The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: shrekfeet on September 09, 2009, 09:51:21 am
-
I have found someone to 'lend' me a ram. He said it would cost 'at least' £50 as they are good rams and sell for £400! I'm stuck otherwise so don't mind paying but wondered what you all thought of this arrangement?
-
As a dog breeder I would look at whether he suits your ewes firstly, but if you really are stuck for any alternative and he is healthy and proven I would ahead. Is the £50 a 'per ewe' or an 'all in' price? I know nothing about this I have to say.
-
Sounds fair to me, I pay £40!
-
We have a local farmer who has loaned a suitable Ram in the past for no fee.
We do usually give him a half lamb for his freezer in the spring - most big sheep farmers never eat
their own produce and just breed for money. We only have four sheep so not worth feeding a Ram or
having the problems rams can give you, especially when children often visit the farm.
Can you not find a frendlier farmer, or offer him a half lamb instead of the fee?
-
Sounds fair to me too.
-
Hi Shrekfeet...where are you (geographically)...I have a Shropshire ram (very overweight due to not having enough ewes to serve)...would be happy to let you borrow him for free...we're in Stafford.
Farmer
:farmer:
-
I have lent rams out to people for years, 4 for the past 5 yeas in all for a measely charge of nothing ;D ;D to soft probably :D
-
No, not soft - generous ;D It's called 'the milk of human kindness'
-
plus the rams are happy.
-
Always come back a little better than they went, and having had a good time ;D :D
-
We used to always borrow a ram too, from a friend who had a hill farm near Perth. Again, he charged nothing for it (a bottle of whisky was usually exchanged went he went back though), but we did tend to get whatever ram he had finished using first so we didn't always get a huge choice of breed. We had a vicious Suffolk ram once- couldn't turn your back on him!
Beth