Easycare Sheep Society Gears up for Sales Season
2011-09-14

The Easycare Sheep Society has high hopes for its forthcoming official sales, with the strong prime lamb and cull ewe trade leading to increased replacement ewe prices for all breeds at early season sales.

© Easy Care Sheep Society

Breed developer and Society secretary Iolo Owen says the last 12 months have seen improved returns for all sectors of the sheep industry and this has led to increased interest in the breed from all parts of the UK.

“While the returns have been improving for sheep farmers, so have costs and many sheep farmers are continuing to look for ways of reducing costs in their flocks, notably labour and vet and medicine costs.

“Additionally, while there has been a marked improvement in wool prices, the value of wool still doesn’t fully cover the costs associated with it, including shearing and the cost of flystrike prevention and treatment.”

Easycare sheep really are just that, says Mr Owen. “They offer an opportunity for sheep farmers to run low input flocks, but with the potential for output levels similar to high output systems.

“Easycares are best lambed outside and require minimal lambing intervention, cutting labour costs significantly. They also require little concentrate feeding in most situations and thrive on all types of pasture.”

Mr Owen says sheep farmers looking for profitable sheep farming systems should take a serious look at the Easycare breed and what it can offer them.

“There will be high quality sheep of all ages on offer at our two Society sales at Worcester and Carlisle in the coming weeks and these sales are both a great opportunity to buy Easycares and to learn more about the breed, its attributes and its management,” he explains.

The Worcester Market sale takes place on Saturday 24 September, with the Carlisle sale taking place on Thursday 29 September.

Catalogues for the Worcester sale are available from McCartneys 01905 765 770 and for the Carlisle sale contact Harrison and Hetherington on 01228 406 230.

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