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<blockquote data-quote="sheep&amp;cows&amp;stuff" data-source="post: 3553050" data-attributes="member: 43682"><p>Here is my two pence - for all it may be worth.</p><p></p><p>What age are you?</p><p></p><p>I am 23. I have always loved farming from an early age, as my uncle/granddad farmed. Both parents were brought up on farms, but neither carried on. During my whole childhood I more or less lived with my granny on the farm. I spend morning to night outside during my holidays tidying up, looking at the cattle and basically doing what ever I was allowed.</p><p></p><p>I always wanted to become a vet - but had a dismal attendance at school. Natural intelligence carried me through my GCSE'S with A'S and A*s. Started off with my A-Levels thinking that I could do maths, chemistry, biology and technology (4 A-Levels) without any revising, Long story short, I was kicked out of school before I could finish my studies - so there went my dreams of becoming a vet.</p><p>Mean while my dads side of the family had a small 20 acre piece of land that was neglected for years and hadn't been fenced. As soon as I turned 18 I applied and got a hobby flock number. I was unable to attain a herd number as I could not afford a crush, shed or to fence the place properly. I have spent more hours erecting electric fence wire than I care to think about.</p><p></p><p>I should have mentioned that I got myself a job at the local livestock market when I was 13 twice a week at cattle and sheep sales. So once I got my hobby flock number I started buying and selling sheep. My main money maker was buying dry ewes, or springer's, lambing them and selling on with lambs at foot. I must add that I have a good eye on me for stock.</p><p></p><p>During the day I entered into an engineering apprenticeship with a global firm - this was a 4 year program. I worked my ass off (to be fair I was lucky that I was naturally brainy) and topped every class I was in. This coupled with my flair for engineering, I was soon doing work way past my age & pay grade.</p><p></p><p>I got myself 2 x relief night milking jobs, and started selling firewood from home. From I was 18 - 21 I milked nearly every night of the week. Never seen bed before 2am and was always up before 6am again. During the winter months I sold between 2000 & 3000 bags of firewood per year.</p><p></p><p>I remember I made a quick £1000 one Saturday morning buy buying 20 x springing ewes all carrying doubles for £100 each, and within 2 hours of advertising online had them sold for £150 each. I bough a beat up international 784 2wd tractor with the remains - I was so proud!</p><p></p><p>As I progressed within engineering, my studies turned to night classes and I attained my engineering degree by the age of 22. I can distinctly remember going in to do my final exams at 9am in the morning, having milked 200 cows starting at 10pm the night before.</p><p>Just before I qualified the opportunity arose to buy the 20 acres at home and the house that was on it. I had 100 ewes build up and some savings. I sold them all with lambs at foot and was able to raise enough money along with 2 personal loans to buy the place. (1 loan was for a 'car' and the other was 'to get married' haha)</p><p></p><p>I bought myself a set of Lister sheep clippers and started clipping ewes to all hours of the morning after milking and in my free time!</p><p></p><p>So at 22 I had bought 20 acres and a house with just 2 x personal loans to pay off. I reduced my night milking's to 3 nights per week, but took on another mans farm (milking when he was on holidays, odd morning and evenings etc).</p><p></p><p>For 2 weeks last July this was my day:</p><p></p><p>4am up - milk farmer A's 80 cows</p><p></p><p>8am - start day time job as engineer</p><p></p><p>6pm - milk farmer A's 80 cows again</p><p></p><p>10pm - Milk farmer B's 200 cows</p><p></p><p>2am - bed</p><p></p><p>Roll on the next years profits from selling the ewes and lambs, I exchanged the old international for a new 4wd duetz 2002 model. One of the proudest days I have had to date was the day I bought her<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> my pride and joy!</p><p></p><p>A promotion recently arose in the corporation for which I work, and at 23 years of age now earn more than some of the people here nearly twice my age.(Note - by no means do I earn a fortune) I have attained my full herd number, build two sheds (no tanks yet), full crush, sheep wired 60% of the place, bought my tractor, and have secured another 35 acres on conacre for the foreseeable future. I now have built up to 13 cows, and sheep numbers fluctuate. At present I have 87 ready to lamb March 17th. I sold 25 xmas lambers as springers.</p><p></p><p>Sorry for the essay, but I have posted on here before asking for how people got started and could never get many good replies. By no means am I a big farmer - but look what I have achieved to date! I had absolutely nothing to begin with, not even a hammer!</p><p></p><p>My goal is to buy another farm within the next 5 years with approx. 30 acres. I believe I can work full time and still keep 20 cows, and 100 ewes. I would like to have home set up well enough to retire and farm full time by the age of 45!</p><p></p><p>Ps. I still work at the livestock market, 10 years on and before anyone questions - yes I have a girlfriend - 5 years now<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> I have also never got any financial support from family or friends - I wouldn't even ask!</p><p></p><p>Hope this motivates you!!!!!!!!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sheep&cows&stuff, post: 3553050, member: 43682"] Here is my two pence - for all it may be worth. What age are you? I am 23. I have always loved farming from an early age, as my uncle/granddad farmed. Both parents were brought up on farms, but neither carried on. During my whole childhood I more or less lived with my granny on the farm. I spend morning to night outside during my holidays tidying up, looking at the cattle and basically doing what ever I was allowed. I always wanted to become a vet - but had a dismal attendance at school. Natural intelligence carried me through my GCSE'S with A'S and A*s. Started off with my A-Levels thinking that I could do maths, chemistry, biology and technology (4 A-Levels) without any revising, Long story short, I was kicked out of school before I could finish my studies - so there went my dreams of becoming a vet. Mean while my dads side of the family had a small 20 acre piece of land that was neglected for years and hadn't been fenced. As soon as I turned 18 I applied and got a hobby flock number. I was unable to attain a herd number as I could not afford a crush, shed or to fence the place properly. I have spent more hours erecting electric fence wire than I care to think about. I should have mentioned that I got myself a job at the local livestock market when I was 13 twice a week at cattle and sheep sales. So once I got my hobby flock number I started buying and selling sheep. My main money maker was buying dry ewes, or springer's, lambing them and selling on with lambs at foot. I must add that I have a good eye on me for stock. During the day I entered into an engineering apprenticeship with a global firm - this was a 4 year program. I worked my ass off (to be fair I was lucky that I was naturally brainy) and topped every class I was in. This coupled with my flair for engineering, I was soon doing work way past my age & pay grade. I got myself 2 x relief night milking jobs, and started selling firewood from home. From I was 18 - 21 I milked nearly every night of the week. Never seen bed before 2am and was always up before 6am again. During the winter months I sold between 2000 & 3000 bags of firewood per year. I remember I made a quick £1000 one Saturday morning buy buying 20 x springing ewes all carrying doubles for £100 each, and within 2 hours of advertising online had them sold for £150 each. I bough a beat up international 784 2wd tractor with the remains - I was so proud! As I progressed within engineering, my studies turned to night classes and I attained my engineering degree by the age of 22. I can distinctly remember going in to do my final exams at 9am in the morning, having milked 200 cows starting at 10pm the night before. Just before I qualified the opportunity arose to buy the 20 acres at home and the house that was on it. I had 100 ewes build up and some savings. I sold them all with lambs at foot and was able to raise enough money along with 2 personal loans to buy the place. (1 loan was for a 'car' and the other was 'to get married' haha) I bought myself a set of Lister sheep clippers and started clipping ewes to all hours of the morning after milking and in my free time! So at 22 I had bought 20 acres and a house with just 2 x personal loans to pay off. I reduced my night milking's to 3 nights per week, but took on another mans farm (milking when he was on holidays, odd morning and evenings etc). For 2 weeks last July this was my day: 4am up - milk farmer A's 80 cows 8am - start day time job as engineer 6pm - milk farmer A's 80 cows again 10pm - Milk farmer B's 200 cows 2am - bed Roll on the next years profits from selling the ewes and lambs, I exchanged the old international for a new 4wd duetz 2002 model. One of the proudest days I have had to date was the day I bought her:) my pride and joy! A promotion recently arose in the corporation for which I work, and at 23 years of age now earn more than some of the people here nearly twice my age.(Note - by no means do I earn a fortune) I have attained my full herd number, build two sheds (no tanks yet), full crush, sheep wired 60% of the place, bought my tractor, and have secured another 35 acres on conacre for the foreseeable future. I now have built up to 13 cows, and sheep numbers fluctuate. At present I have 87 ready to lamb March 17th. I sold 25 xmas lambers as springers. Sorry for the essay, but I have posted on here before asking for how people got started and could never get many good replies. By no means am I a big farmer - but look what I have achieved to date! I had absolutely nothing to begin with, not even a hammer! My goal is to buy another farm within the next 5 years with approx. 30 acres. I believe I can work full time and still keep 20 cows, and 100 ewes. I would like to have home set up well enough to retire and farm full time by the age of 45! Ps. I still work at the livestock market, 10 years on and before anyone questions - yes I have a girlfriend - 5 years now:) I have also never got any financial support from family or friends - I wouldn't even ask! Hope this motivates you!!!!!!!! [/QUOTE]
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