Breeding from ewe lambs - finances

In this section we look at the economics of breeding from ewe lambs.

We have compared two systems:

Ewe lambs mated in their first autumn
Ewe lambs not mated in their first autumn

These figures assume that North Country Mule ewe lambs were purchased at six months old for £90/head and £80/head, respectively, in the autumn.

	Bred as ewe lamb	Not bred as ewe lamb
Value of shearling (one year after purchase as ewe lamb)	130	130
Lamb output (0.8 lambs reared per ewe lamb tupped @ 17.5kg carcase weight @ £4.10/kg	57.4	0
Wool	1.75	1.75
OUTPUT	189.15	131.75
Purchase of ewe lamb	90	80
Mortality (3% tupped; 1% not)	2.4	0.6
NET OUTPUT	96.75	51.15
Concentrates (30kg @ £200)	6	0
Creep feed (50kg @£255)	12.75	0
Forage	8	5
Vet and Med	8	5
Bedding	1.25	0
Other direct costs	5.5	1.5
Housing (inc repairs, depreciation, electricity)	1.5	0
Labour	24.6	12.5
Other overheads	assumed same per head for both
NET MARGIN (before other overheads costs)	29.15	27.15

Assumptions

Lambing ewe lambs has increased their market value at 18 months old by £10/head

Lamb output – 18 kg is the national average for all types and would expect lambs from ewe lambs to be sold at lighter weights. Based on prices in mid-July 2019, which were £4.10/kg deadweight. Price is continually dropping, so if sold later in the year and with no/little creep fed, the cost will go down but so will the price received

Same vaccination regimes but tupped includes vet and medical bills at lambing and lamb-at-foot worming or monitoring

Tupped ewe lambs are housed

Other direct costs include shearing, pregnancy scanning, tags and abattoir charges

Labour includes paid and unpaid total

These figures are a guide, based on 2019 data. Consider your labour availability, business circumstances, skills and equipment before making the decision to lamb ewe lambs.

One of the key benefits of lambing ewe lambs is the extra lamb produced in the first year, which reduces the overall greenhouse gas emissions from the flock. Running ewe lambs empty only produces a fleece in the first year and slows genetic progress.