By Mike Neary, Extension Sheep Specialist: Purdue
(reprinted with permission from November/December 2003 The Working Border Collie)
When considering buying sheep, one should address some fundamental questions. Some of these questions include: Why do I want sheep? What kind of sheep are desired? How many sheep are wanted? What is the budget available? Where can sheep be purchased? The remainder of this article will be devoted to answering these and other questions.
Buy Sound and Healthy Sheep
This I one of the most important considerations in buying sheep. Unsound, unhealthy sheep are a problem regardless of the production goals. Sound and healthy sheep, if managed correctly, are usually reasonably problem-free and easy to care for. Unsound sheep and those with health problems are expensive no matter what the price.
When determining soundness in sheep, examine the sheep closely. Look at their mouths to see age, wear on the teeth, presence of teeth and a proper bite. Examine the eyes to make sure all is normal. Look at and physically palpate udders on ewes. If there are hard spots, balloon teats, evidence of a pendulous udder or other problems that could affect the ability of lamb to suckle, don’t buy them as breeding ewes. Examine and palpate the scrotum, testicles, and penis of rams. Make sure the feet and leg structure of sheep is normal. Look for evidence of founder, limping sheep, or overly fat or thin sheep.
Healthy sheep should have a bright, active appearance. They should have a normal respiration rate, a minimum of coughing, and a body condition score adequate relative to the production stage. Beware of fat ewes; they are often fat because they haven’t suckled lambs. Thin ewes may be fine if they are thin because of lactation demands. However, they could be thin for other, less desirable reasons.
Notice if sheep have abscesses. Notice if sheep have the appearance of rubbing wool. Check for evidence of rectal or vaginal prolapse. Observe sheep for scouring (diarrhea), coughing, and that their size and weight match their age.
Above all, don’t buy sheep with footrot. This is one of the worst diseases in sheep and is highly contagious. Footrot has caused many people to leave the sheep business. If sheep are limping, determine why. Examine feet closely for signs of hoof deterioration, separation of the hoof wall, misshapen hooves, and a pungent, distinct odor. If one sheep in a group has footrot, the whole group should be considered highly suspect. Don’t buy footrot; it is a miserable disease.
Where to Buy Sheep
Almost always, the most desirable place to buy sheep is from a producer’s farm or ranch. Being able to visit an operation’s home base is a real advantage. One can look over sheep for sale, screen them closely for soundness, dicker on the price, and make observations about the rest of the flock. Often it is more desirable for the seller as well. They don’t have to load and haul sheep or pay a commission to a sale. These cost savings are often passed on to the buyer.
Another way to buy sheep is at a consignment sale. This is not a sale barn or auction house, but a sale specifically for sheep. Producers will consign sheep, pay an entry fee, and a commission to be able to auction off animals. Buyers then participate by bidding and buying animals. Consignment sales can be good places to buy sheep or not. Sometimes one can buy bargains at these sales, but just as often animals sell for more than they are worth. The co-mingling of animals from different farms also increases the chance of health problems.
Another place sheep are bought and sold is at terminal livestock auctions. More commonly referred to as sale barns. Sale barns are an important part of the sheep and goat industry as it is an option when marketing cull ewes or rams, feeder lambs, or market-ready sheep. There are many risks to buying sheep other than terminal reasons at these sales. For one thing, the chances of buying sheep in good health are poor. People send their problem breeding sheep to the sale barn for cull or salvage value. Also, the sheer numbers of sheep and goats passing through the facilities lead to a natural buildup of pathogens and disease organisms. Another consideration is that often one is bidding on animals against extremely seasoned bidders, and buyer beware. Certainly, sale barns are poor places to buy sheep for breeding purposes. Sometimes, if one is a very experienced sheep person, feeder lambs can be purchased with the intent of eventually selling them to market.
How Much are Sheep Worth?
The simple answer to this is whatever price the buyer and seller agree upon. In reality, the question is harder to answer. It really depends upon what the sheep can and will be used for.
Registered sheep that have been and will be used in a purebred operation will have a different value than strictly commercial sheep to be producers of slaughter lambs. Six-year-old ewes have a different value than three-year-old ewes. Healthy sheep have a different value than un-healthy. The list could go on.
The point is that each individual will have to take stock of their own individual situation and decide what they are wanting, how to meet their production or financial coals, and decide on a reasonable price range to pay.
One should do a little homework on what sheep are worth before embarking on a sheep spending spree. There are many internet sites that report the price of feeder lambs, market-ready lambs, cull ewes, and sometimes even breeding type ewes. Keep in mind, the price reported on cull ewes is salvage value only and is a rock bottom price for ewes of low value. If one is looking to buy breeding ewes, and they are good and useful animals, the value is significantly higher than cull prices. But at least the information is a place to start.
If the goal of an operation is to produce lambs for the commercial meat trade, then the ewe cost per year is a significant expense. One can determine ewe cost per year by taking the initial value of ewes, subtracting estimated salvage value and dividing this number by estimated useful years of production.
Other Considerations
Some random thoughts on buying sheep follow.
Not all sheep people are honest. Most are, but some are flat-out crooks. Ask around about people’s reputations, eventually, the truth will come out. Don’t be pressured into something that doesn’t feel right.
Ask lots of questions when buying sheep. Ask to see production records. Ask to see flock sires. Ask to see ewes in the flock. Ask to see contemporaries they are keeping. Ask about health problems, nutrition programs, etc.
Ask about a breeding or preg-nancy guarantee. Often, producers selling sheep that are purebreds or some type of specialty market will guarantee fertility to a limited extent, if sheep are treated well.
If sheep are bought and brought into an existing flock, the new arrivals should be quarantined at least 30 days. This allows time for undetected problems to surface and be dealt with.