Sheep and Goat Production

Sheep and Goat Production

Discussing current topics in Ontario sheep and goat production

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US Perspective on Sheep Inventories and Lamb Prices

Posted on Author Delma KennedyPosted in BusinessLeave a Reply

At the recent 2013 Sheep Symposium, Integrating Advanced Concepts into Traditional Practices, held at Montana State University, D. P. Anderson gave his perspective on what has been happening to US lamb prices over the past year in a presentation called “ADVENTURES IN THIN MARKETS, CONTRACTING AND CONCENTRATION: TODAY’S LAMB MARKET”.  Although the Ontario market is different than the United States market, the US price has an influence on the prices received here in Ontario.  To read the full article, go to page 49 in the pdf or page 36 of the actual proceedings document. In a presentation called “SHEEP, BLACK SWANS, AND THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE”,  J. W. Walker has an interesting perspective on  the ongoing decline of the United…

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LFO Adapting to Low Lamb Prices Summit

Posted on Author Delma KennedyPosted in BusinessLeave a Reply

On April 30, 2013 Large Flock Operators from across the province gathered to discuss the drop in lamb prices. The following speakers gave presentations on how to respond and adapt to low lamb prices. John Molenhuis is the Business Analysis and Cost of Production Lead at OMAF and MRA. A presentation on reducing production costs was given in Elora.  The slides from the presentation are available in the link below called Attacking Major Cost Centres. Attacking Major Cost Centres Additional materials: Ewe flock cost of production (COP) calculator. Lamb Finishing COP calculator Ontario Enterprise Budgets (select Farm Business Decision Calculators) Farm Budget Database – Farm Management Canada Jennifer Stevenson is the Manager of Beef Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Alternative Livestock and Aquaculture at…

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2012 Lamb Imports to Canada

Posted on Author Delma KennedyPosted in BusinessLeave a Reply

In 2012, the total kilograms of lamb imported into Canada increased by 1.4%.  As seen in the graph below, this is a relatively small change and imports remain significantly lower in 2012 than in 2008 and 2009.                                    Canadian Import/Export of Lamb The four countries sending almost all of the fresh or frozen lamb to Canada are: New Zealand (NZ), Australia (AU), the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK).  NZ and AU supplied 96 percent of the imported lamb to Canada with the US and the UK supplying only 3.8 percent of the imported product.  As illustrated in the graph below, the amount of lamb being imported from NZ has been decreasing since 2009.  Australia was supplying more…

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Ontario Lamb Prices at 5 Year Low

Posted on Author Delma KennedyPosted in BusinessLeave a Reply

2012 started out with the highest lamb prices recorded to date for Ontario lamb.  Traditionally price drops in June and perhaps a little more throughout the summer and early fall and starts to rise again in November for the Christmas market.  As illustrated by the 80 -94 pound price graph below, the price dropped in June, continued to fall into September and did not increase for the Christmas market.                    5 Year Average Market Price by Month 80 – 94 lb Lambs In 2013, live auction prices in Ontario have remained low with the January and February average price per hundred weight $70 lower than 2012.  Lamb prices tend to cycle up…

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