How Much to Pay for a Lamb By: Lyndsey Keller How much would you pay for a lamb? If your answer included so-in-so dollars, are you sure you know what you're doing? The correct answer should have been, "Well, it all depends..." or something to that nature. There is no standard price for a lamb; it's not like buying a can of Coke. The price of a lamb will vary depending on many different factors such as purpose, quality, and regional area. Purpose The purpose of a lamb is probably the most important factor at which to look. If you are looking to keep a lamb as a pet, then your lamb should cost next to nothing. If you are looking for a lamb to raise for slaughter, you'll probably be paying a little more, but not much more. Expect to pay the most if you are planning on showing a lamb. Quality Most shepherds sell their stock based on quality. If you're looking for wool sheep, you'll pay more for the lamb with better wool quality. If you're looking for a slaughter lamb, you'll pay more for a meatier lamb. And guess what? If you're looking for a show lamb, then you'll pay more for the better show lamb. Regional Area Regional area is one factor that most lamb buyers don't consider when purchasing a lamb. In some areas of the country/world, lambs are known better. In these areas, more people raise, show, and sale them. The market for them (not necessarily the meat market) is higher for lambs in these areas. If you live in such an area, you can expect to pay more for a show lamb, and more than likely find better quality lambs at the same time. For example, a quality show lamb in New York may cost $200, while a lamb of the same quality in Texas may cost $2000. Prices by Breeder You will also have to keep in mind that prices will vary by breeder. No two people have the exact same opinion on which lambs are best, which means sometimes prices may be over or under what they should be. For example, you go to one breeder and they want $300 for a particular lamb. If you would take that lamb to the breeder that lived across the street would he/she charge you the same amount for the same lamb? Probably not. So be sure to shop around when choosing a price to go with a lamb. The best lamb at one farm may cost less than the second best lamb at another farm. Competition Just like any other product or good that can be sold, breeders will raise/lower their prices depending on the competition. If there are several different breeders in your area, you can expect to pay less than what you would pay if there was only one breeder in your area. Reputation Some breeders just have a reputation for selling lambs at large prices. Have you ever heard the saying, "You get what you pay for"? Well, in the lamb business, this isn't always true. Let's say there were two breeders in your area selling club lambs. One has a reputation for selling lambs for a minimum of $300, the other sells at a minimum of $50. If money wasn't a concern, where would you go to buy a lamb? The majority of people would go to where the lambs cost more. As mentioned above, prices by breeder may vary, so don't judge how good a lamb is based on how much it costs. Even if You do Buy a Quality Lamb Even if you do buy a quality lamb at a rather hefty price, this definately doesn't guarantee a winner, even if the breeder says it's guaranteed to win. While genetics and selection is the basis of raising a champion lamb, the work and care put into it determines the outcome. High priced lambs and/or quality lamb selection is nothing without a good person to raise the lamb. In my opinion it takes six things to raise a champion lamb: 1) The right genetics/selection 2) Excellent nutrition 3) Correct Exercise 4) Proper Training 5) Adequate Health Care 6) A devoted grower/shower If any of the six are missing, then there's no champion lamb. If you buy a "guaranteed winner", is it guaranteed not to get sick? Sickness can take a champion lamb down to a poor one. If you decide you are going to win with your lamb because you paid a lot of money for it, you're wrong. If you decide that you are going to pick out the best lamb you can, take care of it properly, and train it, then you're already a winner. This is why I recommend that beginners with lambs should purchase lambs below what they can afford. Your first year with a lamb is a learning experience. Actually, every year with a lamb is a learning experience, but the first year is when everything falls into place. Beginners must learn the basics of how to care for and train a lamb before they rush into wanting to win. Of course, everyone wants to win, but beginners should go into the lamb project with the attitude that they must work their way to the top, not buy their way to the top. How Much is Too Much? So just how much is too much when it comes to buying a lamb? Only one person can answer that question, and that is you. Everyone values money in a different way. Keep in mind there's always the possibility of unexpected lamb bills and often you may not make any money with your lamb. I recommend buying a lamb like you would buy a car. Don't just jump in and buy it, consider your options (all of them) and then go with what feels right. |
This page was last updated on: January 7, 2005
How Much to Pay for a Lamb By: Lyndsey Keller How much would you pay for a lamb? If your answer included so-in-so dollars, are you sure you know what you're doing? The correct answer should have been, "Well, it all depends..." or something to that nature. There is no standard price for a lamb; it's not like buying a can of Coke. The price of a lamb will vary depending on many different factors such as purpose, quality, and regional area. Purpose The purpose of a lamb is probably the most important factor at which to look. If you are looking to keep a lamb as a pet, then your lamb should cost next to nothing. If you are looking for a lamb to raise for slaughter, you'll probably be paying a little more, but not much more. Expect to pay the most if you are planning on showing a lamb. Quality Most shepherds sell their stock based on quality. If you're looking for wool sheep, you'll pay more for the lamb with better wool quality. If you're looking for a slaughter lamb, you'll pay more for a meatier lamb. And guess what? If you're looking for a show lamb, then you'll pay more for the better show lamb. Regional Area Regional area is one factor that most lamb buyers don't consider when purchasing a lamb. In some areas of the country/world, lambs are known better. In these areas, more people raise, show, and sale them. The market for them (not necessarily the meat market) is higher for lambs in these areas. If you live in such an area, you can expect to pay more for a show lamb, and more than likely find better quality lambs at the same time. For example, a quality show lamb in New York may cost $200, while a lamb of the same quality in Texas may cost $2000. Prices by Breeder You will also have to keep in mind that prices will vary by breeder. No two people have the exact same opinion on which lambs are best, which means sometimes prices may be over or under what they should be. For example, you go to one breeder and they want $300 for a particular lamb. If you would take that lamb to the breeder that lived across the street would he/she charge you the same amount for the same lamb? Probably not. So be sure to shop around when choosing a price to go with a lamb. The best lamb at one farm may cost less than the second best lamb at another farm. Competition Just like any other product or good that can be sold, breeders will raise/lower their prices depending on the competition. If there are several different breeders in your area, you can expect to pay less than what you would pay if there was only one breeder in your area. Reputation Some breeders just have a reputation for selling lambs at large prices. Have you ever heard the saying, "You get what you pay for"? Well, in the lamb business, this isn't always true. Let's say there were two breeders in your area selling club lambs. One has a reputation for selling lambs for a minimum of $300, the other sells at a minimum of $50. If money wasn't a concern, where would you go to buy a lamb? The majority of people would go to where the lambs cost more. As mentioned above, prices by breeder may vary, so don't judge how good a lamb is based on how much it costs. Even if You do Buy a Quality Lamb Even if you do buy a quality lamb at a rather hefty price, this definately doesn't guarantee a winner, even if the breeder says it's guaranteed to win. While genetics and selection is the basis of raising a champion lamb, the work and care put into it determines the outcome. High priced lambs and/or quality lamb selection is nothing without a good person to raise the lamb. In my opinion it takes six things to raise a champion lamb: 1) The right genetics/selection 2) Excellent nutrition 3) Correct Exercise 4) Proper Training 5) Adequate Health Care 6) A devoted grower/shower If any of the six are missing, then there's no champion lamb. If you buy a "guaranteed winner", is it guaranteed not to get sick? Sickness can take a champion lamb down to a poor one. If you decide you are going to win with your lamb because you paid a lot of money for it, you're wrong. If you decide that you are going to pick out the best lamb you can, take care of it properly, and train it, then you're already a winner. This is why I recommend that beginners with lambs should purchase lambs below what they can afford. Your first year with a lamb is a learning experience. Actually, every year with a lamb is a learning experience, but the first year is when everything falls into place. Beginners must learn the basics of how to care for and train a lamb before they rush into wanting to win. Of course, everyone wants to win, but beginners should go into the lamb project with the attitude that they must work their way to the top, not buy their way to the top. How Much is Too Much? So just how much is too much when it comes to buying a lamb? Only one person can answer that question, and that is you. Everyone values money in a different way. Keep in mind there's always the possibility of unexpected lamb bills and often you may not make any money with your lamb. I recommend buying a lamb like you would buy a car. Don't just jump in and buy it, consider your options (all of them) and then go with what feels right. |
The Lambinators 4-H Club of Scioto County, Ohio |
