Shepherd's message
Leading commercial sheep farmer Nick Davies, head shepherd at the Downton Estate in Ludlow, is urging ram breeders to give commercial farmers better tools for running profitable businesses in the future.
Mr Davies who runs 3,100 mule and mule-cross ewes was speaking at the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Suffolk Sheep Club meeting. He manages the flock with the aid of one full-time assistant on 1,200 acres of permanent pasture all of which is subject to environmental management schemes.
"I am now sourcing high index recorded rams because under this system we can potentially achieve returns of at least £2 more per lamb than those produced by non-recorded rams," explains Mr Davies.
However, he called for much more from all ram producers.
"The rams we buy need to serve more ewes, live longer and work off grass, in order for us to be able to maintain a sustainable sheep business."
Mr Davies has now started to buy his Suffolk rams directly off a specific breeder who is producing rams in accordance with all these standards and the results have been immediately apparent.
Current Downton Estate policy is to sell one-third of the lambs directly for slaughter and one-third of the lambs as store. The balance comprises Suffolk-cross mule breeding ewe lambs which are sold to commercial farmers as far away as Kent, although the majority go to local farmers.
"We select ewe lambs out of ewes with no history of lameness, bad udders or lambing difficulties. By keeping rigidly to these criteria we can provide our customers with top quality breeding stock that will meet their commercial requirements," he added.
As a result the Downton Estate secures a premium market on both the Suffolk-cross breeding ewes and the prime lambs.
"We need the Suffolk and others to be able to produce quick growing lambs - we finish our early draw at 38kg in eight weeks off what is an all-grass and relatively low-key grass system, added Mr Davies."
