Katahdin Sheep will put Lamb back on the Menu
Marketing lambs straight from the farm - If you are thinking of getting into raising sheep for sale, you need to first decide what and where your market will be. Your location may help that decision in that if you are near a city it will be easy to find buyers of fresh premium lamb straight from your farm. Maybe your workplace can provide many such interested consumers. Or you may have a Farmer's Market you can attend with your product. Some have set up shop on farm, with their customers coming to them.
Selling lamb direct from your farm to the consumer is a great way to move a lot of lamb if you have the time to do it this way. You will need to deliver the lamb to a provincial inspection facility and then pick up the product afterwards and deliver immediately or store in a specially licensed refrigerator/freezer. You need to be able to deal with a variety of customers some wonderful and some not so great. You also need to be able to deal with the occasional dissatisfied customer who may or may not have got a bad taste from your product.
It is imperative in this market that the product is safe to eat. There must be no bruising, vaccination lumps, abscesses or anything that can turn the stomach of a consumer. This means you pay particular attention to where you give shots, use only veterinary approved medications and observe withdrawal times. Any lamb sold by you is a reflection of how you farm and of course directly traceable to you by the consumer.
Frost the Kuvas (below) and Allie the Pyrenees look after the sheep. You can see by Frost's tail thumping away that he just loves his job and takes
it very seriously. I know we couldn't have sheep without the dogs to look after them. And they do it without killing the coyotes but by their presence and intimidation.
Marketing through the auction or direct to packers - There are auctions held throughout Canada for the sale of small livestock - sheep and goats. The rise in demand for lamb has proven to not discriminate against the Katahdin. Using a terminal sire over the Katahdin ewes is done by some producers with good results. Finding a feedlot that needs the out of season lambs may be possible but it is far better to finish your own lambs. With the shortage continuing, the market should remain good. Time of year influences price as does quality. Light lambs may bring in more than finishing them to heavier. There are lamb buyers who will buy a variety of ages and weights. Travelling takes time and gas money so this must be taken into consideration. Talk to others or go to a few auctions yourself to get the feel of the demand.
Sungold Specialty Meats in Innisfail, Alberta will buy finished lambs and you get a grading report. You need to find out weights and finish wanted. It is possible that castration is a requirement and maybe the removal of tails. If you book lambs in and do not turn up they likely won't take you next time. There is a market for everything and you need to find out what suits you the best.
Since Katahdin producers have no shearing expenses which add with a shortage of good shearers and costs for labour and bags we can eliminate those costs from production. Traceability is done with a unique ID tag when livestock leave your farm and an ID number linked to your farm is needed to purchase the RFID tags. You cannot take any livestock off your farm without these tags and the Auction or packing plant will reject them if not on. Alberta Lamb has the information on it's web site and also great PDF manuals on management.
Selling directly to a restaurant - This is what some producers are doing and it involves a lot more attention to size and feeding. Finding a restaurant you can work with or using a company that deals with the food industry makes it easier.
Showing - If you want to sell breeding stock, you will need to let people know you are doing so. Going to shows is a good way to do this. Here in Alberta the Calgary Stampede is in early July but no sheep show just a display. Agribition in Regina Saskatchewan is in late November and the only Katahdin sheep show left being well attended by a great group of producers. The CKSA AGM is held during this show.
Association Meetings - A group of interested producers got together and formed the Alberta Katahdin Sheep Association. We try to meet during the summer for a BBQ, ram sale and or information day. Being on our website and included in inquiries will also get the word out. It is amazing how much you can share and find out when we get together and trade management stories.
Exporting - As mentioned before the border is still closed for
breeding stock to or through the US with no expectation of it being opened in the near
future. This has brought about the selling of embryos and semen a whole
new ball game. To play in this field you need 1) someone desiring to
purchase your genetics. 2) A company proficient and knowledgeable in the
removal, storage and transportation of the precious products. 3) A broker who
can facilitate the transfer of the funds (so you get paid), the many pages of
paperwork and often be able to act as a go between in the translation of each
parties wishes. Getting it all down on paper is most important. 4) Are you
willing to change your farm management to enable the harvest of eggs and semen
when they are at their best - which may coincide with your breeding plans?
It seems there is a terrific demand out there for the Katahdin breed we just
have a problem to supply. There are Katahdins in the UK with live rams
exported there in the last few years.
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Mail to: Lynette Kreddig
Box 486, Mayerthorpe,
Alberta, T0E 1N0 Canada
Phone/Fax: 780-786-4754
Email:Lynette Kreddig