1. A farmer’s view by Marcus Maxwell
Farm Stock Scotland Lamb Supply Chain Conference Strength through co-operation
A farmer’s view by Marcus Maxwell

2. A Farmers View by Marcus Maxwell Viewfield Romney’s Director of Galloway Lamb
What are the problems?
What have I done to improve our sheep performance, profitability and lamb carcasses?
Why do we sell dead weight?
The Strength of Lamb Group Co-operation
Farmers’ moans

3. What are the Problems? Fewer sheep farmers Glut of lambs
Miss match between market requirement and farmers vision
Fewer sheep farmers
Glut of lambs
Pay top £ per kg for the lamb carcass you want
Long way behind chicken and pork production
Clarity and clear message for the specification of lamb you want from abattoir, supermarket and chefs
The processors have never been assertive enough in what they want
E.U.R.O.P out dated
Divide and conquer
Too many breeds

4. “Concentrate on what I could change and control”
How I think I have improved our sheep performance, profitability and lamb carcasses?
Blinkered with E and U confirmation
Big lean lambs expensive to finish
Lean high index rams
High cost – low profit
Create low input and low maintenance sheep
High welfare
Recording and creating relevant EBU’s
Control cost structure
Aim for prime lamb 20kg R3L
Create a maternal ewe
To make profit from sheep farming in a natural and environmentally way
Maximize grass growth
“Concentrate on what I could change and control”

5. Why sell dead weight?
My main reason for selling dead weight is to learn the accurate knowledge of the quality of my lamb carcass which should then achieve its maximum price

6. The Strength of Lamb Group Co-Operation
Strong selling power
Strong united voice
Large numbers of top quality lambs
Best market found for all specification of lamb
Predict the flow of lambs
Lambs away weekly
Up to date of best guaranteed prices
Fast feed back of grades and average daily growth rates
Quick payment
Ruthless negotiating for top price
Bad debit cover (credit insurance )
Traceability
Strength together to stop the divide and “ripoff”

7. Farmers Moans!! (Not mine)
Rounding down kg weights
Quality never pays
Payments too slow
Fat heavy lambs make more money in live market
Hot and cold weight
Collection centre
Transport
Too slow in grade sheets getting back
Splitting carcasses
Clipping lambs
Time lag in booking in lambs

8. Pay for the quality you want
Conclusion
Offer forward prices to control the glut of lambs
Pay top £ for what you want
Heavily penalise what you don’t want, too fat, too lean, too heavy
Pay for the quality you want