Farmers would never stay going without optimism and positivity. There is no backside in the sheep trade at the moment – it fell out of it about four weeks ago. And the best we can hope for is that prices do not drop much further.
As the man said: “Tis all aisy in hindsight.” The mild winter and warm spring meant lambs born in March 2019 were about three to four weeks ahead of those born in the same month of 2018 in terms of thrive and weight. Hence, the same lambs were ready for the factory three to four weeks earlier than in 2018.
I received a painful lesson when selling two dozen uncastrated store lambs and a few cull ewes at the mart last week
Throw in an extra couple of thousand lambs on the ground due to lower mortality, and it is almost inevitable that factories would move earlier to cut deeper than in 2018.
Easy in hindsight, but I have to put my hands up and say I did not see it coming. We live and learn, and I received a painful lesson when selling two dozen uncastrated store lambs and a few cull ewes at the mart last week. Talk was of €4.80/kg at the factory and the resulting sentiment around the ring was dismal.
Less heartache
Leaving the auctioneer’s box after accepting my beating, I decided to sell the whole flock. There had to be something else I could turn my hand to that was less work and less heartache.
Farmers are their worst enemy when it comes to optimism though and I am as guilty of this sin as anyone.
Lambs regularly stress-test the fencing in whatever field they happen to be in
By the time I was halfway home, I had resolved to give them one last shot and while my new plan is hardly original, it might suit our setup better and may even leave us a small margin. More of this plan anon.
Other work around the farm continues as normal. Lambs regularly stress-test the fencing in whatever field they happen to be in. While we might be winning the fencing war overall, daily battles take their own toll.
Repairs and improvements to the lambing shed are on the agenda also. Storage for hay and straw is limited until the roof is fixed so that is the priority at the moment. Back out in the fields, we are doing homework on how best to clear pockets of rushes in various locations and some minor drainage work is planned.
Herbal ley
Another few acres need to be reseeded, and there is every chance we will try what the experts call a herbal ley, which in my basic understanding involves sowing a few different species of grass and legumes.
The downside is extra seed cost and questionable levels of persistency, but the upsides are pushing me towards giving it a try anyway.
In fairness, what’s not to like about a sward that has the potential to reduce the worm burden for grazing animals, grow as much dry matter as the usual rye grasses, requires less chemical fertiliser (especially nitrogen), is less harsh on the soil, and supports more biodiversity?
Who knows but such positivity might even soften the blow when factories start messing around next year, as they will no doubt find some new excuse to tear a hole in 2020’s lamb price.
Read more
Farmer Writes: margins as thin as the gable-end of a five euro note
Farmer Writes: sheep demand an emotional commitment
Farmer Writes: what have fodder beet and keyboard warriors in common?
Farmers would never stay going without optimism and positivity. There is no backside in the sheep trade at the moment – it fell out of it about four weeks ago. And the best we can hope for is that prices do not drop much further.
As the man said: “Tis all aisy in hindsight.” The mild winter and warm spring meant lambs born in March 2019 were about three to four weeks ahead of those born in the same month of 2018 in terms of thrive and weight. Hence, the same lambs were ready for the factory three to four weeks earlier than in 2018.
I received a painful lesson when selling two dozen uncastrated store lambs and a few cull ewes at the mart last week
Throw in an extra couple of thousand lambs on the ground due to lower mortality, and it is almost inevitable that factories would move earlier to cut deeper than in 2018.
Easy in hindsight, but I have to put my hands up and say I did not see it coming. We live and learn, and I received a painful lesson when selling two dozen uncastrated store lambs and a few cull ewes at the mart last week. Talk was of €4.80/kg at the factory and the resulting sentiment around the ring was dismal.
Less heartache
Leaving the auctioneer’s box after accepting my beating, I decided to sell the whole flock. There had to be something else I could turn my hand to that was less work and less heartache.
Farmers are their worst enemy when it comes to optimism though and I am as guilty of this sin as anyone.
Lambs regularly stress-test the fencing in whatever field they happen to be in
By the time I was halfway home, I had resolved to give them one last shot and while my new plan is hardly original, it might suit our setup better and may even leave us a small margin. More of this plan anon.
Other work around the farm continues as normal. Lambs regularly stress-test the fencing in whatever field they happen to be in. While we might be winning the fencing war overall, daily battles take their own toll.
Repairs and improvements to the lambing shed are on the agenda also. Storage for hay and straw is limited until the roof is fixed so that is the priority at the moment. Back out in the fields, we are doing homework on how best to clear pockets of rushes in various locations and some minor drainage work is planned.
Herbal ley
Another few acres need to be reseeded, and there is every chance we will try what the experts call a herbal ley, which in my basic understanding involves sowing a few different species of grass and legumes.
The downside is extra seed cost and questionable levels of persistency, but the upsides are pushing me towards giving it a try anyway.
In fairness, what’s not to like about a sward that has the potential to reduce the worm burden for grazing animals, grow as much dry matter as the usual rye grasses, requires less chemical fertiliser (especially nitrogen), is less harsh on the soil, and supports more biodiversity?
Who knows but such positivity might even soften the blow when factories start messing around next year, as they will no doubt find some new excuse to tear a hole in 2020’s lamb price.
Read more
Farmer Writes: margins as thin as the gable-end of a five euro note
Farmer Writes: sheep demand an emotional commitment
Farmer Writes: what have fodder beet and keyboard warriors in common?
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