Rebekah Housden: Sheep market still influenced by drought
Rebekah Housden © Rebekah Housden As the rain returns to mark the end of the best summer this area has had in recent memory, autumn looms and with it the hum of breeding sales.
For once, we had a shot in the dark with a sleeping bid at an early sale, and we were lucky enough to make a good start into the replacement of gimmers for our flock.
The lack of grass in some areas forced many to sell and so a good catalogue of more than 6,000 breeding sheep, combined with a lack of buyers from the South, was a great relief.
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We plan to replace approximately 25% of the flock each year to keep their age down, and after drafting those lacking teeth, low in condition or with poor bags it was a relief to only need another couple of dozen.
The rain arrived for once, in time, but the drought in some parts of the country is still causing concern, even though the rain gauges are filling and the green is returning.
It is doubtful if there will be much of a market for store lamb in the South.
Normally from October we can rely on a reasonable price from dealers moving lambs down the country, favouring lambs from the high ground which will move south and thrive.
However, the shortage of grass in most of the country and the fact that most farms have used their winter crop already is causing resistance.
Running hoggs could also suffer, as these future breeding sheep are also normally mainly sold from this area to move south.
We have enjoyed a good trade for fat lambs, choosing to sell heavy lambs fattened just on grass through the summer in the liveweight market instead of deadweight as a result of the nationwide shortage of that type of lamb.
A true farming ebb and flow, giving with one hand and taking with the other, reminding us that we always answer to the weather.
Meanwhile, the nights draw in, leaving only the tup sales to contend with as the ewes prepare to come into season.