Shropshire Sheep - 100 year old prices

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:10 am

Clive,
I have a set of cyclopedia called 'The Standard Cyclopedia of Modern Agriculture' printed in 1912. I ocasionally browse through one of them and a couple of evenings ago was reading about Shropshire sheep.
The record price for a ram at the time was sold at auction in 1901 for 400gns. Wow! that must have been very expensive at that time. Another ram was 'let' to serve 50 ewes for 200gns. It would be interesting to know how that would equate in todays money.
It must have been a very popular breed as the article says that at the 'Royal' show held at Shrewsbury in 1884 there where 875 Shropshires exhibited out of a total of 1295 sheep.
A bit off topic for this forum but I thought you may find it interesting.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:32 am

Hi Martin

If you are watching the television programme "Victorian Farm", they are Shropshire Sheep and the people involved members of the society that we know. The farm is not far from us.

We have a flock of 300 Lleyn ewes and also about 50 Shropshires. I can tell you that they used to be one of the biggest breeds in the UK or the Midlands certainly, they were THE breed apparently. The Texels of 50 years ago. Also, in scientific tests, the lambs that the tups will produce when crossed with Lleyns are almost exactly the same as when crossed with a Charolais. If you want to produce good meat lambs, especially off grass, then they are right at the top of the list. They do not need any feed.

You may recall me saying that we have high index tups, they are Shropshires. We have just produced another batch of purebreds which are still lambing now, and the lambs are twice the size of even excellent quality Lleyns within about 2 weeks and in the same pen. They are very popular with butchers and if you speak to TBMM one of their very favourites.

We have out first batch of Shropshire on Lleyn lambs coming through this April.

But the really amazing thing with Shropshires is not just that they produce fantastic meat quickly, but they don't eat trees!!! So they are exported all over the world to keep the grass down in large orchards, tree plantations (christmas trees etc) and now vineyards. How amazing is that/. You have a lawnmower that keeps the weeds down, fertilises the ground whilst doing it, and then produces meat as well! Anyone interested, I did the design and production of a booklet called "Two Crops From One Acre". Actually, it should have been called Three Crops. But you can obtain copies from the society or send me a PM and I'll arrange. They aren't free, I think they are £5.

It's a big lesson for dexterdom and other breeds. They were nearly wiped out I understand. And no-one realised that they had this special ability in their genes. So, nationally, you should be very careful when doing anything to change or play around with a breed, as you may be losing something that you didn't even now you had.

The only downside with Shropshires is with tups at 22 stone, turning them over to do the feet keeps you fit, very, very fit. Our shearers just love doing them :D

Edited By Broomcroft on 1233916671

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:08 pm

Yes I have been watching 'Victorian Farm' and do find it interesting and rather amusing as the two guys that are doing it don't have a clue! I find myself talking to the TV when they do or say something that I dissagree with or I know is incorect.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:10 pm

It's the professional shepherd, Richard, the one who gives all the advice, who is in the society. I think he's got 300 Shrops. I'm glad I wasn't born in the Victorian era I have to say, especially as woman. 3 days hard labour just to do the washing.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:16 pm

Martin

I've done a bit of research and if the Shropshire tup that fetched 400gns (that's about £420) a 100 years ago, then in today's prices that equates to £166,604. i.e. abut the price of an average house.

However, we would accept a slightly lower offer for our high index tups if you're interested :D

Edited By Broomcroft on 1233929891

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:06 pm

Here's a picture of our Shropshire sheep on the front cover of Shropshire Life Magazine last month...it was taken in the field opposite the farmhouse...

carole · Post by **carole** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:03 pm

HI Clive
I have been meaning to post about the mag, I was up near Telford a few weeks ago just as it hit the newsagents and bought a copy just to read the article about your set up, very interesting.
However I could not understand how you managed to get pictures of the flock in the snow, before we had any snow this year, now of course we all have pictures with our herds/flocks in the snow. I assume you have plenty of snow at the moment, Lots down here in SE Cornwall, Regards Carole

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:53 pm

Hi Carole - The pic was last year. On the inside spread, by the way, they took a cut out from a large photo of one of our very worst cows. We didn't know till it was too late. Never mind. It was a good spread for Freedom Food and us. We hopefully have more happening marketing-wise this year.