Sheep dealing

donegal farmer

I'm thinking about getting into a Bitta sheep dealing and fattening stock Id like to be buying and selling ewes lambs etc and looking to.getting into finishing lambs I'll start next year I'm just wondering how to get in with the factory's that they give U a order for a number of lambs and wats the best way to start dealing sheep thanks

Jd310

My advice would be don’t, You will be working in a couple of euros a sheep if your lucky and mostly sheep loosing money. You sound green and new to it so you likely get polled around the rings for your first few months by the full time dealers.

But there’s no harm in trying a thing, buy a few sheep and sell them somewhere else and see how you get on and find what suits you, just don’t go too mad buying till you find your feet, as time goes on you will find customers for certain sheep and will know your market.

As far as factory’s go you have to be sending suitable sheep in large numbers weekly before they will think twice about you.

I take it your from Donegal, the mart fees in the marts in that County are very high, and with diesel at the price it’s at at the minute it’s not an easy job to be at.

kk.man

There is a difference between dealing and an agent for the factories. Dealing in sheep is almost gone because of the small margins involved. I know a few who deal in hogget ewes in the mid summer to autumn. This year they got some hidding.

A factory will have you alright but as the previous poster stated you need big numbers to make a go of it. If you go into the marts you need to make 'friends' with your fellow dealers and don't go greedy on them or they will finish you.

I'm not knocking your desire and if it's your wish you should follow it.

Jd310

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119780604#Comment_119780604

Online bidding also decreased the dealers margins, marts that used to be cheap now on par with everywhere else and far more transparency. Not knocking it because it’s a great tool when selling sheep.