Sole living from sheep ,Flock size

[Anymulewilldo]

Do you sack them on 8th day, I know how tight you are.

Why risk that extra day? Sack them at 9pm on the 7th and charge them rent if they are still there on the 8th!

 

[unlacedgecko]

I’ve heard people saying exactly that . If headache payments came back the X ewes would be down the road and they would have all shetlands !

I suspect a lot of farmers would be better off if they ran a flying flock of Shetlands put to a terminal every year. Lamb outside in Mar/Apr and sell store at weaning to maximise ewe numbers.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Indeed how times have changed. The estate next to me have about 2800 ewes, 2 shepherds each with there own couple of hundred ewes, the head shepherd says he struggles to find enough to do some days. They have by far the best flock of ewes I’ve ever seen, in the 15 years living next door I’m yet to see and lame one or a dead on a a field.

I've done a lot of contracting for a big romney farmer in Hertfordshire. I've yet to see a lame ewe among his 2000+ flock either.

I'm selling anything I treat for lameness, even once. So I hope to be in a similar position once I close the flock in a year or 2. Putting an expensive maternal ram through the cull ring isn't a great feeling though!

 

[andybk]

Indeed how times have changed. The estate next to me have about 2800 ewes, 2 shepherds each with there own couple of hundred ewes, the head shepherd says he struggles to find enough to do some days. They have by far the best flock of ewes I’ve ever seen, in the 15 years living next door I’m yet to see and lame one or a dead on a a field.

thats exactly the point , ring fenced farm with good facilities , access to winter arable (prob fenced as well )machinery used for other enterprises , outdoor lambing your only limited by field size ,can feed with the quad , shame those old estates were encouraged to get rid of the sheep in favour of arable and conservation on the Downland , Problem is most sheep farmers are trying to get a start and have rents to find, (because its the easiest way into farming) machinery or kit to service , no doubt if that estate had rents and the rest of the costs to find just from the sheep , they wouldnt have 2 shepherds ,

 

[Anymulewilldo]

thats exactly the point , ring fenced farm with good facilities , access to winter arable (prob fenced as well )machinery used for other enterprises , outdoor lambing your only limited by field size ,can feed with the quad , shame those old estates were encouraged to get rid of the sheep in favour of arable and conservation on the Downland , Problem is most sheep farmers are trying to get a start and have rents to find, (because its the easiest way into farming) machinery or kit to service , no doubt if that estate had rents and the rest of the costs to find just from the sheep , they wouldnt have 2 shepherds ,

If we didn’t have too spend hours driving between blocks and days and days electric fencing, Christ we could run double the sheep with no more labour units needed!!

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

If we didn’t have too spend hours driving between blocks and days and days electric fencing, Christ we could run double the sheep with no more labour units needed!!

This is common in this country, due to historical land ownership etc. It is one of the reasons why the New Zealand sheep systems people go on about are largely irrelevant here

 

[Anymulewilldo]

This is common in this country, due to historical land ownership etc. It is one of the reasons why the New Zealand sheep systems people go on about are largely irrelevant here

Yep. 25000 acre blocks here are all moorland incapable of running vast numbers of productive sheep.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Yep. 25000 acre blocks here are all moorland incapable of running vast numbers of productive sheep.

Subdivision and proper grazing management will very quickly transform those blocks

 

[unlacedgecko]

This is common in this country, due to historical land ownership etc. It is one of the reasons why the New Zealand sheep systems people go on about are largely irrelevant here

They're totally relevant.

Low labour input through right genetics is essential regardless of the rest of the system. Correct grazing management through rotation and leaving enough residual can be applied to any size of mob.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

They're totally relevant.

Low labour input through right genetics is essential regardless of the rest of the system. Correct grazing management through rotation and leaving enough residual can be applied to any size of mob.

This is true. I've got my neighbour doing it with their dozen pet sheep rotating around half a dozen tiny paddocks

 

[CopperBeech]

There are a lot of people talking “in theory”, on both sides of the fence.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Subdivision and proper grazing management will very quickly transform those blocks

I think you might find yourself in a bit of bother if you try doing that on heather moorland

 

[Strangelybrown]

Question for those that don't have sheep as their full income and have to work elsewhere. How do you find the time to do both? Do you work in the day and fit in the sheep on evenings and weekends? Or do you just work a few days a week and can then dedicate the rest of the time to the sheep? Any examples would be much appreciated!

 

[CopperBeech]

Question for those that don't have sheep as their full income and have to work elsewhere. How do you find the time to do both? Do you work in the day and fit in the sheep on evenings and weekends? Or do you just work a few days a week and can then dedicate the rest of the time to the sheep? Any examples would be much appreciated!

One thing I find interesting is peoples motivation to farm sheep. I choose to, to make money and life a certain lifestyle. Would I do it for a hobby ? f**k no.

 

[Guleesh]

They're totally relevant.

Low labour input through right genetics is essential regardless of the rest of the system. Correct grazing management through rotation and leaving enough residual can be applied to any size of mob.

Why bother? If we make any more profit over and above our subs then we'll just have to buy more and more expensive and unnecessary buildings and equipment to keep the tax bill down. Best to just breed our sheep for aesthetics, get good lambing percentages at any cost to impress our neighbours, and rather than spending our time managing our grazing, we can spend it repairing our buildings and equipment, and working at the sheep, using antibiotics and an array of harmful chemicals to mask over the numerous fatal flaws we've bred into them, all the while we can act all smug about how high our welfare standards are.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Question for those that don't have sheep as their full income and have to work elsewhere. How do you find the time to do both? Do you work in the day and fit in the sheep on evenings and weekends? Or do you just work a few days a week and can then dedicate the rest of the time to the sheep? Any examples would be much appreciated!

Head torch and good dogs.

650 tupping ewes on a 2km road move at midnight on Boxing Day

 

[unlacedgecko]

Why bother? If we make any more profit over and above our subs then we'll just have to buy more and more expensive and unnecessary buildings and equipment to keep the tax bill down. Best to just breed our sheep for aesthetics, get good lambing percentages at any cost to impress our neighbours, and rather than spending our time managing our grazing, we can spend it repairing our buildings and equipment, and working at the sheep, using antibiotics and an array of harmful chemicals to mask over the numerous fatal flaws we've bred into them, all the while we can act all smug about how high our welfare standards are.

This is my road to Damascus moment. The scales have fallen from my eyes. I'll chop in all my maternal composites and blow the cash on 1/4 of the number of bonny heid mules.

Any hints on how to get some of those subs?

 

[Guleesh]

This is my road to Damascus moment. The scales have fallen from my eyes. I'll chop in all my maternal composites and blow the cash on 1/4 of the number of bonny heid mules.

Any hints on how to get some of those subs?

Inherit some land with entitlements, duh.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Inherit some land with entitlements, duh.

Shite. Once again my poor parents have let me down. I've never forgiven them for not being rich. At 36 am I too old to be adopted?

 

[Guleesh]

Shite. Once again my poor parents have let me down. I've never forgiven them for not being rich. At 36 am I too old to be adopted?

I have to decline your request. sorry.