Shearing.

Green farmer

wrangler wrote: »

And every farmer under 45 is capable of shearing their own any way, Equpment isn't expensive. any way it's easy enough to keep the ewes treated.
I got the same hassle as serfspup when I was at it, but mobile phones were not around, often took the phone off the hook

Not sure about the 45 bit. A sheep farmers back can start giving them bother a few years before that. Agree with you on the clik, a lot easier to shear after the lambs are weaned. However a summer like last one and you could find yourself under pressure. You get around to visiting Campbell’s farm ?

FarmerDougal

Anyone recommend to dip all sheep and lambs this weather? Sheep are sheared two weeks and one lamb with maggots so far. Either that or click lambs?

wrangler

FarmerDougal wrote: »

Anyone recommend to dip all sheep and lambs this weather? Sheep are sheared two weeks and one lamb with maggots so far. Either that or click lambs?

Clik is the most strightforward, Clikzin for lambs that you're selling in the next 40 days and Clik for those that won't be sold in the next 40days. Even with Clikzin you can't slaughter for a week after application.
Same goes for Cliking ewes, you shouldn't have to worry about maggots for the season then

wrangler

Green farmer wrote: »

Not sure about the 45 bit. A sheep farmers back can start giving them bother a few years before that. Agree with you on the clik, a lot easier to shear after the lambs are weaned. However a summer like last one and you could find yourself under pressure. You get around to visiting Campbell’s farm ?

No, had afew late nights in Scotland so just headed straight home from the ferry, There was a few irish guys staying the same hotel as us.

Bleating Lamb

Weather v changeable here the last week or so but managed to get the ewes clipped yday,dropped in the wool to merchant on way home....50c a kg..... didn’t go near paying for clipping.
Ewes had big heavy fleeces so glad to have it off them.

wrangler

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Weather v changeable here the last week or so but managed to get the ewes clipped yday,dropped in the wool to merchant on way home....50c a kg..... didn’t go near paying for clipping.
Ewes had big heavy fleeces so glad to have it off them.

We just seem to be one step away from paying to get rid of wool at the mo,
When you look around, no one is wearing wool and it's unhealthy to have carpets down so it's wonder that we're able to sell it all.

charolais0153

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Weather v changeable here the last week or so but managed to get the ewes clipped yday,dropped in the wool to merchant on way home....50c a kg..... didn’t go near paying for clipping.
Ewes had big heavy fleeces so glad to have it off them.

1.50 a ewe would be an average enough yield and shearing couldnt be much more than 2.50.

Green farmer

wrangler wrote: »

We just seem to be one step away from paying to get rid of wool at the mo,
When you look around, no one is wearing wool and it's unhealthy to have carpets down so it's wonder that we're able to sell it all.

It’s not just the cost of paying the shearer. Factor in your own labour costs and price of clik and it’s becomming seriously uneconomical and a pita.

wrangler

Green farmer wrote: »

It’s not just the cost of paying the shearer. Factor in your own labour costs and price of clik and it’s becomming seriously uneconomical and a pita.

Here's a quote from our other discussion forum.....hope he's right

''It looks as if prices will rebound quickly this season, a weaker currency less wool in the world and a switch to natural fibres as a result of concerns about plastic and man made fibre.''

might be the year to store it

Apparently this Irish firm is paying 65p/kg in England

http://www.wool.ie/

Texacloth is paying over £1/kg

Green farmer

They say wool prices are linked to oil prices, so might get a boost there

ganmo

wrangler wrote: »

Here's a quote from our other discussion forum.....hope he's right

''It looks as if prices will rebound quickly this season, a weaker currency less wool in the world and a switch to natural fibres as a result of concerns about plastic and man made fibre.''

might be the year to store it

Apparently this Irish firm is paying 65p/kg in England

http://www.wool.ie/

Texacloth is paying over £1/kg

He buys a fair bit here too

Green farmer

Are they paying any better here ? Hear a lot of lads getting 50c from the average wool merchant.

sheepfarmer92

How us it theyre fit to give a pound a kilo over there and only 50 or 55 cent here? Just getting screwed by them

charolais0153

sheepfarmer92 wrote: »

How us it theyre fit to give a pound a kilo over there and only 50 or 55 cent here? Just getting screwed by them

They also said that they quote an amount and only end paying half of it.
They can only sell the wool in autumn amd have to travel a good distance to get rid of it.


The thread was asking should the lad sell hos wool in ireland.

Green farmer

charolais0153 wrote: »

They also said that they quote an amount and only end paying half of it.
They can only sell the wool in autumn amd have to travel a good distance to get rid of it.


The thread was asking should the lad sell hos wool in ireland.

I thought it was their wool board over there that promised the high prices and delivered less at the end of year. I think the point that’s being made is the English are being paid more for their wool then the Irish, yet are dealing with the same buyers.

Blaas4life

sheepfarmer92 wrote: »

How us it theyre fit to give a pound a kilo over there and only 50 or 55 cent here? Just getting screwed by them

Have heard in many cases it's down to quality...I know alot of places don't pull the dirt off the wool before putting it in the bag/


Even know of one place left a dead lamb in one of sacks going to the merchant :eek:


Lads blowing straw into pens during winter and it's supposedly impossible to take out again....

.it's far from a highly profitable enterprise IMO buying wool,collecting it ,handling/going through it and compressing it again,gambling on curremcy exchange...transporting to Bradford to sell....and having to account for certain% that'll need dumping

While lads prob do ok outta it,noones becoming a millionare/screwing anyone IMO

stantheman1979

I would tend to agree with you. Worked on a shearing gang when I was younger. Seen farmers pick up fleeces with lumps of ****e on them heavier than the fleece and put it into the wool pack. Even sweeping up all the daggings at the end and put them into the middle of it. So in some ways you can’t blame the merchants. But that’s not everyone and 60 c for wool isn’t on either.

Green farmer

Interesting article, the guy makes the point again that the buyers Irish buyers are paying more up north for the product then what they are south, due to competition.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/wool-prices-expected-to-remain-competitive-as-demand-is-set-to-grow/

wrangler

My shearer was shearing a flock that had a few first and second cross shedders on them, not all of them shedding properly, owner told him to ''give them a rub''. Shearer informed him that if he pulled them outa the pen it would be €2.50...he said he never saw a flock getting small so quick before.
Farmer must've thought there'd be no charge......flip all wool and still have to pay the shearer :eek:

Green farmer

Was talking to a lad that has a small flock of about 30 of them. Says he gives them a rub of a brush and the remaining wool pops off.

ganmo

wrangler wrote: »

My shearer was shearing a flock that had a few first and second cross shedders on them, not all of them shedding properly, owner told him to ''give them a rub''. Shearer informed him that if he pulled them outa the pen it would be €2.50...he said he never saw a flock getting small so quick before.
Farmer must've thought there'd be no charge......flip all wool and still have to pay the shearer :eek:

Do ppl not realize that?

sheepfarmer92

wrangler wrote: »

My shearer was shearing a flock that had a few first and second cross shedders on them, not all of them shedding properly, owner told him to ''give them a rub''. Shearer informed him that if he pulled them outa the pen it would be €2.50...he said he never saw a flock getting small so quick before.
Farmer must've thought there'd be no charge......flip all wool and still have to pay the shearer :eek:

Its grand if ya shear them yourself though, half way through ours now today

Green farmer

sheepfarmer92 wrote: »

Its grand if ya shear them yourself though, half way through ours now today

Would it come away with a rub of a comb ?

sheepfarmer92

Green farmer wrote: »

Would it come away with a rub of a comb ?

Well the few i have are fully shed or need to be fully sheared, if theyre not fully clean theyre sheared basically, say iv around a hundred that dont need shearing so far, getting great thrive with the lambs theyre out performing texel cross lambs

davidk1394

Didn’t even shear our sheep yet

Siamsa Sessions

I've been thinking about shearing our 40 ewes myself next year.

Would you need a proper machine with an overhead "engine" like the professional lads? Or would a handheld-type cheaper one do?

Green farmer

Speaking to a lad last week that shears his own small hobby flock. Had a cheap handheld clippers, says he does one or two a night, takes 20 minutes a sheep. If you’ve 40, might be cheaper to let a shearer knock them all out in a hour or two. If you intent on shearing yourself , get a decent machine, the cheaper machines with the motor in the piece tend to overheat. Buy right and get a lifetime out of it (or until your back goes) and your back ringing the shearer again.

Siamsa Sessions

Green farmer wrote: »

Speaking to a lad last week that shears his own small hobby flock. Had a cheap handheld clippers, says he does one or two a night, takes 20 minutes a sheep. If you’ve 40, might be cheaper to let a shearer knock them all out in a hour or two. If you intent on shearing yourself , get a decent machine, the cheaper machines with the motor in the piece tend to overheat. Buy right and get a lifetime out of it (or until your back goes) and your back ringing the shearer again.

Thanks.

Was talking to a lad recently and he reckoned 10 average-size ewes per hour would be realistic for a beginner.

Anyone on here reckon that's possible?

I'd be fairly fit and agile (despite turning a mighty 42-years-of-age next October) but have never held a shearing machine in my hand.

Lambman

Wouldn't bother you'll buy a machine and try till do them but will soon realize there's more till it than it looks like and they'll be thrown on a shelf after the first year never till be used again. 10 per hour would be realistic for a beginner yea but them 10 when your learning will be sorer on you than 50 when you get the hang off it.

gazahayes

Do my own here did the course when in gurteen. Would usually do 20 an evening to start and try finish off at the weekend weather and time dependant. Finished the last 74 ewes and 5 rams here yesterday you just need a strong back and a weak mind!!