The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: JMB on July 05, 2012, 04:19:46 pm

Title: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: JMB on July 05, 2012, 04:19:46 pm
Hello.
We have 10 Hebridean ewes (unregistered) and 11 lambs.
We might fatten them up for the freezer, although we want to look at the options of selling them on instead.
Only I'm not sure who'd want unregistered ones, and we've never done it before.
I know other ewes go for breeding and lambs for store, but I'm not sure about our Hebs.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks, Joanne
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: Fleecewife on July 05, 2012, 04:38:37 pm
Hi Joanne
 
You don't say whereabouts you are.  A fair place to sell them would be at a rare breeds sale, where they usually have a section for unregistered and cross-bred stock at the end of the sale.  If you are in Scotland, the Stirling Rare Breeds Sale with The Hebridean Sheep Society Scottish Show and Sale is held at Caledonian Marts towards the end of September (last year 23rd, previous 25th)
Again, if you are in Scotland, there is a fair trade in unregistered Hebrideans, especially the further north and west you go.  I don't know what the situation is in England and Wales, but judging by messages on TAS there are plenty of people happy with unreg stock down there.
 
It would seem to be a perfect opportunity to rear the lambs to eating size (best at 16 months for Hebs) and sell on the adults.
 
You might also do well selling by advertising in the farming papers, or even in your local feed store.
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: Mallows Flock on July 05, 2012, 04:41:55 pm
South Petherton market has a Rare breeds sale very soon if you are Somerset way at all!
I have some unregistered Shetlands.... I guess people only need them to be registered if they intend on showing them or getting a name for themselves in the breeding world.
If they intend on eating them and their offspring or using them as a hobby/pets/grass-grazers then unregistered ones are just as good as registered ones.
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: JMB on July 05, 2012, 05:06:38 pm
Hello again.
Yes we're in Central Scotland and I've been to the rare breed sale before in Stirling. I was thinking most of them were registered because the Hebridean Society are all there.
We had planned to keep our ewes and slaughter the lambs, but hadn't realised we'd have to keep them so long (I think you told me Fleecewife!) and we don't have a huge amount of space.
We could slaughter the ewes but we're a bit attached and they were such good mums it seems a shame to just eat them and not breed from them again!
Maybe I'm just too sentimental.
Thanks, Joanne
 xxxx
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: Fleecewife on July 05, 2012, 08:14:16 pm
Oh I see - I didn't pick up that you wanted to keep the ewes.
If it's keeping the lambs over that's the problem, you might be able to get someone who will buy them to finish.  I can think of one possibility not far south of you - I can pm you a phone number if you are interested.  That would mean though that you wouldn't have any to eat yourself, which would be a shame.  Also I don't think you would get much for them.
I wonder if there's any conservation grazing near you, which needs eating down over the winter.  Although I think they might have to be registered for conservation grazing, in order for the landowner to get the subsidy  :(
 
Is it worth your while looking for some land to graze them on over the winter?
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 05, 2012, 10:54:06 pm
I wonder if there's any conservation grazing near you, which needs eating down over the winter.  Although I think they might have to be registered for conservation grazing, in order for the landowner to get the subsidy  :(
I probably shouldn't even post, as the Scottish rules will be different, and anyway I don't know anything about subsidies for conservation grazing with sheep - but south of the border, there are different rates of subsidy, one for generally managing grazing according to a prescription, and a higher rate of pay for using specific native breeds (of cattle I know, I think also for ponies - not sure about sheep.)  The reason I posted was to highlight that, in the English / Welsh systems, the stock used must be fully pedigreed in order to qualify for the subsidy.  (Which I am understanding these heb lambs are not.)
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: JMB on July 06, 2012, 07:58:21 am
Thanks for your replies.
Fleecewife- it's my fault you're confused. It's because I'm confused myself.
I think your idea of selling the ewes and finishing the lambs would be a better idea.
(It's just my heart talking and not my head sometimes.)
And if you know anyone who might be interested that would be great.
 
Although- another daft question coming now, sorry- I'm assuming we'll sell once the lambs have been weaned from their mums? (Our lambs arrived late April, early May)
Only I see other posts about lambs being sold already.
 Thanks again, Joanne xxx
 
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: Fleecewife on July 08, 2012, 11:55:19 am
Different breeds and different lambing times  :sheep:    Some breeds are ready for slaughter straight off their dams, others finish very slowly.  I see some folk wean at 3 months, but as the point surely is to give the lambs the best start in life, why take them off their dams so early - the ewes aren't going to be doing anything else.   They do need a couple of months to rest before tupping, but they can still get that if they wean the lambs themselves, as they have done that by 5 months.
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: JMB on July 08, 2012, 12:43:30 pm
Thanks Fleecewife.  Think we have decided to take your advice and keep the lambs till next year and have them for ourselves.
Which means we'll sell the ewes in the autumn, either privately or at the Cale Marts Rare Breed sale.
If you know anyone in the meantime please let me know!
10 Hebridean ewes, well behaved, good mothers, no mames apart from John Wayne (she walks funny) and The Sheep That Likes Bread.
Thanks again, Joanne xxxx
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: Fleecewife on July 08, 2012, 02:23:01 pm
OK I'll see if I can contact The Man  :sheep:
 
What ages are the ewes?  Can you PM me the price range you are hoping for?
Title: Re: Selling unregistered Hebrideans
Post by: JMB on July 08, 2012, 06:38:56 pm
Hello again. Thanks for your reply.
I have to admit we haven't counted their teeth, but we are pretty sure they are 3 years old.
We also have no idea of a price because we've never sold any before.
But we open to offers and will count teeth if required no problem, but not tonight as they've only just been sheared (huge backlog) and that's enough stress for any sheep for one day xxxx