Shepherds' Wages

[CopperBeech]

Not sure if the OP said what kind of system they were run on?

I'm on 1500 ewes myself, and a fair rake of store lambs. But very different here as we mob cell graze, so involves a lot of fencing etc and daily fence moves, not to mention chasing escaped sheep around as we are all electric. My work load would be less than half what it is, if we set stocked and had perm stock fences.

 

[sherg]

High work load/long hours is not a problem as long as the renumeration is worthwhile. However, if I'd earn more per hour driving a truck for Tesco then I'm gonna have problems...

The only major problem you get working for someone else is that you don't get any asset appreciation if you wind the clock back 10 years you could buy decent yearling ewes for £80-£90 nowadays your looking at £125-£140 by the time your getting to retiring age you could of built up some good assets in a breeding flock, as long as you can earn a decent wage whilst doing it

 

[ajcc]

I'm guessing, I've not been an employed man for 25 years but I know I can get excellent skilled stockman for £10/hour cash in hand so I would guess if I had a decent house available I could employ the same calibre of labour before paye tax.
We all know that the money can never be the primary motivation, cos you can earn more and easier driving for tesco....but theres more to life than money so either change job or change wifes' thinking or as last resort change wife.

 

[neilo]

In which case - surely the current lamb prices have no bearing on what you can pay your shepherd, as some posts above seem to suggest it should. If you run a business where you produce sheep meat and decide to employ someone, it should be based upon hours, expertise, experience, skill level and responsibilities. . . . regardless of where in the country you are. With an adjustment possibly, for cost of living in the geographical area.

You choose to employ someone, you pay them a fair wage, if your bottom line can't do that . . . . then don't employ someone, do the work yourself, and be better off for it!

Thats what I was getting at!

And that's why there are few shepherd's jobs available.

 

[CopperBeech]

And that's why there are few shepherd's jobs available.

There are more than you'd think. But sheep farmers don't employ shepherds. . . . estates do, or large agri-buisnesses. . . . . .

 

[neilo]

There are more than you'd think. But sheep farmers don't employ shepherds. . . . estates do, or large agri-buisnesses. . . . . .

But they don't generally have a quick staff turnover, unless you wouldn't want to work there anyway....

It also takes a certain 'skill' to be able to work on some estates, tipping your cap at the right times, etc. A very different prospect to being your own boss, and not easy for many to deal with I suspect (myself included).

 

[JD-Kid]

i always worked on per hour work harder payed more simple as that
depends whats with the deal house ,power,phone,internet,sky tv ,work truck,meat,dog tucker, dog vet bills, horse paddock ,work roster etc etc
one of my mates told me a while back what he was on all of above was free in the deal think had ute that was road use able to go to town etc if needed and a quad bike
wife could help on farm at X amount per hour if needed (tailing time looking after lambs etc ) but did not have to work on farm ..think shes a hair dresser so got work localy

think winter time 12 on 2 off just with feeding out had to work 1/2 days every 2nd weekend rest of time 1/2 day saturday if needed
think about 60 000 a year pre tax with all of above and thats not sole charge

manger doing all the books etc etc running the total show as above work wise etc good manger there would be no change out of 100 000 a year and maybe higher

uncle of mine worked on a huge maori station on a base of well over 100 000 a year + a % of profit over agred out put's so a carrot there to push the staff and keep things going a head

 

[unlacedgecko]

how far north are you thinking of going ? because the weather farther north can be quite a bit colder all year and making lambing tough if you are not used to it

I'm originally from the borders. I reckon I can handle the weather

 

[Robertollie]

What you have got to factor in is location where you want to bring up your children people from London pay a lot of money to live in areas we take for granted

 

[Weasel]

I'm originally from the borders. I reckon I can handle the weather

Where abouts in the borders?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Where abouts in the borders?

North East Northumberland between Alnwick and Berwick.

 

[unlacedgecko]

What you have got to factor in is location where you want to bring up your children people from London pay a lot of money to live in areas we take for granted

I currently live in the Cotswolds. I could stay here and drive a truck, so that's not gonna hold much weight with the wife...

 

[unlacedgecko]

i always worked on per hour work harder payed more simple as that
depends whats with the deal house ,power,phone,internet,sky tv ,work truck,meat,dog tucker, dog vet bills, horse paddock ,work roster etc etc
one of my mates told me a while back what he was on all of above was free in the deal think had ute that was road use able to go to town etc if needed and a quad bike
wife could help on farm at X amount per hour if needed (tailing time looking after lambs etc ) but did not have to work on farm ..think shes a hair dresser so got work localy

think winter time 12 on 2 off just with feeding out had to work 1/2 days every 2nd weekend rest of time 1/2 day saturday if needed
think about 60 000 a year pre tax with all of above and thats not sole charge

manger doing all the books etc etc running the total show as above work wise etc good manger there would be no change out of 100 000 a year and maybe higher

uncle of mine worked on a huge maori station on a base of well over 100 000 a year + a % of profit over agred out put's so a carrot there to push the staff and keep things going a head

If only I were 5 years young and single...

 

[unlacedgecko]

But they don't generally have a quick staff turnover, unless you wouldn't want to work there anyway....

It also takes a certain 'skill' to be able to work on some estates, tipping your cap at the right times, etc. A very different prospect to being your own boss, and not easy for many to deal with I suspect (myself included).

Given my problem with authority I guess that life is not for me either.

 

[gatepost]

Last shepherd I talked to about it, worked out about £24000 when you took in the value of the house and costs.

 

[unlacedgecko]

I'm guessing, I've not been an employed man for 25 years but I know I can get excellent skilled stockman for £10/hour cash in hand so I would guess if I had a decent house available I could employ the same calibre of labour before paye tax.
We all know that the money can never be the primary motivation, cos you can earn more and easier driving for tesco....but theres more to life than money so either change job or change wifes' thinking or as last resort change wife.

Can't change the wife, she's the mother of my son.

Can't change her thinking, she's more stubborn and wilful than even me.

Guess I'll just have to be creative and generate enough income whilst remaining self employed. This time next year Rodney...

 

[unlacedgecko]

Last shepherd I talked to about it, worked out about £24000 when you took in the value of the house and costs.

£24k all in. Wow. So his wage was considerably below that then...

 

[unlacedgecko]

Thanks for all the input guys. I reckon I've got enough figures for a good argument to show that working for someone else is going to make me poorer.

Thank f**k he's retired, or he would probably have me working for him! Lol

 

[MRT]

I'm originally from the borders. I reckon I can handle the weather

We lived in the borders a few years, my wife said she missed the rain (I kid you not)

 

[gatepost]

Yep, at least working for your self you can, take time off to do things with your family, tip your cap to nobody, built up your own business and if all goes well and some luck look back in years to come with a bit of pride at your achievements (still got to get that one). my father told me being your own man was worth half an income, that's ok so long as the half that's left is enough?