Cattle-Sheep Comparison

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31832, 9 November 1968, Page 11

Cattle-Sheep Comparison

The relative economics of running beef cattle or sheep is always a topic likely to arouse lively discussion.

Lincoln College is running cattle bought as weaners on its medium to light land at Ashley Dene and it is planned to sell these as prime when they are about 18 to 20 months of age.

At the college field day last week. Professor J. D. Stewart professor of farm management, looked at this proposition in comparison with Corriedale ewes.

Professor Stewart said the critical question was the level of stocking. If a property were tightly stocked cattle had to be considered as direct competitors with sheep. The policy adopted with cattle on this occasion was not the only policy, or necessarily the best that might be used on this class of property, he said. In the light of current wool prices and in competition with Corriedale ewes, Professor Stewart said, the relative economics of these cattle were somewhat doubtful. They were bought at $53

each. He had budgeted for a sale price of $B2 and after estimating stock costs and allowing for Interest the gross margin on these cattle amounted to $22.30. If a cattle beast was equivalent to four ewes then this would be equal to $5.60 a ewe, or if the cattle beast was equivalent to five ewes then this represented $4.40 a ewe Looking at Corriedale ewes at present idces for lamb and w001—55.20 for a lamb and 32c per lb for wool—a ewe would gross $8.70 and after allowing for replacement and direct costs and interest toe gross margin was $6.40, and on toe basis of toe lower level of prices contemplated for sheep products last winter the gross margin was $4.80, so that even at the lower level of prices for lambs and wool toe weaners that they were running would not beat the Corriedale ewes unless the cattle beast was the equivalent of only four ewes.

This was why he was not an uninhibited enthusiast for cattle under these conditions, said Professor Stewart.

However, other light-land farmers with cattle policies that allowed them to sell earlier might be in a somewhat different position. “I would say that cattle are marginally profitable compared with lamb and wooi,” he said.

Professor I. E. Coop, professor of animal science, who spoke after Professor Stew-

art about the programme of beef cattle research at the college, said the margin of superiority of sheep over cattle had been diminishing. One of Professor Stewart’s listeners suggested that the $B2 price expected for the cattle was too low and that $2O might be added to It If the gross margin was $42 Instead of $22, "you would come out very well," Professor Stewart said. It was reported that on toe property this spring a good deal of time had to be put in with toe cattle because of bloat