You state "I'm selling my over flow at the best prices that the market in MY area will handle" and you clearly have researched your market. That is the best that any of us can do, but unfortunately not everyone takes the time to research their market as you have done. I stand by the comments in my message, because they are observations that are validated over and over. If $50 is the best you can do and you are happy with it, then you are meeting your needs. But those prices, if considered the "norm" across the U.S., are what depress the rest of the market. Many people on this list who are new to the breed will only see $50 and not understand the qualifiers that are behind that price. They might be in an extremely good area with a good market, but they will think that the most they can get is $50. So they sell for $50. And the other person buying those sheep who also is new to the breed will pay that $50 and think it is the norm. So now we have a genuine depressed market in your area that has created a "perceived" bad market in this other area. It is this perception that needs to change.
What I'm trying to promote is a different way of deciding how to price our sheep. So many people write this list asking "What should I sell my sheep for" and they get various answers back ranging from $35 to $150 with no regard for region of the country, age/weight of the animal, or what the target market is. Unless we qualify our answers to these folks, we are not helping them make informed decisions. In addition to asking us for info, these folks need to find out from their County Extension agent and other sheep breeders, regardless of breed, what their local market is worth. And then, why not price their sheep the same, or PERHAPS A LITTLE HIGHER (especially to repeat customers who are now hooked on the flavor) since we have a superior product? If we don't believe our sheep are superior, no one else will either. Our prices should reflect the superior quality of our lamb meat, but not be so outrageous that no one will purchase them. Not everyone, of course, can or is willing to do this. But we should at least try. If each of us tries to maximize the value of our sheep, then the entire breed benefits from that effort. When enough of us have been successful, the breed will no longer be undervalued.
Carol
At 02:46 PM 7/9/2004 -0700, you wrote:
Carol,
I am taking offense to your remarks about "dumping" my sheep for $50 to $75. I raise Barbado. Not Blackbellies. The area I am in is saturated with mixed Barbado sheep. This a what the market brings in this area for a meat quality sheep. Also, the community is a little repressed economically.
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