[shygirl]

our neighbours pay £700 a yr for a 7 acre park. he must have 25 ewes.

[devonlad]

it does seem like a high stocking rate to me. we have rented grazing a few times and the cost and quality can be hugely varied. Last summer we rented a 5 acre field of good quality for £500 (6 months) and this year had 6 acres for £400- it was rubbish and we had to take the sheep out when the rough grazing and predominantly weed grasses left the ewes going downhill and with Orf. The risk of letting anyone else on your land is also something we learnt the hard way, importing a particularly virulent dose of coccidiosis via a friends flock that ran with ours a couple of summers ago. You just can't control anyone else's animal husbandry in the way you can your own. as Tim says try to make it water tight. In future we will think very carefully before letting others on our land or having our livestock on others

[spandit]

He's coming round in a bit to walk the land. Turns out he wants all 10 acres, which brings the stocking density down. I don't want sheep trampling my new trees, though.

[suziequeue]

Just moved in...friendly local  ...could be a very good investment.  Goodwill is priceless when you live in a rural area 

Couldn't agree more.


I think a proper agreement would be a good move. Isn't there something aswell about having to remove the livestock for one month in the year?

[spandit]

He only wants 6 months, in the summer (but year on year). Wants to knock the cost of the fencing off the bill but as mentioned, goodwill is everything and I was going to let someone else have it for free. He was intrigued by the spring but still wants a water supply - how much do sheep drink? They're lleyn sheep, by the way...

[SallyintNorth]

how much do sheep drink?

Some times very little - if there's dew on the ground, a lot of moisture in the leaf, and they're not lactating.  Other times a gallon or even two per day - if they're lactating and on hay.

We have a couple of fields with no water supply, so we have to cart water to those if we have stock penned in them.  I can usually keep about 15 ewes happy with 30L a day - sometimes they don't need all that but sometimes they do, and occasionally they may need more.

[SteveHants]

If you are paying for grazing, it is kind of reasonable to ask for fencing and water, unless this is somehow taken into account with the rent.


I know on my arable grazing, a bowser is kindly provided.

[LandieMan]

You are new to the area and someone gives you the opportunity to get to know them jump at the chance. The price seems good to me, and it is only for six months. The stocking rate does seem a bit high for over-wintering but that does depend on the breed involved. If you do not let it you will be £300 down and will not got to know one of the local farmers.

[spandit]

You are new to the area and someone gives you the opportunity to get to know them jump at the chance. The price seems good to me, and it is only for six months. The stocking rate does seem a bit high for over-wintering but that does depend on the breed involved. If you do not let it you will be £300 down and will not got to know one of the local farmers.

He's not actually that local but I'm sure we'll get to some sort of arrangement. He was a bit skeptical of my planting trees, which might stymie the whole project but don't want to delay securing my future fuel supply for £300... He might feel differently in the summer once we've had a winter here (we do have another chap interested too & I'd like to meet him)