General sheep thread

k mac

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670898#Comment_123670898

What in your opinion are the real benefits of easycare have looked into them alot over the years but see differing opinions, the people that rate them rave about them whilst people against them argue the only benefit is lack of shrearing and that you should be looking at other factors such as lamb on there own, feet probelms etc. Out of interest would you think running the likes of a dorset ram with easycare ewes, or pure easycare. If you run a different ram with them do they then not shed the wool

Dickie10

I just like what I heard on romneys go and lamb on their own and get on with it. The plan would be mid April lambing with them .

razor8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123679066#Comment_123679066

big fan of the Romneys too. rarely lose a lamb and great mothers

only down side is they arn't a great seller in the ring and you dont get a sharp looking ewe lamb to sell. haven't had one in a good few years but a lot of my ewes would have Romney blood in them

Kevhog1988

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123676537#Comment_123676537

I need a low input system as i have a lot going on. Busy job with a fairly long commute, child playing a lot of sport in another county and a baby on the way. From looking at the easycare they seem to be the answer to my time contraint issues. If i have a compact ewe that will lamb on her own, wean her own bodyweight in lamb and not get fly struck i think its the job for me.

Just an example: Yesterday i worked from home. Checked my ewes during the day. Headed to Offaly to watch my son play a match and then headed over to my homeplace in Kildare to go through lambs etc as im away on holidays this weekend . Ended up shearing my last 6 up there, cliking all the lambs and giving everything a mineral drench. Was an hour and a half drive home then and in my bed for 10 past 12. Back up this morning at half 6 to head to Dublin.

I think the Easycare will take some of the work off me and is definitely worth trying. I send 90% of my lamb to the Factory so looks dont really matter to me within reason. A decent carcass weight off as little time input as possible is what i need.

(Just adding I'm completely aware I make a rod for my own back with the majority of the above and living where I do etc)

Dickie10

that’s very tough going, like all sheep farmers I’m working too but as secondary school teacher I’m off from June 1st to late August and shearing and all other summer jobs is no problem, just around lambing is my issue, I’m also very lucky in that I’m home around 4:30 every evening in winter only work 25 minutes away. I usually get someone off farm relief for 2 weeks in last week February into first week of March as I’m off mid February for a week. Problem is getting a good person for daytime duties. Tough every year to find

Dinzee Conlee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123679473#Comment_123679473

Hmmm, I was thinking about your post last night Kev. Not trying to offend here, but are you sure you should have sheep? You have a lot going on, and with a new baby on the way things are going to get a lot busier…

I think we are all familiar with that feeling that you should be somewhere else - when you are at the day job, you are thinking you need to get home to mind the sheep, when you are out with the sheep you are thinking you need to get in home to mind the family, when you're in with the family you are thinking how will you organise the next day to keep everything going…

My missus would be of the opinion that its our wives/spouses bear the brunt of our part time farming. We all think we are great men for working harder, bringing in a bit of extra money, when really, what's actually wanted isn't more work or money, its time. Time inside with the family, time taking the kids to give your missus a break…

I know this is a bit of a negative post Kev, I kinda dont mean it to be but just trying to offer a different viewpoint I suppose…

Kevhog1988

I should of added above I work from home 2 days a week so try to organise the week to suit. Usually try to go to Dublin a day the young lad is playing football. This week is busier than most as we are away on the honeymoon on Saturday and I'm moving stuff around so I've no problems when I'm away.

Have cut back on numbers and going the easycare route so hoping that will allow more time but I wouldn't go back to not farming as I enjoy the sheep tbh. With the day job it can be fast paced. I love going out In the evening and putting the dog round the sheep etc. I don't drink or do drugs etc so I guess working is my vice 😅😅😅.

Anyway. For someone working a busy day job I think easycares are a suitable breed. My 2 cents above was my reasoning to why I'm considering the switch to the breed.

Young95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123679473#Comment_123679473

could you possibly sell or rent the land in Kildare and in return get more land closer to you ?

Kevhog1988

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123687008#Comment_123687008

I could but I don't want to. I'm as happy as a p1g in shyte doing what I'm doing lol. I'm conscious I could do things simpler e.g. getting a shearing contractor rather than doing my own but I like learning new things and applying them. I sheared all the sheep myself this year. Good sense of achievement doing it and saving myself on a gym membership.

My original post really wasn't meant as a "poor me" post. It was just an example of a busy evening because I have wool type sheep. I am delighted to be lucky enough to be farming I just have an interest in making it somewhat less labour intensive so looking at the easycares. The Kildare land is superb for fattening so I won't be selling it if I can help it at all.

wrangler

I got €173 for 44.5kg in the factory on thursday, my neighbour got €160 for the same weight in the mart on Wednesday

eire23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123691401#Comment_123691401

The factory is well ahead of the marts around here as well unless you have very heavy lambs. Fiver commission in some of them as well plus bring them there yourself.

Bleating Lamb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123691401#Comment_123691401

That’s interesting,was looking at the trade online in Dowra yday and thought myself that good well conformationed factory fit Suffolk and Texel x lambs weren’t making enough,when you consider what a similar type of store ram lamb 5-7 kg’s lighter were making……for eg~

53 kg brutes of Texel x at €176

49 kg Suffolk x at €171.

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123693166#Comment_123693166

I hope the store buyers confidence pays off for them, I'm very happy with factory prices at the moment,

When I was weighing i discovered one of my replacement ewe lambs was undershot in the mouth so had to cull her, I sent her to the factory, she weighed 55kg and killed out 29kg, but they only gave me €180 for her so no loyalty consideration there

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123693166#Comment_123693166

Same here I only got 160 for 44kg charolais x lambs in mart last week.

I thought they were worth 165 myself

Dickie10

contacting Kenmare tomorrow I’ll see what lie of the land was today there for stores

kk.man

No sign of a downturn in the sheep industry today going on results from Tullow.

Joesa

Lambs up 3 cent this week. Not a great lift but they normally nosedive this time of year

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123717228#Comment_123717228

Lambs were improving every week this time last year.

Kevhog1988

See theres a farm visit on a tefrom breeder farm on the 28th.

https://www.donedeal.ie/sheep-for-sale/tefrom-open-day/40343550

Joesa

I have 2 aged ewes and the are very scoury at the back. Both look in poor health also. Not getting any meal or anything and the other ewes in this field are running and skipping about like lambs when I checked them this evening.

Anyone know what might be the cause of this. And what should I do to dry them up.

I was going to start giving them a handful of nuts as I'm going to cull them in a couple of weeks

Thanks all

Dickie10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123719666#Comment_123719666

yes beside me I’m buying a hogget ram but I’ll be working thr open day unfortunately

orm0nd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123726780#Comment_123726780

A lot of sheep are scoury at present. I think it might be due to high nitrogen levels in the grass due to the weather. Our cow's milk urea is very high as well even though we didn't spread any chemical fertilizer for some time.

If they're black face ewes a drench or bolus with copper might help but only give this if they're Suffolk type.

If you're selling in a couple of weeks meal is probably your best bet.

Tileman

yea o noticed my own ewes tonight and was just commenting tang aloof them are a bit dirty back ends. Most whites here which is u usual. We’re on rich grass so putting it down to that.

MIKEKC

Scotch lambs on meals,43_44kg .What should they kill out?