Looking for any advice, starting with sheep.

Redhead84

Hi all,

Basically looking for any and all advice to do with sheep. Thinking of getting a few sheep no more than ten to start, what is the best way to start as in do I get ewes in lamb? Do I get pets. My grandfather farmed but im starting afresh I havent much money to start and don't want to waste what I do have. My setup is hayshed with concret floor my father has (its jus used for storage) and at moment an acre will have access to 15 acres by end of year please god.

Everyone has to start somewhere and I'd like to hear peoples advice, Im not clueless with regards to animals however I do need the dummies guide to raising sheep, and is it possible to make money with that few?

Cheers, for any advice given.

Siamsa Sessions

Have a look at the various threads on this forum and you'll get a sense of the everyday realities facing people who look after sheep for a living.

Look at these threads in particular:

Getting a few sheep: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057366564

Queries about Sheep-Farmers: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057361224

How did the sheep go for you this year: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057349917

Sheep farming: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057327522

rangler1

Tips for all you guys from Farmers Journal,
http://www.farmersjournal.ie/the-abcs-of-lambing-173261/
The picture is one of my lambs from 2011

farawaygrass

rangler1 wrote: »

Tips for all you guys from Farmers Journal,
http://www.farmersjournal.ie/the-abcs-of-lambing-173261/
The picture is one of my lambs from 2011

Do u management tag them straight away? What way do you work it, ie is it different colour tags or only tags one for keeping?

rangler1

farawaygrass wrote: »

Do u management tag them straight away? What way do you work it, ie is it different colour tags or only tags one for keeping?

That's a pedigree lamb, we management tag them all to keep track of them for registering, we use a different colour every year.
We use the same make of tag in the crossbreds, but it's the NSIS factory tag.
Didn't mean to drag this off track, just thought that it'd give redhead an idea of what was involved in lambing ewes

Redhead84

Hey, thanks for all the replies I'd actually read the posts you advised, the farmers journal bit v helpful too. The tag thing how does it differ from cattle? What are my options when it comes to selling lambs like what age is best to sell them and is factory or market best, also would most market lambs go for live export? How often to ewes lamb and when is the best time to lamb, can you rent a ram or how does that work. Sorry for all the questions but don't want to jump into something half arsed.

Nekarsulm

Strictly speaking, all lambs MUST be tagged before sale, and female lambs you are keeping on for breeding, must be tagged by the age of 12 months. These are the minimum requirements.
Selling lambs, its not by age, its as soon as they reach a certain weight. Usually anything over 44kg live weight or thereabouts. Most sold in marts are bought by butchers or factory appointed buyers.
No point having lambs 55kg live weight, and bringing to a factory., because they only pay you up to a particular weight (22 kg deadweight usually) and the rest is just free meat for the factory.
A ewe usually lambs once a year, although sometimes this could be shortened to 11 months.
If you arte planning to lamb in late March, you could probably get a loan off a ram from a farmer who lambs earlier. He might take the ram out from the ewes in October, and then the ram can tip your ewes later.
First thing will be to apply to Dept. AG. and get a Flock Number, Register, and sales book. You cant do anything till you get these sorted out.

Redhead84

Hey thanks that was a great help, yes I've the paperwork from dept just need to fill it out now!