Income from rearing lamb in this country

Fenyves, Veronika – Ertsey, Imre

Keywords: lamb rearing, production costs, income, weight category, sheep

In Hungary lamb rearing in the last eight years was generally a loss making activity. Marketing was worthwhile only in two weight categories, 24-27kg and 27-30kg where in most years variable although modest profits were made. Lambs in the 20-24kg categories make profit only if they are subjected to prolonged suckling. If lambs of 16-20kg weight separated from their mothers are fattened they make a loss. Income from rearing of ram lamb is higher and more secure than that of ewe lamb. Rearing lamb in this country is on the whole a risky business because of highly variable selling prices and insecure markets. Taking both genders together, income from summer rearing is the most favourable, but taking male lambs separately autumn and spring rearing is the most profitable, peaking at Easter and Christmas time. On the basis of this investigation ewe lambs should be marketed at low body weight whereas ram labs can be profitable sold in higher weight categories.

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