Current Practices in Weaned Sheep Marketing Kathy Whitman, DVM, MS Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center
Weaned lamb options Sell immediately Retain ownership Replacement development Niche markets
Factors that influence market timing Cost of feed Ability to carry Cash flow Goals of the operation???
Weaned vs. Market lamb Cost up until weaning will be the same Factors that determine cost of gain: Feed cost Efficiency Marketing endpoint (days on feed, market weight) Health, death loss, etc.
Sale at weaning Who is the target buyer? How do we make our producer’s product desirable to the target?
Retain ownership More flexibility More marketing options More risk
Replacement development Commercial operations Seedstock operations Purpose? Purpose?
Niche Markets Likely where veterinarians will fit in….