The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Farmerfi on June 21, 2016, 10:59:47 pm
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:wave:
Hi all, this is my first year trying lambs going for slaughter, ive had sheep for a couple yrs on a very small scale but only sold as breeding but this yr really wanted to try lambs for slaughter, could anyone tell me will my local mart take my sheep for sale when at slaughter weight and if so am i right in thinking about 40-43 kgs?or do i have to get them butchered myself as not keen to do that as want to see how i get on trying to sell them on for slaughter if i can do that or is it best to sell them as store or fat lambs, I do ahve enough grass to keep them a few more months
thanks for any help
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You could put them in the fat ring at market or sell direct to the abattoir. But selling to commercial buyers which both of these would be will limit the profit and they would need to be the right grades to get the best money- over fat or overweight and you'll be heavily penalised. Have a look at eblex they have fantastic guides on lamb grading and advice on when to send for slaughter based on condition as well as weight.
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I'm not sure if this helps, but I used to send my Lleyn's and Lleyn x's for slaughter at 35-40 kg per lamb, or as fat lambs. Have you got a weight crate at all? Or could you borrow one? They tell me at mart that they set the scales back a bit, not sure how true that is.
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Depending on the number you have, your local mart may be happy to send a fields person to have a look at them for you, and advise. Can't hurt to give them a ring and ask. When I had Swaledale lambs as well as Texels out of Mules and Mules, it was very helpful to have the mart's fields person on board, as they knew the specific markets which wanted that type of lamb.