Posted 10/12/2014 07:59 (#4121171 - in reply to #4120858) Subject: RE: Piedmont
south east Indiana
Piedmont I could be up for a deal like that. LOVE lambing but the market in Indiana is not very good. I raise the lambs on pasture which takes longer but lowers the cost of gain lots. I Have the genetics in place to raise nice lambs on grass but things need to aline to do it. The weather is a big factor, our heat and humidity does them no favors. I tried to plant some cover crops this summer for fall grazing but that didn't work either this year. Thinking about selling at least half the lambs as feeder next year.
Hair sheep are tougher to "finish" I think. They grow slower. On grass it can take 10 months to get to 120#. Feeding them they gain but also put down a fair amount of internal fat so do not finish as well as other breeds. The sweet spot for them I think is the ethnic market and around 70#.
cattle prices, feed and alternative livestock?
