Hey Barb, Look at the holding area like your fencing when thinking about cost. The initial cost is expensive but if done correctly it will last and hopefully no or little up keep.
As far as prices I try to sell during the large ethnic holidays. Most of the time I have them shipped to New Holland PA. The cost of shipping is between $3-5 dollars depending on who I use. This extra cost is well worth it since I usually get top dollar at New Holland and around my area prices are much lower since most of the goats and sheep are purchased by livestock transporters that also purchase cows and take them all to New Holland to resell. Smaller animals I normally get more per pound that larger ones. I am happy when I get $1.25+ a pound for my animals, ram lambs. Sometime I only get $1.00 a pound. Remember each area and timing when you sell is different. The majority of the stock I have are sold to individuals that have 5+ acres and they want animals to help mow the grass and to look at. In this area (knock on wood) they are selling like hot cakes. I have been selling lambs for $100 each and when I get another good ram I will be increasing my prices to $125.00 each for Barbados Blackbelly lambs. It is my understand $125.00 is still cheaper than others selling the same breed. I hope this helps some. James Harper Virginia Regional Director BBSAI -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Barb Lee Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 4:08 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [blackbelly] Re Catching Sheep, etc. Thanks for all the great ideas - Yep, I knew it came down to decent facilities for the most part. I've just found myself in a spot where I needed to handle the sheep before I was well enough set up. Steve, I'm in Oregon, so I don't reckon you can hop over and help me catch these critters! :o) I am about to go to the feed store and pick up some supplies to get started building. Ya know, I have to be honest, the unit price of the average Barbado doesn't seem in line with the cost of keeping, raising and selling them. I am a little mystified, considering these sheep are somewhat "exotic," that they seem to sell well below the cost of a decent individual of a wool/meat breed. This may be a very contentious subject, and I don't want to create an uproar, but I WOULD be interested to hear other owners' perceptions of the market price of these critters. Lastly, I am wondering if anyone has had injection site reactions to Covexin-8? Thanks, Barb Lee =============================================== This message is from the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ =============================================== This message is from the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
