To sheep or not to sheep

[dilly2410]

Dear all,

This is my first post so please excuse if I muck it up.

My Father-in-law has a dairy farm plus 600 ewes. His son (partner in farm) has decided he no longer wants to farm and us moving away.

Father-in-law, let's call him Bob for ease, wants to scale down understandably. He is happy to keep on milking for a few years to tie everything up and then run the parlour down.

He would like us to take on the sheep. We are in a good position. We live in a nice cottage on the farm (which we half bought, half inherited) , bills are high, but it's old and we've been renovating-sorry this info is semi-important as it's part of the decision process.

My husband is a full time teacher and I work part time. Childcare is crippling and I don't clear much after tax, pension etc- but it's something and despite the financial mess of everything,the business I work for is pretty stable.

I grew up on a farm. I've helped lamb before and I am working with Bob now to learn more about the sheep and how to keep them healthy. He lives three fields away and will be on hand if I need it.

The question is, is it worth giving up my job to do this? Will there be any money in it at all? I plan to butcher (third party) and sell- I already do this with my pigs and broilers- but not on this kind of scale. Some for meat, some for market.

I own the land, have no mortgage and the 600 ewes will come to me after this year's lambs are gone- Bob only sells on.

Sounds like a gift, but I'm worried it will be a huge stone around my neck. I have a lot to learn!

Is it viable or should I just say no?

 

[dilly2410]

Dear all,

This is my first post so please excuse if I muck it up.

My Father-in-law has a dairy farm plus 600 ewes. His son (partner in farm) has decided he no longer wants to farm and us moving away.

Father-in-law, let's call him Bob for ease, wants to scale down understandably. He is happy to keep on milking for a few years to tie everything up and then run the parlour down.

He would like us to take on the sheep. We are in a good position. We live in a nice cottage on the farm (which we half bought, half inherited) , bills are high, but it's old and we've been renovating-sorry this info is semi-important as it's part of the decision process.

My husband is a full time teacher and I work part time. Childcare is crippling and I don't clear much after tax, pension etc- but it's something and despite the financial mess of everything,the business I work for is pretty stable.

I grew up on a farm. I've helped lamb before and I am working with Bob now to learn more about the sheep and how to keep them healthy. He lives three fields away and will be on hand if I need it.

The question is, is it worth giving up my job to do this? Will there be any money in it at all? I plan to butcher (third party) and sell- I already do this with my pigs and broilers- but not on this kind of scale. Some for meat, some for market.

I own the land, have no mortgage and the 600 ewes will come to me after this year's lambs are gone- Bob only sells on.

Sounds like a gift, but I'm worried it will be a huge stone around my neck. I have a lot to learn! I'm a really hard worker, have always had livestock and grew up on a dairy farm, so don't mind getting plastered in everything going.

Is it viable or should I just say no?

 

[dilly2410]

See I knew I'd screw it up.

Posted twice. Sorry

 

[dannewhouse]

Can you manage to farm the sheep with your children tagging along?
Obviously be easier without them but they may come in handy some days.
Moreover you would reduce your childcare costs so this would instantly be a benefit to offset the loss of standard income?

 

[Sprig]

Seeing as you own the land and don't have a mortgage I would definitely say go for it.

 

[harrow]

What about His son (partner in farm) has decided he no longer wants to farm and his inheritance ?

 

[Optimus]

What sort of system are the sheep on? You sell lambs as store or fat? Do they lamb inside or out? How many people deal with the sheep now?

If your eager an have the drive to do it I'd go for it.what's to lose? If it doesn't work just sell the sheep?

 

[dilly2410]

Boys are 6&8 both very used to helping out with the animals we already have. Husband is a teacher so off all of their holidays including the crucial Christmas lambing period. So they could be in or out quite happily. I'd just need to do the school run in term time. Right now I'm out the house 4 days a week and they have to have care before and after school- which comes to nearly £70 a day!

It could make sense if I can make a profit. I guess my question is, is there any money left in sheep?

 

[Flat 10]

Boys are 6&8 both very used to helping out with the animals we already have. Husband is a teacher so off all of their holidays including the crucial Christmas lambing period. So they could be in or out quite happily. I'd just need to do the school run in term time. Right now I'm out the house 4 days a week and they have to have care before and after school- which comes to nearly £70 a day!

It could make sense if I can make a profit. I guess my question is, is there any money left in sheep?

Buy John nix

 

[dilly2410]

What about His son (partner in farm) has decided he no longer wants to farm and his inheritance ?

Mental health issue. Had enough. Turned to the booze.
Very sad, but the best thing for him is to get off the farm. In-laws are setting him up with a house etc and he'll take more out later. I suspect we'll sell ours and trade in for the 'big house' and pay him off.

Awful situation.i really feel for him, bit it's buggered up the Father-in-law massively

 

[dilly2410]

What sort of system are the sheep on? You sell lambs as store or fat? Do they lamb inside or out? How many people deal with the sheep now?

If your eager an have the drive to do it I'd go for it.what's to lose? If it doesn't work just sell the sheep?

Lamb inside (mostly- the odd one lambs in the holding paddock, but secure from foxes etc)
Sold for store.good lambs.hes been working on the bloodline for 50 years and more often than not gets too market for them. They are a good lot- also closed so cuts a lot of paperwork

 

[dilly2410]

Buy John nix

Book?

 

[dilly2410]

Lamb inside (mostly- the odd one lambs in the holding paddock, but secure from foxes etc)
Sold for store.good lambs.hes been working on the bloodline for 50 years and more often than not gets too market for them. They are a good lot- also closed so cuts a lot of paperwork

Top market!

 

[Green farmer]

Farming it a lifestyle choice as opposed to a sensible money decision. I love the way of life , but as a small farmer, it doesnt put food on the table . I'd be hesitant to give up a stable pensionable job, but it depends on how much you like you like what your doing ?

 

[tr250]

So Bobs son that’s left and your husband are brothers am I reading that right?

 

[spin cycle]

Dear all,

This is my first post so please excuse if I muck it up.

My Father-in-law has a dairy farm plus 600 ewes. His son (partner in farm) has decided he no longer wants to farm and us moving away.

Father-in-law, let's call him Bob for ease, wants to scale down understandably. He is happy to keep on milking for a few years to tie everything up and then run the parlour down.

He would like us to take on the sheep. We are in a good position. We live in a nice cottage on the farm (which we half bought, half inherited) , bills are high, but it's old and we've been renovating-sorry this info is semi-important as it's part of the decision process.

My husband is a full time teacher and I work part time. Childcare is crippling and I don't clear much after tax, pension etc- but it's something and despite the financial mess of everything,the business I work for is pretty stable.

I grew up on a farm. I've helped lamb before and I am working with Bob now to learn more about the sheep and how to keep them healthy. He lives three fields away and will be on hand if I need it.

The question is, is it worth giving up my job to do this? Will there be any money in it at all? I plan to butcher (third party) and sell- I already do this with my pigs and broilers- but not on this kind of scale. Some for meat, some for market.

I own the land, have no mortgage and the 600 ewes will come to me after this year's lambs are gone- Bob only sells on.

Sounds like a gift, but I'm worried it will be a huge stone around my neck. I have a lot to learn!

Is it viable or should I just say no?

if you don't have a go would you look back in future years and regret it you think?.......yes/no = your answer

 

[Flat 10]

Book?

Yes of costings etc. People will poo poo the figures but its a starting point. Anyway won't you be able to analyse the accounts to see how much the sheep made in the previous few years? Also if dairy cows are going, a chance to expand the flock?

 

[spin cycle]

Buy John nix

no one would farm if they followed nix IMO

 

[Kentishfarmer]

I guess from what you've said childcare takes up all of your spare time currently? Because if not I would have said other than at lambing you should be able to work part time with 600 ewes given the right set up. Depending on how much direct selling your planning on doing because as you know that is massively time consuming. I would have thought you could only direct market a small portion of your lamb crop and sell the rest commercially?
Even if you don't end up making much, he still giving you circa 50 grands worth of sheep! A lot of people would be after that opportunity

 

[dilly2410]

Yes, husband and leaving farmer are brothers.

I hate being inside. I do my job because it pays bills. If I could be up to my elbows in manure all day I would. We've been gradually increasing livestock, free range broilers, turkeys table ducks. Sell pork and sausages off weaners (father in law's), we grow a lot of our veg etc.

Its just a big step. I expected to start with 6. Not 600.

We've definitely been part time smallholding rather than farming. This feels big