The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: waterbuffalofarmer on September 15, 2016, 08:37:59 am
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I bought my friesland x, I think improved, welsh ewe. She is very prolific giving twind last year, besides lambs previous, and trips, I think, this year. She has had no foot problems/fly strike at all. She has reared her lambs very well. I merely ask this because I was trying to sell her for £75 and everyone said that she isnt worth that much, I must admit I did feel very hurt as I paid quite a bit for her. She feels more than worth it in my opinion, because she is so good. What do you guys think?
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A full-mouthed ewe being cast from the mountains might go for that much here in Herefordshire, particularly if in lamb. If you consider her to be a good ewe might it be an idea to keep her and let her go around again, particularly if her daughters are still in the flock and are also good?
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I was thinking that not long ago, sadly she never gave me ewe lambs this year, I bought her end of last year for milking, but I just havent had the time. Mum says keep her, dad says get rid and am torn. I want to but I dont really have the time. Decisions, decisions. She is perfectly happy with yhe flock rearing lambs and her lsmb was tasty this year. I think I may have to think it over a bit more. Thing is, is it too expensive or too cheap, or a good price? :-\
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Sad to say she is only worth what someone will pay for her. As she is a good breeder I would keep her.
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I think you're asking about the right money but would probably keep her now if she's causing you no trouble, put her to a ram and see if she takes- if she doesn't then sell her as a cull in the new year, if she does then give her another 12 months. The only thing that might make you sway towards sell her now is she will be worth more now than as a 6T next year or full mouth. Or you could put her to a ram and sell in lamb?
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It should be easy to find the going rate value for an equivalent as a shearling
Then deduct £15/£20 year for every year older she gets
But the market will decide ====
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I saw your post locally on FB. The only thing I'd say to may you feel better is, the local market both FB and live is crazy at the minute:- stupidly high prices one minute and no money at all the next for no obvious reason. I would think you are also up against the fact that she is a singleton. If it was me I'd stick her in the heard, make sure she settles all right and then let her get on with it.
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Has she previously been a dairy ewe? Emphasising that aspect might pique the interest of more specialist buyers.
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Has she previously been a dairy ewe? Emphasising that aspect might pique the interest of more specialist buyers.
Well she was milked for a bit by her previous owner before he retired, not sure whether that would say much though :(
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On a similar note to this buying our first ram how much should we pay ?
I have seen a 4 shear Lleyn ram - £100
A 3 shear Lleyn ram - £140-150
Shearling Lleyn £250
Do this sound about right ? ? We do have a local ram sales this weekend where a 4 shear, 3 shear and shearling Lleyn are in the catalogue but have no experience of the sales / likely prices.
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I bought my friesland x, I think improved, welsh ewe. She is very prolific giving twind last year, besides lambs previous, and trips, I think, this year. She has had no foot problems/fly strike at all. She has reared her lambs very well. I merely ask this because I was trying to sell her for £75 and everyone said that she isnt worth that much, I must admit I did feel very hurt as I paid quite a bit for her. She feels more than worth it in my opinion, because she is so good. What do you guys think?
Who's everybody?
Presumably those who wouldn't buy anything with Friesland in it anyway, or those that think welsh is mainly a hill breed, or those that wouldn't buy anything unless it's ultra cheap or free - in which case they'd snap your hand off. So she's not worth £75 to them. So their opinion is fairly irrelevant and they were never going to buy her anyway.
The price sounds right and if you advertise in the right place I'm sure you'll find the rght buyer.
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On a similar note to this buying our first ram how much should we pay ?
I have seen a 4 shear Lleyn ram - £100
A 3 shear Lleyn ram - £140-150
Shearling Lleyn £250
Do this sound about right ? ? We do have a local ram sales this weekend where a 4 shear, 3 shear and shearling Lleyn are in the catalogue but have no experience of the sales / likely prices.
If buying in a shearling £250 is the lowest they can go for at a ram sale. Prices also greatly vary on genetics of the ram, whether he is EBV recorded and what not. The main thing about the ram isn't necessarily the price, although this is important too, set yourself a budget of what you can spend, but the quality of the animal, good confirmation, feet and most importantly if he was fed tons of feed or was grass reared. Make sure you buy off a good breeder and that the flock doesn't have foot problems. I tend to buy directly off farm, you do pay a bit more but it is well worth it! I sold my shearling ram for £150 and my other ram for quite a bit more. The one I bought in just yesterday, well I'm not saying how much I paid for him as it was a lot of money, but his EBV's are in the top 5% and his confirmation is brilliant! Hope this helps and all the best! :thumbsup:
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quote]
If buying in a shearling £250 is the lowest they can go for at a ram sale. [/quote] At a breed society sale this is true but at a general ram sale any price accepted by the vendor . The asking price for your ewe seems about right
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Could I ask we are attending our first sale this weekend and are basically looking for some tips. We have downloaded the catalogue and have seen a few we will be interested in but how does it work ? They are advertised in pens so are all sheep in that pen sold together ? E.g a pen of 4 charrolais would all 4 be sold together or could we just by one ?
Any tips would be much appreciated !
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Normally the whole pen is sold as one lot. Unless, for example, it is a pen of breeding rams/ram lambs from the same breeder, in which case I would expect them to be sold individually.
Best to get there early and talk to the vendors, or experienced buyers who are hanging about and who will be happy to share their opinions of any sheep you may be interested in.