[FiB]

We have about 6 acres of lush aftermath (growth after hay cut) to rent out for about 8 weeks - any ideas about the going rate, either per acre or per head of sheep?  Wont do it next year as will have a bigger flock, but makes sense this year I think.  Did think about getting some store lambs, but dont havce a trailer yet, so logistically dificult!  Thanks, Fi

[Fronhaul]

Round here the average is 50 pence per head per week.

[SteveHants]

Round here the average is 50 pence per head per week.

Round here you might pay that on dairy winter keep (tends to be very rich) or stubble turnips, but hay aftermath is 20p.

[Crofterloon]

Its about 25p per head per week here during the winter.

[woollyval]

Get cattle in as other peoples sheep might bring little visitors with them to infect your pasture and sheep

[FiB]

Get cattle in as other peoples sheep might bring little visitors with them to infect your pasture and sheep

Yes that was my ideal Val, and I shant be doing it again - closed flock (as far as I can) from next year.


  No takers on the cattle front (we do have a neighbour who has cattle, but he has more land than you can shake a stick at.   Accepted £150 for the 8 weeks (and I think its nearer 5 and a half acres after all) which seems OK (unless as Val says, they bring in a disease that ends up killing one or more of my sheep [size=78%]).  [/size]

The store lambs will be off begining of December and I can leave land until Feb if I need to (8 weeks rest, and hopefully we will have had some hard frost by then) - how long SHOULD I leave it after visiting sheep have departed?

[SteveHants]

Leave it as long as you feel able - I doubt there will be much gass growth Dec-Feb anyway, grass might start growing in March, depending where you are. I would do a sneaky FEC on his sheep that day before they leave too.

[doganjo]

Totally off topic, but can someone explain the meaning of 'closed flock' please.  (to a non sheepie person, but knowledgeable dog breeder  )

[SteveHants]

No bought in replacement ewes, all bred/retained daughters from your flock.


You still have to buy in rams unless you run them as seperate subflocks, but you will quarantine these away from the others.