Winter keep

[CopperBeech]

Obviously not alone in this boat but some of our winter covers are unlikely to go in / come to much, luckily we should still have a bunch in some areas but the south east isn’t looking too rosey!

So, I’m looking for someone who has a decent block of winter covers / or decent grass. Preferably with no other sheep in close proximity (we run a high health status closed flock) but could work around that if it’s an issue (ie just send killing lambs).

Would be great for us to be able to develop a long term relationship with someone.

We have the sheep, we can also provide the fencing, etc, can come with a big tilt bed rappa yard for any bigger jobs, can probably sort shepherding also if this isn’t possible for you.

Decent rates of pay offered (negotiable). Would be good for us if it was a lorry load that went.

More references than you can shake a stick at. Pretty much any area of the UK considered for right keep.

Cheers!

 

[Fendt516profi]

Taking on 200 acres.. how to finance it?

I got a covid BBL for similar acres. Not a option now though.

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Just pray that it is like 1976 and we had ten inches of rain in September, there was grass everywhere and the winter was kind.
If not then we are in trouble as all of our forage crops are a write off and there is no sign of any rain to plant any more.

 

[serf]

Obviously not alone in this boat but some of our winter covers are unlikely to go in / come to much, luckily we should still have a bunch in some areas but the south east isn’t looking too rosey!

So, I’m looking for someone who has a decent block of winter covers / or decent grass. Preferably with no other sheep in close proximity (we run a high health status closed flock) but could work around that if it’s an issue (ie just send killing lambs).

Would be great for us to be able to develop a long term relationship with someone.

We have the sheep, we can also provide the fencing, etc, can come with a big tilt bed rappa yard for any bigger jobs, can probably sort shepherding also if this isn’t possible for you.

Decent rates of pay offered (negotiable). Would be good for us if it was a lorry load that went.

More references than you can shake a stick at. Pretty much any area of the UK considered for right keep.

Cheers!

Thought you were moving on from your current site anyway or you staying now?

 

[CopperBeech]

Thought you were moving on from your current site anyway or you staying now?

Me and the breeding ewes have mostly moved north of where we were. But we have expanded numbers again, and still have dry sheep in the south east. And of course have a lot of ewes and lambs to get out on cover crops / winter grazing, some of which would be back where we’ve come from. I also still have a house (and my better half) in the south east.

To be fair we get all over the country; which is quite nice in all honesty.

 

[CopperBeech]

Just pray that it is like 1976 and we had ten inches of rain in September, there was grass everywhere and the winter was kind.
If not then we are in trouble as all of our forage crops are a write off and there is no sign of any rain to plant any more.

Just pray that it is like 1976 and we had ten inches of rain in September, there was grass everywhere and the winter was kind.
If not then we are in trouble as all of our forage crops are a write off and there is no sign of any rain to plant any more.

If we get 10 inches of rain, then our grass land isn’t going to be much use at all.

Try to get all stock off our grass in autumn.

There are plenty of places in the UK which have had rain and have grass, have got covers in etc etc.

So I’m looking to forward plan and hedge my bets. Should we end up with more keel than sheep, that is a problem which can be swiftly rectified!

 

[CopperBeech]

Bump! Getting worried now and looking like this winter might be a disaster, pretty much happy to send sheep from Caithness to Cornwall

 

[steveR]

Bump! Getting worried now and looking like this winter might be a disaster, pretty much happy to send sheep from Caithness to Cornwall

I think a lot of us are wondering what to do right now... 10, 100 or a 1,000+ sheep.

I have cancelled the shearlings that come on tack into the solar farm, as I now need it myself.

And just to add to the pressure, this weekend's predicted rain seems to have decided to do a runner... again.

 

[CopperBeech]

Yep, that’s the nature of the game. Sadly I’m fairly short of options having zero ground that’s not on a short term grazing licence, no sheds, no ground I can feed out on etc. If I had some secure ground I’d just feed them bales and beet or blocks and not worry too much.

 

[beardface]

Might be the first year sheep go up country for wintering instead of down.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Might be the first year sheep go up country for wintering instead of down.

There’s no grass up here

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Might be the first year sheep go up country for wintering instead of down.

But those "up country" sheep still have to go somewhere so I can't see there being much spare grass in the north if they have to stop nearer home.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Plenty of grass in this part of West Wales and with a lot saying they are cutting stock numbers then tack sheep may be a good option for them

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Plenty of grass in this part of West Wales and with a lot saying they are cutting stock numbers then tack sheep may be a good option for them

I would agree with Derrick, it has been a bit dry here this year, but not too bad

April 1 1/2"
May 1 3/4"
June 5 3/4"
July 4 1/2"
Aug 2"
Sept 1/2"

 

[Vader]

Yep, that’s the nature of the game. Sadly I’m fairly short of options having zero ground that’s not on a short term grazing licence, no sheds, no ground I can feed out on etc. If I had some secure ground I’d just feed them bales and beet or blocks and not worry too much.

Where abouts are you?

 

[CopperBeech]

Plenty of grass in this part of West Wales and with a lot saying they are cutting stock numbers then tack sheep may be a good option for them

Well if you speak to any of them .... mention me

 

[CopperBeech]

Where abouts are you?

Shropshire but currently looking nationwide

 

[CopperBeech]

There would probably be plenty of keep if all of the folk running loss making sheep flocks sold up and rented out the grass and made some money

 

[Al R]

I would agree with Derrick, it has been a bit dry here this year, but not too bad

April 1 1/2"
May 1 3/4"
June 5 3/4"
July 4 1/2"
Aug 2"
Sept 1/2"

July 1mm,
August 4mm,
September 18mm.
Neighbour mowed straight RC a few weeks ago, 1 bale off 6 acre.

Plenty of decent 4/5th cuts been done 20 mile away though. You can’t say plenty of grass in west wales when a lot of people have near nothing and are on full winter rations.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

There would probably be plenty of keep if all of the folk running loss making sheep flocks sold up and rented out the grass and made some money

That's a good way to approach them