[luke9012]

hi i have one large 2.25 acre field and it is in the pipe line of bieng sold in the next 2 years its a huge project with over 200 houses and our field is only part of the land. i need it keep it cut back and neat to stop enviromentalists and that kind of people holding it up saying it has rare species of frogs and that sort of thing witch wont allow us to sell the field. i am looking at putting sheep or goats lambs on it i have no idea just need to keep it cut back and neat

what would you advise?,, how many sheep/lamb/goat ? what bread ?i will be fencing the field to keep them in. do i need any licences or any paper work to keep them ? how much do sheep cost to buy ? and how much work it it to keep them ? i just want to let them get on and eat i dont want to to be up most nights lambing? or would it rent out to a sheep farmer ?
many thanks luke,

[bigchicken]

Rent it to someone who will use it, and it will make you money and not cost you money. It would cost a bit to set up sheep keeping from scratch. Horses would make you the most. That's my opinion.

[Yeoman]

With respect, I think you need to examine you motives for keeping animals.  Sheep, like any animal, require a long term commitment - they are not a planning tool.

If you have examined your motives and satisfied yourself then may I suggest you discuss your findings with someone who has experience of looking after livestock - just to make sure you're considering all aspects of the subject...

[luke9012]

hi my family is quiet farming orientated my uncle has a 1000 acre dairy farm and my brother who i dont see much any more has about 25 sheep witch he keeps in the fields to keep it down he also has a couple of race horses on the farm aswel so its not like im a complete townie. i just want to have a bit of back ground knowledge and know what my choices would be before i made a decision

[Marches Farmer]

I too would suggest renting it out to someone who has the interest in, experience of and commitment to the livestock.  Buying and keeping stock yourself also involves purchasing equipment, getting a holding number, flock or herd number, livestock transport and handling facilities ..... and so on.

[moony]

Will putting stock on it affect its chances of being built on in anyway? Sometimes if they are seen as being actively used in agriculture its harder to get the planning on them than if they are just unkempt.

[Hevxxx99]

Rent it out ot horse owners.  Much less hassle with paperwork etc and more income too.

[Hillview Farm]

Only problem with horses is that they trash the place, churn the ground and most won't provide there own fencing either but agreed you get a lot more money back!

[Rosemary]

Only problem with horses is that they trash the place, churn the ground and most won't provide there own fencing either but agreed you get a lot more money back!

The builders will make more mess than even horses 

[Me]

Only problem with horses is actually - that they come with horse owners 

[Bionic]

I would rent it out. If you get your own sheep to put on the field. Otherwise what happens to the sheep when the land purchase for houses finally goes through?

[Hevxxx99]

2 ponies on 2.25 acres won't make much more mess than a small flock of sheep over winter if it is reasonably well drained, except possibly around the gateway.  Tell them they are responsible for fencing, water etc, that the animals are in there at their own risk and leave them to get on with it. If it gets chewed up, they won't have grazing left which they know isn't a good idea but there certainly won't be any rare snails etc around to worry about.

Mostly, horse owners are fine until you put two or more together... 

[sarahdean_66]

can i ask where you are? thanks

[plumseverywhere]

Rent it out for sheep.  Not goats - they don't much graze, more browse.