At what point (herd size - lamb production) will these critters turn a profit or at least pay for themselves? Last year was the first year in ten that sales exceeded direct input cost, but not by much. I figured direct input costs as pasture management (tractor, lime, fertilizer, seed), grain, hay, minerals/salt, vet/medications. It does not count my labor or capital improvements. The average sale price per sheep was $100, average direct input per sheep was $65, input per lamb born was $85. The flock averaged 21 animals over the year. I sort of understand the "economies of scale" idea (at least to the extent a biologist can) but was wondering if there was some "breakeven point"? If I add much more to the flock size, costs for grain (which has gone out of sight already), hay, etc. will go way up because of limited pasture. Thoughts?
John Carlton Double J Farms _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
