?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Finishing+store+lambs+from+organic+hill+and+upland+farms+OF0119&rft.creator=Elliot%2C+Mr+J&rft.creator=Keatinge%2C+Mr+R&rft.creator=Powell%2C+Mr+L&rft.creator=Unwin%2C+Mr+R&rft.subject=+Sheep+and+goats&rft.subject=+Feeding+and+growth&rft.subject=+Farm+economics&rft.description=1.++The+aim+of+this+study+was+to+assess+the+economics+and+constraints+associated+with+home+finishing+lambs+on+a+range+of+organic+hill+and+upland+farms+in+England+and+Wales%2C+and+to+evaluate+the+potential+for+further+finishing+on+registered+farms+in+the+lowlands.%0D%0A%0D%0A2.++The+current+state+of+the+organic+sheep+sector+is+briefly+reviewed.++This+identifies+problems+of+scale%2C+limited+premia+and+uneveness+of+supply+as+limiting+factors+to+more+rapid+development+of+the+market+and+associated+production+systems.%0D%0A%0D%0A3.++To+quanitfy+the+effect+of+organic+management+on+financial+performance%2C+hill+and+upland+farms+were+classified+under+four+typical+systems%2C+depending+on+the+degree+of+intensification.%0D%0A%0D%0A4.++Without+a+sizeable+area+of+improved+ground%2C+to+which+fertiliser+and+other+inputs+could+have+been+applied+conventionally%2C+flocks+based+on+high+hill+or+marginal+hill+systems+were+least+affected+by+switching+to+organic+management.++Flock+Gross+Margin+on+the+marginal+hill+declined+by+approximately+7%25.%0D%0A%0D%0A5.++On+more+intensive+farms%2C+typified+by+Welsh+hill+or+upland+farming+systems%2C+there+is+greater+potential+to+finish+lambs+at+higher+stocking+rates+under+conventional+management%2C+and+the+consequences+of+changing+to+organic+management+are+greatly+increased.++Assuming+a+10%25+premium+for+fnished+organic+lambs%2C+deviating+from+convetional+practice+to+produce+store+lambs+or+finish+lambs+at+higher+production+cost%2C+reduced+flock+Gross+Margin+by+approximately+12-15%25.++Without+a+premium%2C+this+deficit+increased+to+15-20%25.%0D%0A%0D%0A6.++The+Organic+Aid+Scheme+can+make+good+the+likely+income+loss+during+the+first+two+years+after+conversion%2C+when+the+highest+rates+are+payable.++However%2C+in+the+long-term+organic+flocks+must+compete+solely+on+the+basis+os+a+premium+paid+for+finished%2C+and+ideally%2C+for+store+lambs.%0D%0A%0D%0A7.++Physical+and+financial+constraints+were+identified+as+t+wy+systems+had+not+developed+linking+potential+production+of+store+lambs+in+the+hills%2Fuplands+with+finishing+on+organic+farms+in+the+lowlands.++These+were+mainly+scale+and+infrastructure%2C+availability+of+suitable+feeds+and+the+likely+level+of+return+to+the+lowland+farmer+from+a+store+lamb+finishing+enterprise.++Potential+sources+of+feed+for+finishing+organic+lambs+were+assessed.++These+include+permanent+pasture%2C+short-term+leys%2C+catch+crops%2C+grazed+set-aside+land+and+conserved+fodder.%0D%0A%0D%0A8.++Integration+with+existing+organic+systems+of+all+types+was+estimated+to+have+the+potential+to+finish+an+extra+10-15%2C000+lambs+per+annum%2C+equivalent+to+the+number+of+lambs+currently+receiving+an+organic+premium.%0D%0A%0D%0A9.++Further+opportunities+to+expand+finishing+capacity+on+lowland+farms+were+examined.++Mixed+organic+farms+are+likely+to+have+little+or+no+capacity+to+finish+bought+in+store+lambs%2C+except+where+overall+stocking+rates+are+constrained+by+insufficient+ewe%2Fsuckler+cow+quota%2C+or+where+catch+crops+are+added+to+the+rotation.%0D%0A%0D%0A10.++The+addition+of+a+store+lamb+enterprise+to+lowland+systems+was+calculated+to+increase+farm+Gross+MArgin+by+2-3%25%2C+depending+on+the+type+of+farm+(dairy%2C+stockless+arable%2C+or+mixed).++This+represented+a+marginal+return+on+capital+invested+in+a+store+lamb+finishing+enterprise+of+9-24%25.%0D%0A%0D%0A1.++The+financial+risks+involved%2C+the+availability+of+suitable+labour+and+fixed+equipment%2C+and+reluctance+to+vary+arable+rotations%2C+make+store+lamb+finishing+enterprises+less+attractive+to+the+lowland+farmer.%0D%0A%0D%0A12.++Beyond+the+capacity+to+increase+the+number+of+certified+lambs+currently+offered+by+up+to+50%25%2C+greater+opportunities+are+only+likely+to+develop%2C+when+there+is+a+significant+increase+in+land+(particularly+on+arable+farms)+entering+conversion.&rft.date=1995-03&rft.type=Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F9966%2F1%2Ffinishing_store_lambs_from_organic_hill_and_upland_farms_of0119.pdf&rft.identifier=Elliot%2C+Mr+J%3B+Keatinge%2C+Mr+R%3B+Powell%2C+Mr+L+and+Unwin%2C+Mr+R+(1995)+Finishing+store+lambs+from+organic+hill+and+upland+farms+OF0119.+[+Unpublished%2C+]&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F9966%2F