Buying Ewes with lambs at foot

arctictree

Thought I'd open a new thread for this so as not to clutter up the other thread about in lamb ewes.

As someone who is looking to expand their flock, this is an option for me. Main problem is the price. Breeders are looking for up to €400 for twins. Mart is a no-go as they seem to have the worst of stock.

Here's an example : http://www.donedeal.ie/sheep-for-sale/pedigree-suffolk-ewes/6330909

This route actually worked well for me last year but not very profitable in the first year..

rancher

arctictree wrote: »

Thought I'd open a new thread for this so as not to clutter up the other thread about in lamb ewes.

As someone who is looking to expand their flock, this is an option for me. Main problem is the price. Breeders are looking for up to €400 for twins. Mart is a no-go as they seem to have the worst of stock.

Here's an example : http://www.donedeal.ie/sheep-for-sale/pedigree-suffolk-ewes/6330909

This route actually worked well for me last year but not very profitable in the first year..

Very hard to buy good pedigree ewes, breeder is usually selling the bottom of his stock and as these are 2 or 3 crop they're well tried. If it was me I'd buy crossbreds and get into purebreds by degrees breeding your own ewes, I take it you have a few purebreds already to breed ewes from.
I'm a pedigree breeder and I wouldn't buy anyones ewes and I learnt that the hard way.

AnFeirmeoir

arctictree wrote: »

Thought I'd open a new thread for this so as not to clutter up the other thread about in lamb ewes.

As someone who is looking to expand their flock, this is an option for me. Main problem is the price. Breeders are looking for up to €400 for twins. Mart is a no-go as they seem to have the worst of stock.

Here's an example : http://www.donedeal.ie/sheep-for-sale/pedigree-suffolk-ewes/6330909

This route actually worked well for me last year but not very profitable in the first year..

280 euro for a ewe with a single lamb . Would you ever make your money back .
Someone said here said 40 euro per ewe profit is average . This ewe will be around a while paying for herself.

Dickie10

I expanded the flock by buying say 20 ewes in sept off as reputable a guy as u can find, hard I know but their are honest people out there just cutting back perhaps. then I bought a maternal ram , a lleyn in my case. I kept on the ewe lambs from him and putthem to charrollais the following year after a couple of years youwll expand your fock but may need to change rams to avod in breeding. its a bit cheaper if you can take the hit of buying 20 ewes and not selling their female offspring.

Dickie10

resurecting this thread after 6 years , today i bought a few ewes with lambs at foot for the first time. Just wanting to know was i rode? twin lambs with 3 year old ewe = €220 x4
3 horny single 3 year old ewes=€110
2 , two year old ewes with singles 2 weeks old =€200

Lambman

Would need till seem them but them prices are top end in my book except the Hornys there not bad money but are lambs crossed till maternal ram or horned ram? Age off lambs and weights off ewes playback big part aswell.

Tileman

Lambman wrote: »

Would need till seem them but them prices are top end in my book except the Hornys there not bad money but are lambs crossed till maternal ram or horned ram? Age off lambs and weights off ewes playback big part aswell.

But on the pricey side. Won’t leave y much profit .

3 year old singles definitely a bit dear. Horny seem good value. Depends on the quality if the stock.

Sue best of luck with them . Hope they are lucky

Iodine1

I'm thinking your not so far off, well not rode anyway. Lambs are €100 and lambs for breeding often a €10 or so more. But hoggets are €175-190 and often havent lambed. These ewes are coming with lambs, you can't expect the ewes for nothing either. However I'm looking at the 2 yrs and lowlands, I think 3 yr is getting on as your opportunity for future years is dropping.

Dickie10

he seemed a genuine man and pointed out ones he wouldnt sell because of their hoistory etc, so i didnt go to mad bargaining down , i took the hit a bit with some so as not to fall out too much , he has plenty more for sale so hen he was genuine i said i would keep him sweet. the next time i can go a bit harder. plus i wasnt at marts to get the run of them, great to know

Lambman

Can I ask why your buying ewes with lambs at foot? Just under stocked or another reason? If it was just under stocked I wouldn't be paying top dollar for ewes and lambs. I would be working it out as if I was selling the the ewe same time as the lambs are ready say around mid july so I'd go €95-€100x2 for lambs and if decent ewe €90-€100. €280-€300... wouldn't leave a whole lot behind them taking in everything. Seen alot off good young ewes scanned with doubles making between €100-€130 In mart up here at start a march with them few bad weeks rain nobody wanted them. I'd a been fair licking my lips if I had a bought them if I was being offered that kinda money for them now.

stantheman1979

Lambman wrote: »

Can I ask why your buying ewes with lambs at foot? Just under stocked or another reason? If it was just under stocked I wouldn't be paying top dollar for ewes and lambs. I would be working it out as if I was selling the the ewe same time as the lambs are ready say around mid july so I'd go €95-€100x2 for lambs and if decent ewe €90-€100. €280-€300... wouldn't leave a whole lot behind them taking in everything. Seen alot off good young ewes scanned with doubles making between €100-€130 In mart up here at start a march with them few bad weeks rain nobody wanted them. I'd a been fair licking my lips if I had a bought them if I was being offered that kinda money for them now.

I’d be in total agreement. You weren’t rode but it was top dollar for 3yo ewes. I’ve plenty of ewe hoggets with lambs that I would sell at that price if you want more

davidk1394

Selling all our ewes lambs at foot. Hoping to have them all sold over the next few days.

stantheman1979

davidk1394 wrote: »

Selling all our ewes lambs at foot. Hoping to have them all sold over the next few days.

Is that you with the all black sheep on Dung deal

davidk1394

stantheman1979 wrote: »

Is that you with the all black sheep on Dung deal

Some of them are black alright

Kevhog1988

davidk1394 wrote: »

Selling all our ewes lambs at foot. Hoping to have them all sold over the next few days.

What location!?

davidk1394

theemigrant wrote: »

What location!?

South Tipperary

OneMan37

Dickie10 wrote: »

resurecting this thread after 6 years , today i bought a few ewes with lambs at foot for the first time. Just wanting to know was i rode? twin lambs with 3 year old ewe = €220 x4
3 horny single 3 year old ewes=€110
2 , two year old ewes with singles 2 weeks old =€200

Hard to say without seeing the stock. I think the singles for 200 may have been to much. Nevertheless, providing the doubles were decent ewes I think you got a good deal over all.

Dickie10

any sheep marts trading at the minute?

Hard Knocks

Dickie10 wrote: »

any sheep marts trading at the minute?

Dowra and Manorhamilton are running