The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: dyedinthewool on January 25, 2012, 09:55:27 pm

Title: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: dyedinthewool on January 25, 2012, 09:55:27 pm
Hi,

When lambs go to slaughter and Live weight is say 45kg what would you expect the dead weight to be (roughly) when lamb is returned fully butchered.

What price per kilo do you sell at.

Thanks
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: Small Farmer on January 25, 2012, 10:02:24 pm
About half.

Varies between £5 and £13 per kg and everything goes to friends and neighbours. 
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: daddymatty82 on January 25, 2012, 10:08:35 pm
about 22kg and  about £80-£100 a full lamb and £45-£55 per half lamb. only sell in half and full otherwise you may get left with odds and ends and people asking for a half lamb with and extra leg so you got to use 2 lambs to satisfy 1 order
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: Small Farmer on January 25, 2012, 10:11:51 pm
We live off the "odds and ends".  They're the tasty bits.  But we hate doing roast dinners (too many greasy pans to be cleaned)
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: si-mate on January 26, 2012, 09:06:49 am
about 22kg and  about £80-£100 a full lamb and £45-£55 per half lamb. only sell in half and full otherwise you may get left with odds and ends and people asking for a half lamb with and extra leg so you got to use 2 lambs to satisfy 1 order

Is that worth doing? Even stores here are making nearly £80 with finished lambs averaging £85. Add in £25 to kill and butcher and I'd want £125 + to make it worthwhile.
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: jaykay on January 26, 2012, 10:27:41 am
I say about half too. I reckon it goes in in kg and comes out in lbs.
In October, I sold half lambs only and charged £10 per kilo, so whole lambs were in the region of £180 -£200.
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: Rosemary on January 26, 2012, 01:01:20 pm
I say about half too. I reckon it goes in in kg and comes out in lbs.
In October, I sold half lambs only and charged £10 per kilo, so whole lambs were in the region of £180 -£200.

We put our 5 away in mid November. Combined deadweight was 105kg. We sold half lambs for £10/kg. The halfs were between 8 and 9.5kg.
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: SteveHants on January 26, 2012, 04:46:32 pm
I charge £80/ half lamb and £150 per full lamb and I consider that cheap. You couldnt out a lamb together in tescos for that price and I consider my product superior to theirs.
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: dyedinthewool on January 26, 2012, 10:09:14 pm
Very interesting......

My reason for asking for all the input was wondering if it's really worth slaughtering for your own freezer (baring you know you produced it -know what its been reared on and any chemicals it's had - plus you've hopefully given it a good, stress free life)

With 'market' prices quite good at the moment,  I was interested to see the difference between selling at the local market £80 for a 43kg lamb OR getting some slaughtered and butcher packed, selling some and keeping whats left for me (I don't mind the 'bits' left over... ;D I love lamb casserole/pies  :yum: more than joints or chops )
 
OH doesn't eat meat (since a small child) he just doesn't like the taste - he doesn't know whats he's missing - me I'm a real carnivore...

Thanks again
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: Garvie on January 27, 2012, 06:35:11 pm
hey

am new to this forum but i know that its roughly 48% of the live weight but rule of thumb half the live weight and take a kilo off

hope i could help

Garvie
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: dyedinthewool on January 27, 2012, 08:46:12 pm
hey

am new to this forum but i know that its roughly 48% of the live weight but rule of thumb half the live weight and take a kilo off

hope i could help

Garvie

welcome garvie :wave: - see what an interesting and informative forum this is.

hope you keep posting...
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: feldar on January 27, 2012, 08:57:07 pm
We will sell 22kg lambs butchered and packed at £120-130 a lamb! come on guys your lamb is worth that, think of all the time you put into them. running about , fuel , feed etc the butcher draws more than that and customers go to him. Mostly we are all selling good quality, well grown, home grown lamb. get out there and market it properly, don't give it away :farmer:
Title: Re: Live Weight/Dead weight
Post by: SteveHants on January 27, 2012, 09:56:19 pm
We will sell 22kg lambs butchered and packed at £120-130 a lamb! come on guys your lamb is worth that, think of all the time you put into them. running about , fuel , feed etc the butcher draws more than that and customers go to him. Mostly we are all selling good quality, well grown, home grown lamb. get out there and market it properly, don't give it away :farmer:

Well put, my thoughts exactly.