Winter Sheep Grazing

[DanM]

So what is 90 acre clean ex hay meadows cut once , 150 acre stubble turnips ,and 100 acre of raddish and mix of other bits ,
can stay till april on stubble turnips , and grass , rest cleared mid feb , light land ,no water in any fields

Fences? Water? Lookering? Biggest factors after location.

…also; are fields riddled with footpaths? Sheep don’t gain much weight being chased about all winter by urban explorers!

 

[Will 1594]

Fences? Water? Lookering? Biggest factors after location.

…also; are fields riddled with footpaths? Sheep don’t gain much weight being chased about all winter by urban explorers!

grass all fenced and smallish fields
no water, most fields have road sides fenced , can look round them , but you would have to do routine jobs
no paths through fields all light land

 

[glasshouse]

Old John always said it was better eaten by sheep than mown but the March wind. When he was milking he always wanted us off the 3rd week of Feb. As you say, it helps too be friends with graziers. Luckily over the years I’ve become good friends with pretty much every wintering spot we go too. “It’s their farm, got too do what they say.” One of grandads sayings. It’s amazing how many sheep men forget this and wonder why they don’t get invited back a second winter!

Depends if “what they say” is reasonable

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

grass all fenced and smallish fields
no water, most fields have road sides fenced , can look round them , but you would have to do routine jobs
no paths through fields all light land

Your usual man not want it this year?

 

[Jonp]

I’d give give him a bit more if I was you

I try to every year! He won't have it.
This year will put more money in a heavily sellotaped envelope and run off before he can open it!

 

[Will 1594]

Your usual man not want it this year?

only likes stubble turnips which he does excellent job no issues there just friend asked from cumbria about grass
just wondering what it worth
as hot a big chunk in at neighbours who do work for too

 

[Derrick Hughes]

only likes stubble turnips which he does excellent job no issues there just friend asked from cumbria about grass
just wondering what it worth
as hot a big chunk in at neighbours who do work for too

I always go on what others charge in the area, only fair way , but have a tidy bloke is more important than the last penny which is quite obvious realy were livestock are involved , if you run into problems it could affect your SFP as well as welfare issues
We used to have problems with hill lambs getting cought in brambles in hedge bottoms , had ti go around twice a day to free them , we have since sprayed all the hedge bottoms to get rid of brambles and hedge bottoms are trimmed our before lambs arrive

 

[DanM]

I always go on what others charge in the area, only fair way , but have a tidy bloke is more important than the last penny which is quite obvious realy were livestock are involved , if you run into problems it could affect your SFP as well as welfare issues
We used to have problems with hill lambs getting cought in brambles in hedge bottoms , had ti go around twice a day to free them , we have since sprayed all the hedge bottoms to get rid of brambles and hedge bottoms are trimmed our before lambs arrive

Big advantage of having folk with shedders. Sheep getting caught up is no longer an issue. Have one block of winter ground where owner now asks for our shedder sheep specifically.

 

[upnortheast]

Important to set in stone when you want the sheep gone. Found that sheep farmers tend to loose their calenders as the agreed date approaches. Rate is about 65p lambs & 75p ewes / week

 

[Purli R]

Important to set in stone when you want the sheep gone. Found that sheep farmers tend to loose their calenders as the agreed date approaches. Rate is about 65p lambs & 75p ewes / week

Surely they dont get asked back if they fudge about getting them away.

 

[glasshouse]

Winter grazing sheep are actually providing a service . They should be charging, not paying.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Winter grazing sheep are actually providing a service . They should be charging, not paying.

Oh we have this discussion every year… funnily enough I’m the only one who thinks this…

 

[Ysgythan]

No landlord has tack sheep grazing for the money. It's all about the wider holistic benefits the sheep grazing does.

That’s what they tell themselves, but money for little effort, even if a modest amount, always has a certain appeal

 

[gwi1890]

No landlord has tack sheep grazing for the money. It's all about the wider holistic benefits the sheep grazing does.

clearly you haven’t been to wales then
95p per week here

 

[Ysgythan]

clearly you haven’t been to wales then
95p per week here

And they want you to Frank Bough almost before you arrive.

 

[gwi1890]

And they want you to Frank Bough almost before you arrive.

Worst thing is it’s the standard price whatever the quality of land

 

[Anymulewilldo]

How much of it is distortion from the hill lads payed big money too take the sheep off the hill for the winter? I know one outfit paid £1/sheep/week for them not too be there. Easy too bid 80/90p when the government is footing the bill!!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

How much of it is distortion from the hill lads payed big money too take the sheep off the hill for the winter? I know one outfit paid £1/sheep/week for them not too be there. Easy too bid 80/90p when the government is footing the bill!!

We've been taking hill sheep in since the 70ts so traditional here , but local lads will pay the same but sheep are larger

 

[deere 6600]

Used to be one lamb? To the acre over winter 1 st October to1st April I remember when for years it bought you 2 cwt of 20 10 10 Ah the good old days

 

[gwi1890]

How much of it is distortion from the hill lads payed big money too take the sheep off the hill for the winter? I know one outfit paid £1/sheep/week for them not too be there. Easy too bid 80/90p when the government is footing the bill!!

It’s exactly that, I know a man who sends all lambs to tac for £1 per head a week, (£20 for the winter) keeps 20% as replacements and sell the rest for £30 as stores in march