[Jacob-list] downsizing

[Thomas Carnes]

>From our perspective, we play both sides of the inputs.  We grow our own

hay, and sell most of it.  We make enough on our coastal to buy alfalfa
(which we cannot grow here as a perennial crop) in the winter with our
coastal profits.  It would be much harder on us if we were not able to grow
feed.  I can see how being subject to all the price fluctuations as fuel
prices move would be very difficult. 

 

THOMAS P. CARNES

    ATTORNEY & MEDIATOR

 

945 Barnett Street

Kerrville, Texas 78028

  

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From: jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com
[mailto:jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com] On Behalf Of Linda
Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 6:28 PM
To: Betty Berlenbach
Cc: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] downsizing

 

We're in a different situation here. Prices and demand for quality breeding
stock in the southeast has risen in the last few years. I think the internet
has alot to do with that. After a few years when even finding hay was near
impossible, hay is now fairly plentiful and we are paying less for better
hay. It has started to rain after five years of drought, so my sheep get to
eat grass sometimes. My yarn sales are pretty good. And I'm getting younger
(just joking..I'm aging as fast(er) as everyone else - and I sure feel it on
our hills). But, Dave is semi-retired now, so I have more help now and feel
younger at the end of the day :-). We haven't had much luck in finding
someone to come do the little bit of clearing we'd hoped to do for more
pasture, which has been a setback. But it was a profitable year for me.
I'm curious about the economics of not breeding all the adult ewes. You
still have to feed them. Unless you are separating them from your bred ewe
flock, they are eating just as much and producing only a fleece to sell.
You won't be feeding the lambs, of course, and the fleece would probably be
a bit bigger. 

Linda

Betty Berlenbach wrote: 

It sounds like the economic situation is taking its toll on us breeders.  I
have been bemoaning the fact that for the last 10 years or so, grain and hay
prices have skyrocketed out of control, but the price of lambs, both as meat
and as breeding stock, has pretty much stayed the same. (I guess I should be
grateful, in a way, as up here, the prices of shetland sheep, which I also
had as a cash crop, have gone from $5-800 apiece to $200 or max, $300
apiece.  I got rid of the shetlands!  I will have to downsize a little, and
like Cathy, am aging, and thinking that each year I go down a bit in
numbers.  Hopefully, at some point, I will be able to switch to buying six
lambs in the spring, keeping them on pasture until November, and then,
shearing and butchering, after breeding and keeping them all year becomes
too difficult.  I do like having them here.  I will breed this year,
probably 12 ewes, but I might consider just breeding some of them...We shall
see. I don't have to make that decision until Nov. 1.

 Betty, in Vermont,who now has a blog, thanks to help from Walter and Linda.
See Betty's blog at http://sheepwoman.wordpress.com.






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