I am in the final stages of obtaining a short term tenancy (5 years) on 120 acres. Renting land and buying livestock are the big financial costs of the business, and the business can't make a return untill the livestock are on the land. The land can stock 220 sheep therefore the nearer I am to this amount the more profitable the business will be in year 1 and therefeafter grows in the folllowing years.
The most profitable way of getting the business running is to buy proven older sheep which will produce a good crop of lambs, compared to younger sheep which cost more per head and often produce less and smaller lambs during their first breeding cycles. So I am aiming to buy older ewes at £65/head and with an average of 1.5 lambs/ ewe being produced and then sold at £65/head/lamb. This gives an average ewe output of £82.50/ewe. Therefore the ewes production of the lambs will have covered the cost of buying her in year 1. The older ewe will then be sold unless she is fit to serve another year. Sale price of the ewe will be £65/head on average, which will then cover the cost of replenishing the flock and starting the cycle over.
I am from a farming background but have no farm to take succession of. I have been to Harper Adams University, have 5 years of Organic sheep farming experience, hold a trailer licence, and have various certificates for tractor driving, forklift, ATV, and sheep shearing. I am currently self employed as a shepherd on an Organic farm which has 1,700 breeding ewes and 500 hogs. This is the farm on which I have worked over the past 5yrs since leaving University. I plan to buy the majority of older ewes from this farm therefore I know their history and past performance which is a huge advantage to the business.
All the wheels are in motion for this business to commence in October, with Ewes going to the tup in November. I am very excited to start climbing the farming ladder for myself. I am very hard working and determined; I just need help to get over the first step!
Many Thanks in Advance
Annabelle