 10+ years ago lambing 2500 ewes 5-600 replacements and 4-5k hoggs/culls over winter.

Dose he have 6 legs n 8 arms as well ! wuite the under taking that .

 

[tepapa]

Dose he have 6 legs n 8 arms as well ! wuite the under taking that .

No, but lots of dogs, and help off arable drivers for checking stock, moving fences in winter etc, plenty of help at lambing that would stay on a bit longer to get lambs first dosed, clicked etc. Not a young fella either.

 

[unlacedgecko]

I know someone that would be getting close to that 10+ years ago lambing 2500 ewes 5-600 replacements and 4-5k hoggs/culls over winter.

An Australian I speak to sometimes reckons you need to run 7,000 ewes per labour unit to create inflation beating wealth. Otherwise you’re going backwards.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I dont disagree all agg workers are underpaid but its because the farmer is vasty under paid , invest in land for say say 1500 ews pay herd 50k do you thjnk that would add up ? It wont .

i would rather earn less out in the fields on my own than be on a building site with some hse worthless tw.at calling the shots over me and surrounded by a load of townie agitators far rather as long as bills can be paid butthats another matter i supposeno good being miserable else there s no point in life ,country boy is a country boy.

 

[CopperBeech]

I know one that was on similar. He still did a crap job. I take the attitude, you can ask for whatever figure you like. And if you can explain and justify (and show) that value to my buisness. You will get it.

I know a shepherd who's on £40k plus free accommodation and work truck. That'll be a £50k+ package

 

[CopperBeech]

An Australian I speak to sometimes reckons you need to run 7,000 ewes per labour unit to create inflation beating wealth. Otherwise you’re going backwards.

He’s not called Andrew is he by any chance.

 

[unlacedgecko]

He’s not called Andrew is he by any chance.

Yes

 

[Estate fencing.]

There a big flock round here that pay the 2 shepherds very well, but the sheep are most probably a loss making enterprise for a very large arable contract farming business, for every 1000 acres there probably 200 acres of rough river or hill ground that that they will take on as well and other contact farming businesses don't want anything to do with. Easy for lazy agents to deal with one person.

 

[Hilly]

i would rather earn less out in the fields on my own than be on a building site with some hse worthless tw.at calling the shots over me and surrounded by a load of townie agitators far rather as long as bills can be paid butthats another matter i supposeno good being miserable else there s no point in life ,country boy is a country boy.

Ive no doubt , and their is the problem ! We all like it too much . The builders need us more than we need them as well ,