Saskatchewan, big whitetail country!!! | I have been researching sheep for several years. I grain farm. I have no sheep. BUT I am planning an investment in them soon. A lactating ewe needs about 10 lbs hay a day I beleive. But the sheep guys here can tell you more.
Here in Canada, we import 60% of the lamb we eat. I would love to raise something we actually don't export in mass quantities for once LOL. Grain farming "here" has been so pathetic the last 6 or so years because of weather. I beleive some animals around would not get froze out, hailed out or flooded out to the same extent as grain! I have decent land for sheep, just need some fences.
I think the perception is that how can them wooly buggers out produce cows? But here is my math. I know its easy on paper.
In a pasture that could graze 50 beef;
48 calves at an optimistic 600 dollars come fall, = 28 800
48 cows X 6= 288 ewes X 1.5 lambs per ewe marketed = 432 lambs at a conservative 125 bucks each=54 000
To me, on paper at least sheep should dollar out DOUBLE cows.
Am I wrong sheep guys?
That is the reason I am thinking of these wooly buggers, all else being equal. Sheep need better handling systems, dogs, etc. predators are a concern more, fences need to be better, more animal tight, but I think the sheep men know something we lay people don't look into. |
Sold fat lambs yesterday
