Farmers, Livestock and snow

Jimmeh · 26 Mar 2013 at 19:47

big_white_dog84 said:
If it's really that hard why don't they change career? Is it because they know nobody else would employ them, and that they don't like the thought of having to go through the day without treating everyone else like dirt?

Please, PLEASE, let this be a troll?

Cleeecooo · 26 Mar 2013 at 19:59

Haggisman said:
I would say you need to educate yourself on the economics of farming, but it appears English is a far more pressing concern!

I'm confused, there's nothing wrong with that?!?!?!

E: Oh, you'd corrected it, fail on my part

*Moangroan* · 26 Mar 2013 at 20:08

Obviously if you cannot afford the barn space or extra food needed is there any other way around it.

I'm trying not to be ill informed as someone was talking about ...if I dont know thats life.

Can you seperate the sheep from the rams or whatever and let them breed later or will it disrupt something later. Or will the lambs be too young for winter time comes

~>Dg<~ · 26 Mar 2013 at 20:10

haha typical ocuk

most have no idea and are just googling crap or spouting nonsense.

farming is very very hard work . its a 24/7 job you dont stop.

before the internet nerds pop in yes my dad owns a big farm

Biohazard · 26 Mar 2013 at 20:20

Much of the industry has been struggling because of the weather over the last few years, I know that NI farmers were hit particularly bad last year to the point the administration there started pleading their case to OGD's for example.

Things like this compound, and while pressures are increased from general economic strain it becomes harder to build resilience into a business with typically falling revenues and profits.

Elixir · 26 Mar 2013 at 20:23

~>Dg<~ said:
before the internet nerds pop in yes my dad owns a big farm

Oh you must have missed the OcUK memo... if your dad owns a farm that means he's massively rich, does nothing all day except neglect animals, and treats all other human beings like peasants.

You've seen Downton Abbey, that's what all farmers and landowners are like isn't it?

@Energize, the fact of the matter is that sheep farms and thoroughbred horse farms are not comparable. Sheep are worth £100 at the most.

Biohazard · 26 Mar 2013 at 20:25

Depends on the sheep, doesn't it?

-BA- · 26 Mar 2013 at 20:38

Elixir said:
You should try arable farming, plants are even easier!

Used to run a grain dryer on a 1500 acre farm and yer generally plants are easier. Until and elevator clogs and you come back to find a tonne and a half of barley on the ground 'cos the sensor hasn't triggered the emergency shut down. Always used to sleep so well after a hard day's work.

wilber · 26 Mar 2013 at 21:04

*Moangroan* said:
Obviously if you cannot afford the barn space or extra food needed is there any other way around it.

I'm trying not to be ill informed as someone was talking about ...if I dont know thats life.

Can you seperate the sheep from the rams or whatever and let them breed later or will it disrupt something later. Or will the lambs be too young for winter time comes

Its not just about affording the barn space though, the space used would use up extra land and end up not being used 99% of the time as these particular weather conditions were experiencing have not happened for like this for over a decade. If perfect lambing weather could be predicted then everyone would be on it and putting the tups in to get it bang on. (Shorts and T-shirt this time last year remember)

With regards to breeding, farmers aim for this time of year to have the lambs ready for market towards the end of summer, they grow up with improving weather and the pasture lands grass growing faster and faster so they have plenty of food from the fields and not have to be fed expensive bought in feed.

wilber · 26 Mar 2013 at 21:08

Biohazard said:
Depends on the sheep, doesn't it?

Not really, a particular breed can be worth slightly more. Tups are expensive though but you generally only have a few of them but that's dependent on flock size.

Johno please? · 26 Mar 2013 at 21:33

That poor sheep

Was it alive still?

Andrew_McP · 26 Mar 2013 at 21:46

Mike306 said:
GD at it's best again. So ill-informed, it's just laughable.

Which is why I think this forum is so useful. It constantly reminds us who our fellow citizens are, not what we think they are.

Energize · 26 Mar 2013 at 22:16

Elixir said:
@Energize, the fact of the matter is that sheep farms and thoroughbred horse farms are not comparable. Sheep are worth £100 at the most.

Ex-racehorses aren't worth a lot, especially with the horse market falling through in the last year or two. Though the horses aren't being sold so value is really irrelevant.

wilber · 26 Mar 2013 at 22:22

Johno please? said:
That poor sheep

Was it alive still?

Yeah was fine. Joys of having a natural wooly jumped, (and being found before smothering to death).

Energize said:
Ex-racehorses aren't worth a lot, especially with the horse market falling through in the last year or two. Though the horses aren't being sold so value is really irrelevant.

Tried Tescos? Sorry couldnt resist

But on another note is'nt place you work at run by donations, charity money and animal sponsorship?

Slackjaw190 · 26 Mar 2013 at 22:27

I thought people were generally well educated on this forum. However like the British population in general, this topic is another example of people not living in reality.

Elixir · 26 Mar 2013 at 22:35

Biohazard said:
Depends on the sheep, doesn't it?

Yup, hence why I said at the most.

Mickie · 26 Mar 2013 at 22:50

its pretty obvious that if this could have been prevented it would have been, the farmers were at mercy to the weather.

Biohazard · 26 Mar 2013 at 22:56

wilber said:
Not really, a particular breed can be worth slightly more. Tups are expensive though but you generally only have a few of them but that's dependent on flock size.

Ah right, have to say I've never bought a flock. I have seen some pretty expensive animals at agricultural shows however. I heard about £10,000 for one.

wilber · 27 Mar 2013 at 08:57

Biohazard said:
Ah right, have to say I've never bought a flock. I have seen some pretty expensive animals at agricultural shows however. I heard about £10,000 for one.

Yeah certain male animals will fetch astronomical prices, but these are to be bred from and a one off, also they tend to be on part of pedigree herds which general farmers do not have.

crackerman · 27 Mar 2013 at 13:36

Wilber sums everything up very well. I'm amazed at some people who think it is financially viable to build a shed on moorland for a commodity with which we struggle to break even. Yes at the end of the day the sheep is slaughtered but every farmer worth his salt likes to see the best for the animal while it is alive and it is distressing to see them suffer. But animal rights people and naive people unaware of what actually goes on will always paint the opposite picture and make us out to be cruel to our livestock.