Sue Smith
www.blackbellysheep.org/annualmeeting.html check it out
Susan Smith Sandoah Achers www.sandoahachers.homestead.com Barbado Sheep (hair breed) Ponies 4-H Projects Public Sales Donkey Rescue and Adoption
From: "Carol J. Elkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [blackbelly] the price of blackbellies Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 15:08:21 -0600
Hi Barb,
Here are some mutterings about the price of blackbellies.
As long as we have people "giving away" blackbellies at $50 to $75/head, it will be an uphill battle to increase their perceived worth. I know that some markets are so depressed that this is the most some folks can sell them for. But a lot of people think that this is the NORMAL price, and that is where the problem lies.
One major reason our prices are depressed compared to wooled sheep is because our sheep take longer to bring to market weight and usually have a smaller carcass size. We sell at 9 months what a wooled sheep brings in at 4 months. (Although there again, with good husbandry and good selection, there is no reason this difference should be as great as it is.) Therefore, even though blackbellies gain weight on less feed of poorer quality than do wooled sheep, it will still cost more to bring them to market weight than wooled sheep.
Because of the blackbelly's size, exotic look, and ease of care, many not-really-sheep-people like this breed as backyard lawnmowers. These folks are not commercial breeders, nor do they want to invest a great deal of time developing a market for their sheep or even tapping into an existing market that may be there. It is easier for them simply to dump their sheep at $50-$75 than to do the work required to sell at a higher price. Many of them would happily take their sheep to the local dog pound, so $50 is more than what they expect or desire.
The blackbelly is an excellent entry-level sheep, which works to their own disadvantage. Their ease of care appeals to people who don't want the hassle and expense associated with "real sheep" and who may not be willing or able to pay for the minimal care that the sheep do require. When people are not heavily invested financially in the success of their effort, it is very easy for them to dump and run for the smallest reason. The blackbelly has become the "poor man's sheep" when we really need to be a "boutique sheep." The thing that needs to change here is the perception that these sheep are worth less than wooled sheep and are less deserving of quality care and management.
A lot of people try to sell to a market that simply doesn't exist in their area. In rural areas, it is difficult to establish a good local meat market because there are very few restaurants and ethnic populations in the area. If these breeders don't develop other markets, such as a market for breeding stock, pelts, pets, or environmental lawn mowers, or sell via the Internet, then they will quickly have a surplus that they are willing to dump at whatever price they can get.
Consider rabbit for a moment. Rabbit meat in the supermarket sells for $10/lb. I can buy a 5-7 lb rabbit live for $5 from the local kids. Shortly after Easter, after the novelty of pet bunnies wears into "Get this rabbit out of the house!", these rabbits can be had for free. In contrast, a good breeding rabbit with a pedigree will cost between $25-$40.
Good breeding stock should always be priced higher than freezer lamb. Freezer lamb should sell no lower than $1.00/lb on the hoof. Because of the superb quality of blackbelly meat, it really should be priced higher than wooled lamb meat, but that is a battle that will be won over time as hair sheep become better known and better branded in the marketplace.
Debates, responses, and comments are always welcome.
Carol
At 01:07 PM 7/9/2004 -0700, you wrote: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.
Carol Elkins Critterhaven Estate Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep
===============================================
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]/
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Toolbar provides one-click access to Hotmail from any Web page � FREE download! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/
=============================================== 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]/
