[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

not allowed pigs on the land

[Hevxxx99]

How about dairy goats? Or dairy sheep, come to that! Very niche market...

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

i wouldnt know where to start and dont have the facilities
we basically have a field

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

i also have to admit and i am probably on the dark side with this but i have always fancied a couple of dexter cows

but feel 2 acres just isnt enough

[SallyintNorth]

Two stirks, from weaning to 18 months, might just work depending on location, climate, grass quality.

Two cows implies 2 calves as well

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

would we need sheds for over winter?

[SallyintNorth]

would we need sheds for over winter?

For a couple of Dexter bullocks?  Well, they're hardy, but it'll depend on the ground.  If it gets wet and isn't well-drained, 2 beasts will turn it into a quagmire over winter.

[Timothy5]

One point about 'free range' eggs. My wife, who is a chef, tells me that her suppliers have to sign a declaration, stating how their produce is sourced. In the case of eggs, that would presumably include what the birds are fed on.

If your birds are 'free range' you cannot say exactly what they have eaten, could be plants and insects with insecticide on them for all you know. You cannot be 100% sure, so will you sign ?

I understand these rules apply for all foodstuffs supplied to the catering industry, and they cannot accept goods not accompanied with such certification.

Not trying to put anyone off, but I would advise a little caution, and a thorough investigation of the rules before you proceed.

[Coximus]

I'm near you and if you wish to come view a profitable flock of sheep in Leeds by all means get in touch.

To be honest and frank, 10 sheep is the same work as 100, and I would say I'd be shocked if you broke even with any less than 50, as you will have vet call out fees, fixed overheads etc spread over 10 sheep, or 50, those costs are roughly fixed>.

Furthermore, if you factor your time in, you will find that with 100 sheep, you would be lucky to earn £2 an hour really. Double that to 200 and your almost quadrupling your income as the first 80 or so really exist to pay your fixed time and travel / regulatory costs.
I would say veg, fruit and breeding stock production is the way to go - Breed Top quality Texel sheep and breed for easy lambing, you should be able to get 1-3 good tups on 2 acres, to sell a year at £1+ if you invest good money to start with. You'll also have 5-7 rejects to eat or sell for £70 in market.

Good easy lambing texels with a good body are in high demand - Otley, Skipton etc you see them regularly fetching £1k if theire good, bad ones usually closer to 200.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

what about wethers? maybe you could buy some of [member=10673]SallyintNorth[/member]  wool sheep and start your own wool flock?