Economics of using EasyRams
Example Ram Cost/Lamb Produced
1/ Lamb Cost
Typical Suffolk Shearling costs £450
Assume Ram/Ewe ratio 1:40
Assume this average ran lives for 2.5 seasons, therefore over 2.5 seasons, this ram serves 100 ewes which produce 170% = 170 lambs.
£450 ram produces 170 lambs
Lamb cost = 450 / 170 = £2.64
Assume EasyRam Shearling Costs £550
Assume EasyRam works 4 seasons
Assume Ram/Ewe ratio 1:125
Over 4 yrs this ram serves 500 ewes who produce 170% = 850 lambs.
Lamb cost = 550
850 = £0.65
Using an EasyRam can save you £2 per lamb produced in terms of Ram cost.
2/ High EBVs
Selecting rams with high growth/muscle EBVs can give £2.00 to £3.00 per lamb in extra output by reducing grazing costs and improving carcases. (see DEFRA funded reports from Signet and EBLEX)
3/ Labour Reduction
By using EasyRams you will be able to lamb outdoors giving a shepherding cost reduction of up to £3/lamb.
SAC’s John Vipond has produced similar figures to those shown above figures which can be tabulated to show the advantages (financial) of using EasyRams.
| Selection based on looks | Ram Cost/ Lamb Sold | Increased Production | Reduction Labour Costs | Investement Return/Lamb | Cost/ Savings |
| Rams sold on looks | -£2.64 | £0.00 | £0.00 | -£2.64 | £450 costs |
| Select on EBVs Rams sold on looks Heavy concentrate use | -£2.64 | +£2.00 | £0.00 | -£0.64 | £100 costs |
| Select on EBVs Selection for lamb vigour Reduce concentrate use Selling on figures | -£0.65 | +£2.00 | +£3.00 | +£4.35 | £3,697 benefits |
An ordinary reared ram (traditional management)
- Costs You = £450 net cost
A high index reared ram (traditional management)
- Costs £450
- Increases Output By £2 x £1.70 lambs = £340 = £110 net cost
An EasyRam reared to our standards
- Costs £550
- Increases Output By (£2 x 850 lambs) = £1,700
- Saves Labour By (£3 x 850 lambs) = £2,550 = £3,700 benefit
Benefit of using high-index EasyRam reared to our specification = £3,700 NET.
An EasyRam can improve your margins by £4,150 over those his traditionally managed rival will provide.
These figures are based on shearling and not lamb use.