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Target Lamb Selection |
| Steve Powdrill explains why the EBLEX BRP's manual should be in every English producer's farm office. |
The fastest way to make an impact on your bottom line is to pay closer attention to handling and drawing of lambs. Breeding for better carcase conformation has an important and long term impact, but drawing lambs regularly at this time of year means avoiding potential price penalties for overfinished lambs, and also saves on those wasted feed costs.
Over the past 12 months the EBLEX Better Returns Programme has organised a substantial number of lamb selection days across England, giving producers the chance to brush up on their handling and selection skills in a 'live to dead' environment.
BRP is already starting to see the impact of these sessions with companies like Meadow Quality Ltd. reporting a reduction of up to 30% in the number of overfat lambs from some of their members who have attended, which is excellent news.
But by their very nature, BRP lamb selection days can only accommodate small numbers of farmers at any one time - we are very lucky to have the co-operation of busy abattoirs to stage them. That's where the BRP's Target Lamb Selection Manual comes in, by offering all English producers the chance to improve handling skills using a practical, easy to read guide on the principles of lamb selection.
It's designed as a quick read in farmer-friendly language - big on diagrams and short on text, and for the first time used unique 'cut-away' diagrams to explain what producers are feeling for under the skin of a live lamb.
It gives a clear explanation of end markets and carcase classification in jargon-free lanbuage and tackles issues such as different dressing specifications and killing out percentages. And it also contains reminders of those all-important basics such as dirty fleeces and the need to avoid bruising when handling.
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The manual is proving so popular that it has already been reprinted. Make sure you have one in your farm office - or better still, sign up to the BRP for details of lamb selection days in your area - and start adding to your bottom line.
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English sheep producers can sign up for copies of the Target Lamb Selection Manual and its sister publication Target Ram Selection at www.eblex.org.uk or by phone at 0870 241 8829.
Steve Powdrill is a Divisional Manager with MLC Authentification Services, which is helping EBLEX BRP run its lamb selection days.
By kind permission NSA Sheep Farmer
November/December 2004
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| One year on from its launch, the EBLEX Better Returns Programme (BRP) is now driving real change in the English sheep sector. |
One year on from its first EBLEX BRP lamb selection day, Warwickshire-based Meadow Quality Ltd. has noticed the difference, with a reduction in the number of overfinished and overweight lambs supplied by farmers.
Twelve Meadow Quality members attended one of the first BRP lamb selection days at Farmers Fresh last November, and of those at least one has achieved a 30% improvement, a combination of marketing at the right weight and level of fat cover.
Better performance
Vicky Fletcher, Meadow Quality Project Development Officer, has compared lamb
carcase performance from three producers who attended the first selection day.
Of the three, who between them typically market around 2,000 lambs a year, one had notched up an impressive 30% improvement. This was through a massive reduction in lambs marketed over the 21 kg cut off and a lower proportion in the top and fat classes. Two others had achieved improvements of 13% each.
Everyone wins
"We got involved with BRP right from the start because it was clear the
lamb selection days and the BRP's lamb selection manual had the potential to
make a real difference for our producers," said Vicky.
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"A year on and we are clearly seeing that those who took part last
November have taken on board the message about drawing lambs more frequently,
with a view to marketing at the right time and therefore maximising their
returns.
"Because these farmers consistently market their lambs with the correct
level of finish, not only did they avoid penalties for overfat lambs, they are
able to command a better price, and save on extra feed costs by sending the
lambs at the right time.
"For Meadow Quality, fewer overfinished lambs improves our long term
reputation as suppliers who meet our customers' requirements, which also stands
our members in good stead. This means everyone wins," she added.
Skipton Auction Market has been keen to play a part in rolling out the BRP's better selection message since Jeremy Eaton caught sight of the BRP's 'Target Lamb Slection' manual earlier this year.
I was immediately impressed at the way the manual takes what is essentially an old message and presents it in a fresh, hands-on way that farmers can understand," said Jeremy, who is General Operations Manager for Craven Cattle Marts.
Creative approach
"The principles of better selection have been knocking round the industry
for many years, but the BRP has the creative approach and drive needed to
hammer the message home, and I knew Skipton both wanted and needed to be apart
of that. The liveweight sector is thriving - handling nearly half the lambs
marketed in England last year - but we all need to keep our eyes on the ball as
the impact of CAP reform starts to trickle through."
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As a result, Skipton has just held a pilot sorting project with BRP staff. This offered producers at three market days the option of having their lambs batched for free to improve their chances of attracting a price above the national average. Detailed feedback on the project is expected soon.
Premium price
Jeremy added: "Our buyers want sheep that consistently meet their
specifications, so it's in a producer's best interests to offer a pen of lambs
that are evenly matched in terms of conformation, fat and weight for a
particular end market. Of course market prices are influenced by many factors,
but effectively every lamb has a premium price if sold to the right end
market.
"The BRP pilot project has shown our regular buyers that Skipton is
committed to meeting their needs, and also reminded farmers that time spent
sorting and handling is not time wasted, but time invested in getting the right
price."
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Cornish Quality Livestock Producers' involvement with the EBLEX BRP is about much more than just sending farmers on lamb selection days.
General Manager Peter Bayliss, who joined CQLP at around the same time the BRP started, immediately saw that BRP was a rare opportunity to spread the wider message about better selection and breeding to the whole of the region's producers.
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"For CQLP this is not only about offering a service to our members, it's about encouraging all Cornish sheep producers to work together to collectively raise their game and generate a better price for their lambs.
Red meat brand
"There has been talk in the region about developing a Cornish red meat
brand, and the industry needs initiatives such as BRP to help all producers
look at breeding and drawing lambs to ensure a consistent quality
product," he said.
CQLP has already held four BRP lamb selection days with Jaspers in Launceston and has a list of members wanting to attend future dates.
"Some of our farmers have even asked to come back next year because
they found the day so worthwhile, and the BRP staff have been so approachable
and helpful.
"Having topics such as handling points and different dressing
specifications demonstrated and explained has really pushed home the point on
how these can affect weight and final returns to the farmer," added Mr.
Bayliss.
CQLP has 400 members and every year awards a prize to the member with the best sheep carcase grades: "As a group CQLP generally achieves around 80% of carcasses within abattoir specification, but I'm confident that by the time we get round to next year's awards, we'll definitely see the further benefit of the BRP lamb selection days," he said.
Time spent drawing lambs should be seen by producers as time invested in getting the best possible price according to buyer Jimmy Holden.
Jimmy, who is the Livestock Procurement Manager for Kepak at Bamber Bridge, typically buys 15,000 lambs a week from markets across the UK. Evenly drawn batches of lambs means he can be confident his major customers know what they are getting.
Back to basics
"It's really getting back to the basics of knowing your end market, what
you have to sell and presenting it consistently in the best way possible -
regardless of whatever you're selling."
Jimmy regularly buys for retailers and the the Belgian, German and French export markets: "I buy specific lots for very specific jobs. Buying a mixed lot means extra time and effort spent finding outlets for those lambs that fall outside the particular spec or weight I'm after. Customers understandably won't pay for what they don't want or need, and like any other business, time is money which is reflected in the final price to the producer."
End markets
He added: "But if I can go to a market and buy from a farmer knowing the
lambs have been sorted with an eye to a particular market, and chances are that
only a very small percentage of those lambs will be outside spec, then I'm
prepared to pay a premium price for them - and, more importantly, buy from him
again.
"Farmers shouldn't be content with the national average price when there
is so much scope for them, seasonality and other factors permitting - to
improve their chances of a better price by sorting their lambs."
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Jimmy is also right behind the EBLEX BRP's better selection message: "Most people can do with some kind of reminder on how to draw lambs. I'm pleased to see the BRP working with the markets, as they have done at Skipton - I think it's a great way to get the message across."
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By kind permission of the NSA Winter Focus 2004