Spring lamb prices

Green farmer · 31-07-2014 12:09pm

Maybe the rams for €500-€600 have go fast stripes on them :-)

Willfarman · 31-07-2014 12:51pm

Cran wrote: »

Agree with this, no point keeping a lamb for 300 when can get 140 as we did this spring direct to the factory. We cull heavy to the factory only about 40% of ram lambs born make it to the sales and would think many breeders are the same.

What expenses do you incur between April and August?

Green farmer · 31-07-2014 1:43pm

jt65 wrote: »

I bought 27 ewes with 51 lambs at foot for €5150 in 1 job lot , lambs were 3 weeks + and straight to grass

8 of the ewes were second crop & the remainder were aged ,but all are going back to the ram this year and some will be good for a year or two more

IMO far better value than giving crazy money for breeding hoggets

I did the same 2 years ago. Bought a batch of 10 aged ewes but very good quality. Long sheep. Worked out ok first year for me but not so good in second year. A lot of singles in the second year and some barron. Sneaks up on you as you forget about them when they blend into the main flock. Only 7 out of 10 alive after 2 years. The trick is to stay disciplined and not let them stay around too long, easier said then done

rangler1 · 02-08-2014 11:02am

Willfarman wrote: »

What expenses do you incur between April and August?

Ration is €500/ton, so you don't feel pumping in €100 into them , then there's Clik, vaccinations, footcare, lambplus fee, eye muscle scanning, cost€20/hd to enter premier sale, and you don't always sell them all, registering
Xbred sheep are much easier worked, often said here that the 450 ewes are easier looked after than the 50 purebreds, we spend more on stock rams, and the ewes need more ration to milk, The crossbred vendeen lambs would easily outperform the purebred lambs...all in all they are a lot more hassle.
If I was taking less than 400 for many of them...I wouldn't bother with them

Farrell · 02-08-2014 11:33am

Thanks for that.
Buying a stock ram for x breed you wouldn't appreciate that.
For me looking from this side I see 1 guy looking €300 for good looking stock, & the next ad doesn't appear to be as good, but the price is €500 up

jt65 · 02-08-2014 12:23pm

Farrell wrote: »

Thanks for that.
Buying a stock ram for x breed you wouldn't appreciate that.
For me looking from this side I see 1 guy looking €300 for good looking stock, & the next ad doesn't appear to be as good, but the price is €500 up

it the same with a lot of things, the seller needs €x to make a decent return & the buyer needs to source at €y

but x never equals y

have a friend who breeds ped suffolk only , no commercials , I know it's his love for sheep and maybe a few days outings at shows and sales are the only reasons he bothers

Willfarman · 02-08-2014 9:10pm

Ok but I neglect to understand how after breeding a pedigree sheep it is better to take a hundred and forty for them in March park than 300 in August sept? What the blazes is in a 500 euro ration? And would you feed a lamb 200 kgs of it on grass?

rangler1 · 02-08-2014 10:18pm

Willfarman wrote: »

Ok but I neglect to understand how after breeding a pedigree sheep it is better to take a hundred and forty for them in March park than 300 in August sept? What the blazes is in a 500 euro ration? And would you feed a lamb 200 kgs of it on grass?

Just the whole hassle of pedigree breeding, the lambs that end up in the factory don't compensate for it, so if the breeding ones don't, then you're better off with commercials. We're after basing our breeding programme on mainly two 5star rams for the last 6 or 7 yrs, and have done well on them, Now one of them has been down graded to 2star by sheep Ireland in the last 6mths even though he's 2 yrs dead,....you can imagine what that has done to his progeny, both in our own flock and other breeders....who'd bother doing pedigree breeding.
You should try breeding pedigree ram lambs, its an education, sure there's guys out there selling purebred non registered cheap but even they need fools like us to put the work in to ensure their stock rams are bred right

Willfarman · 02-08-2014 11:02pm

rangler1 wrote: »

Just the whole hassle of pedigree breeding, the lambs that end up in the factory don't compensate for it, so if the breeding ones don't, then you're better off with commercials. We're after basing our breeding programme on mainly two 5star rams for the last 6 or 7 yrs, and have done well on them, Now one of them has been down graded to 2star by sheep Ireland in the last 6mths even though he's 2 yrs dead,....you can imagine what that has done to his progeny, both in our own flock and other breeders....who'd bother doing pedigree breeding.
You should try breeding pedigree ram lambs, its an education, sure there's guys out there selling purebred non registered cheap but even they need fools like us to put the work in to ensure their stock rams are bred right

I don't think I could hack the boloxology that goes with it!

Lano Lynn · 02-08-2014 11:24pm

have seen this from both sides have bought all shapes and sizes and prices and sold good rams for poor money.

100% agree with rangler the cost of breeding good pedigrees is unreal and it is hard to stomach fellow sheep farmers expecting to buy them for less than production cost.it is just insulting.good breeders need 5-600e to justify the hastle and costs
years and generations of breeding has to have a value.(not to be confused with pedigree)
on the other hand to many so called top breeders are just top feeders who don't send half enough to the factory in march.
just because some muppet north of hadrians wall 'sold' fizzle pizzle for 40,000quid don't make fizzle pizzle a good sheep and pedigree breeders expecting commercial farmers to carry the costs of fantacy priced ram semen is not on

20 years ago sold rams for £300 now guys think 300euro is a great price fer a rehm and would prefer to give 150 for a piece of sh1t (pedigree or not) same guys complain when their cull ewes don't make over 100euro

there are a lot of hidden cost in pedigree breeding e.g traveled half way accross the country for a mate with 4 ram lambs sold the worst one for 350 and glad to see him gone no sale on the other 3 good sheep......home again wouldn't even cover costs for the day fuel,food,entry fees,n a days work lost at home.Repeat exersise until all rams sold:(

Willfarman · 03-08-2014 12:05am

Lano Lynn wrote: »

have seen this from both sides have bought all shapes and sizes and prices and sold good rams for poor money.

100% agree with rangler the cost of breeding good pedigrees is unreal and it is hard to stomach fellow sheep farmers expecting to buy them for less than production cost.it is just insulting.good breeders need 5-600e to justify the hastle and costs
years and generations of breeding has to have a value.(not to be confused with pedigree)
on the other hand to many so called top breeders are just top feeders who don't send half enough to the factory in march.
just because some muppet north of hadrians wall 'sold' fizzle pizzle for 40,000quid don't make fizzle pizzle a good sheep and pedigree breeders expecting commercial farmers to carry the costs of fantacy priced ram semen is not on

20 years ago sold rams for £300 now guys think 300euro is a great price fer a rehm and would prefer to give 150 for a piece of sh1t (pedigree or not) same guys complain when their cull ewes don't make over 100euro

there are a lot of hidden cost in pedigree breeding e.g traveled half way accross the country for a mate with 4 ram lambs sold the worst one for 350 and glad to see him gone no sale on the other 3 good sheep......home again wouldn't even cover costs for the day fuel,food,entry fees,n a days work lost at home.Repeat exersise until all rams sold:(

I often buy a crossbreed ram lamb lamb off neighbours and relations that would stand out for thrift and size and weight for age. Never regretted it.
Have often bought pedigree lambs. Over fed pampered yokes that melted. Often regretted it.

rangler1 · 03-08-2014 7:42am

Willfarman wrote: »

I often buy a crossbreed ram lamb lamb off neighbours and relations that would stand out for thrift and size and weight for age. Never regretted it.
Have often bought pedigree lambs. Over fed pampered yokes that melted. Often regretted it.

And do they use purebred rams, where do you think their breeding comes from

Willfarman · 03-08-2014 8:57am

rangler1 wrote: »

And do they use purebred rams, where do you think their breeding comes from

That would be true. Good point.

Western Pomise · 03-08-2014 7:09pm

Jaysus lads is this thread turning into a Pedigree breeding discussion?;)

Farrell · 03-08-2014 11:02pm

Western Pomise wrote: »

Jaysus lads is this thread turning into a Pedigree breeding discussion?;)

Good point, think I derailed things
Anyone sell far lambs lately?

rangler1 · 14-08-2014 10:06am

Farrell wrote: »

Good point, think I derailed things
Anyone sell far lambs lately?

81 lambs going today, will have 125 replacement ewe lambs and 270 fat lambs left out of around 720, how is everyone else's lamb sales going'
Would be over 50% sold here

Farrell · 14-08-2014 10:10am

rangler1 wrote: »

81 lambs going today, will have 125 replacement ewe lambs and 270 fat lambs left out of around 720, how is everyone else's lamb sales going'
Would be over 50% sold here

Rangler good luck to you that's some amount of lambs.
We'd 16, holding onto 3 to sell as hoggets in the spring, have 5 with the ram as replacement & rest are gone

rangler1 · 14-08-2014 10:18am

Farrell wrote: »

Rangler good luck to you that's some amount of lambs.
We'd 16, holding onto 3 to sell as hoggets in the spring, have 5 with the ram as replacement & rest are gone

Good going, are you mixed grazing through cattle

arctictree · 14-08-2014 11:06am

Farrell wrote: »

Rangler good luck to you that's some amount of lambs.
We'd 16, holding onto 3 to sell as hoggets in the spring, have 5 with the ram as replacement & rest are gone

22 here. Will hold on to a few for hoggets in spring and breeding ewes next summer. Trying to spread my income throughout the year.

Cran · 14-08-2014 11:49am

rangler1 wrote: »

81 lambs going today, will have 125 replacement ewe lambs and 270 fat lambs left out of around 720, how is everyone else's lamb sales going'
Would be over 50% sold here

April lambs starting to move here, 100 gone up to last week, and hopefully another 100 next week only because away this weekend. Key now is to keeping them thriving while not let them get to heavy, think lambs are in best nick ever been this time of year. Weaned last ones and was surprised could be so picky on which ones to move and which to hold for another week or two....

Great demand on rams this year maybe people are buying earlier than normal, anyone else finding this?

Farrell · 14-08-2014 3:34pm

rangler1 wrote: »

Good going, are you mixed grazing through cattle

Yes, other years we'd of had sheep ahead of cows till Mid June (Lambs sold) & then Ewes follow after cattle to clean.
This year we put all together, & move all to fresher more often.
Tried to give a little nuts it all (leave easier managed) which wasn't much as go to wrong troughs, but seamed to do better this year (maybe growth rates made the difference).

Farrell · 14-08-2014 3:37pm

arctictree wrote: »

22 here. Will hold on to a few for hoggets in spring and breeding ewes next summer. Trying to spread my income throughout the year.

Looking at how prices were in the spring, that could be a good idea.
That's the main advantage to sheep over cattle (cash flow)

Farrell · 14-08-2014 3:42pm

Cran wrote: »

April lambs starting to move here, 100 gone up to last week, and hopefully another 100 next week only because away this weekend. Key now is to keeping them thriving while not let them get to heavy, think lambs are in best nick ever been this time of year. Weaned last ones and was surprised could be so picky on which ones to move and which to hold for another week or two....

Great demand on rams this year maybe people are buying earlier than normal, anyone else finding this?

Agree. was on look out myself (eventually got 1).:)
Not much in the Marts, & Good Rams (particularly Suffolk) seamed to go fairly quickly on DD.
Trying the earlier lambing next year ourselves (Normally March), Ram went out on Saturday & 1 so far:o
You've purebreds, have you started to sell them yet, or hold out for mid-season sales?

Cran · 14-08-2014 4:50pm

Farrell wrote: »

Agree. was on look out myself (eventually got 1).:)
Not much in the Marts, & Good Rams (particularly Suffolk) seamed to go fairly quickly on DD.
Trying the earlier lambing next year ourselves (Normally March), Ram went out on Saturday & 1 so far:o
You've purebreds, have you started to sell them yet, or hold out for mid-season sales?

Ye have both hoggets and lambs this year as lambed late last year, between what we keep for ourselves and sales only 4 hoggets left real demand on them. Have sold a few lambs already but in no panic with them tbh

jt65 · 14-08-2014 5:45pm

Cran wrote: »

Ye have both hoggets and lambs this year as lambed late last year, between what we keep for ourselves and sales only 4 hoggets left real demand on them. Have sold a few lambs already but in no panic with them tbh

good to hear the trade is lively, was wondering cos a lot of rams re advertised at lower asking price, but having said that maybe the pick of the crop was gone

back on topic 25 lambs going next week leaving 10 for frezzer orders later on

held 24 ewe lambs and bought 15 mule lambs

over all happy with the returns this year though we got snookered a bit due to lack of rain

letting off the rams to morrow and the cycle starts all over again

most likely will be down on sheep numbers next year, have a lot of fr heifers for the bull and also young cattle

sea12 · 14-08-2014 9:43pm

Don't get how hogget and breeding prices are so good and em sales. Have people not seen the returns this year.

Only about 20% of my lambs gone but they are April lambs. Will weight again at weekdnd. From looking in field they seem to have put on nice weight in the last 2 weeks and should have a load tongi to factory.

Green farmer · 14-08-2014 9:49pm

Hope to get first April born away to mart on Monday, have a few overweight . Noticed that ectofly coverage is due to end soon so hope to have gone before fly realises this. Will redo those not at weights yet. Dry weather really slowed down the thrive here as well.

Farrell · 14-08-2014 10:12pm

Cran wrote: »

Ye have both hoggets and lambs this year as lambed late last year, between what we keep for ourselves and sales only 4 hoggets left real demand on them. Have sold a few lambs already but in no panic with them tbh

Well done

Cran · 14-08-2014 11:13pm

Green farmer wrote: »

Hope to get first April born away to mart on Monday, have a few overweight . Noticed that ectofly coverage is due to end soon so hope to have gone before fly realises this. Will redo those not at weights yet. Dry weather really slowed down the thrive here as well.

Just got kill sheet from Monday today , but disappointed with ko %. Averaged 20.4 kg but thought was some heavier lambs than sheet in the bunch

jt65 · 15-08-2014 9:05am

Cran wrote: »

Just got kill sheet from Monday today , but disappointed with ko %. Averaged 20.4 kg but thought was some heavier lambs than sheet in the bunch

think you had youngish enough lambs which can have a low k/o unless they were getting creep

still over average was good

Cran · 15-08-2014 9:12am

jt65 wrote: »

think you had youngish enough lambs which can have a low k/o unless they were getting creep

still over average was good

True and all within a tight weight range so more or less got paid on the average weight. Think I'll set the weight at 46/47 kg now before letting them go from now on....

eire23 · 15-08-2014 1:20pm

First batch of the april born lambs gone here, lamb thrive suffered a bit as the grass management wasnt the best. Definatly something that needs to be worked on next year.

razor8 · 15-08-2014 3:08pm

Anyone get more than the €4.40 base the factories are quoting this week?

rangler1 · 15-08-2014 6:22pm

razor8 wrote: »

Anyone get more than the €4.40 base the factories are quoting this week?

Put this in sheep photo thread, but thought it'd be better here

Lambs here put on 1.4kg/wk over the last 3wks.
Depending on grade this wks lambs should make between 4.60-4.70, but it costs €2 transport (10c/kg) and we get well cut for going outside the specs

razor8 · 15-08-2014 7:53pm

rangler1 wrote: »

Put this in sheep photo thread, but thought it'd be better here

Lambs here put on 1.4kg/wk over the last 3wks.
Depending on grade this wks lambs should make between 4.60-4.70, but it costs €2 transport (10c/kg) and we get well cut for going outside the specs

I have wide ranging grades here last lot had some r4 u4 and r2 in the batch as well as some over weight so I'd be screwed in group

Lambs are putting on weight here but some not fleshed enough so drafting at higher weights with 46kg minimum,
after next week il have 2/3 of ram lambs gone so not a bad year so far

rangler1 · 17-08-2014 11:27am

razor8 wrote: »

I have wide ranging grades here last lot had some r4 u4 and r2 in the batch as well as some over weight so I'd be screwed in group

Lambs are putting on weight here but some not fleshed enough so drafting at higher weights with 46kg minimum,
after next week il have 2/3 of ram lambs gone so not a bad year so far

Just comparing Liquithrive with Animax here this morning......liquithrive is €1 a dose Animax is €1.80
In every dose
Liqithrive has 15mg cobalt. Animax has 100mg
Liquthrive has 36mg copper animax has 2000mg
Liquithrive has 3mg iodine Animax has 470mg
Liquithrive has 3mg selenium Animax has100mg

But that's all that's in Animax whereas Liquithrive has loads of different thrace elements as well so I suppose it depends on what your farm is low in, but 15mg cobalt will only last 3wks

Cran · 17-08-2014 6:33pm

rangler1 wrote: »

Just comparing Liquithrive with Animax here this morning......liquithrive is €1 a dose Animax is €1.80
In every dose
Liqithrive has 15mg cobalt. Animax has 100mg
Liquthrive has 36mg copper animax has 2000mg
Liquithrive has 3mg iodine Animax has 470mg
Liquithrive has 3mg selenium Animax has100mg

But that's all that's in Animax whereas Liquithrive has loads of different thrace elements as well so I suppose it depends on what your farm is low in, but 15mg cobalt will only last 3wks

Think testing is key really, I farm in low cobalt/selenium area and have a copper issue here that test results showed

sea12 · 17-08-2014 8:50pm

Cran wrote: »

Think testing is key really, I farm in low cobalt/selenium area and have a copper issue here that test results showed

How do u get the tests done . Is it a blood test by vet?

Rucking_Fetard · 17-08-2014 10:03pm

sea12 wrote: »

How do u get the tests done . Is it a blood test by vet?

Grass test, no?

Cran · 17-08-2014 10:39pm

Rucking_Fetard wrote: »

Grass test, no?[/

copper was a blood tests done by local vet

razor8 · 18-08-2014 8:50am

rangler1 wrote: »

Just comparing Liquithrive with Animax here this morning......liquithrive is €1 a dose Animax is €1.80
In every dose
Liqithrive has 15mg cobalt. Animax has 100mg
Liquthrive has 36mg copper animax has 2000mg
Liquithrive has 3mg iodine Animax has 470mg
Liquithrive has 3mg selenium Animax has100mg

But that's all that's in Animax whereas Liquithrive has loads of different thrace elements as well so I suppose it depends on what your farm is low in, but 15mg cobalt will only last 3wks

Massive differences there, how long do liquithrive claim it will last for

Read up a bit about deficiency and posted on BFF and few claiming cosecure are a very good bullet and works better in high moly areas which we are here

Willfarman · 18-08-2014 9:34am

Lowland store lambs 35 kg bringing €72 in carnew on Thursday. Yet 48kg nice Charolais ewe lambs at 92€. Are prospects looking good for end of year/ new year or will there be tears!?

Green farmer · 18-08-2014 9:49am

€72 plus transportation home. Dosing, possible injections etc, putting on grass, nuts, silage,then the odd one keeling over, transportation back to mart, then mart fees, for a possible €90-100 at Xmas. We can all guess the answer to that question

razor8 · 18-08-2014 10:45am

Buying stores in November and keeping until march/April when they are scarce is only way that will pay, doesn't suit many set ups tho

jt65 · 18-08-2014 2:14pm

was in local supermarket earlier (very very rare occurrence)

notice a shelf with to day's bargains

2 loin lamb chops in a tray ...€24.68 per kg

will be booking in lambs later on, must inquire where the €20/kg goes to

jfh · 18-08-2014 6:56pm

rangler1 wrote: »

Just comparing Liquithrive with Animax here this morning......liquithrive is €1 a dose Animax is €1.80
In every dose
Liqithrive has 15mg cobalt. Animax has 100mg
Liquthrive has 36mg copper animax has 2000mg
Liquithrive has 3mg iodine Animax has 470mg
Liquithrive has 3mg selenium Animax has100mg

But that's all that's in Animax whereas Liquithrive has loads of different thrace elements as well so I suppose it depends on what your farm is low in, but 15mg cobalt will only last 3wks

rangler, do you give these to the ewes before letting with the ram?
we had a lot of poor lambs this year, trying to get it right this time.

eire23 · 18-08-2014 7:01pm

jfh wrote: »

rangler, do you give these to the ewes before letting with the ram?
we had a lot of poor lambs this year, trying to get it right this time.

I gave boluses to my ewes this year at the same time as i gave heptavac p before lambing on ranglers advice. Definatly seemed worthwhile imo, and lambs are getting the benefit of it through the milk.

rangler1 · 18-08-2014 9:29pm

jfh wrote: »

rangler, do you give these to the ewes before letting with the ram?
we had a lot of poor lambs this year, trying to get it right this time.

If your lambs are small, you should examine the ewes feeding in the last 6 weeks before lambing, the lamb does most of his growing in the last 6wks
I give Animax to ewe lambs and hogget ewes a month before mating, but the older ewes are usually in good condition then and I don't give them any at that time.
I do all the ewes a month before they lamb, It definitely has benefits then, livelier lambs, and the minerals passed on in the milk.
We've high molybdenum soil and also prone to iodine and cobalt deficiencies, so other farms might get away with less dosing

paddysdream · 18-08-2014 10:09pm

jt65 wrote: »

was in local supermarket earlier (very very rare occurrence)

notice a shelf with to day's bargains

2 loin lamb chops in a tray ...€24.68 per kg

will be booking in lambs later on, must inquire where the €20/kg goes to

Would you really like to know?

jfh · 19-08-2014 9:29am

eire23 wrote: »

I gave boluses to my ewes this year at the same time as i gave heptavac p before lambing on ranglers advice. Definatly seemed worthwhile imo, and lambs are getting the benefit of it through the milk.

we always give them covexin 8, used heptavac before, you think it better?

Spring lamb prices

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