ryNotes:

Keith Salisbury, lead a discussion with 5 local sheep producers discussed the reasons why consumers can't cal buy Ontario local lamb in our local stores.

1) local lamb is in demand

2) no federal kill plants here in Eastern Ontario

3) how do we supply the current lamb market

Wholesale Consumers want specific cuts of meat, they expect us (as producers) to keep the rest of the carcass.

How do we get producers to cooperate with each other to supply 30 carcasses per week.4)

4) How do we compete with imported lamb, especially when they know their production costs are $56 per head.

5)  A brief discussion about where should we be selling our lamb?  Ottawa, Cookstown?

Where do we get the best price.  Cookstown paying a few dollars more than Ottawa but we have the cost of transportation.

6) Conculusions:

A local co-op could coordinate the supply and delivery of lamb.

As producers we have to gross $225 per head to meet our cost of production and make a profit.

Develop a box of mixed cuts that would weigh about 20 lbs. of meat.

We really need to know our Cost of Production (COP) so we can all talk the same language at the end of the day, month, year.

More unknowns than knowns in our business.

Why don't you contact pig/sheep farmer Oliver Haan of Haanover View Farms in Shannonville area 613 391 8293. He takes meat to various local farmers' market in a specially designed freezer van and is looking to market more lamb.

He is looking to expand his lamb sales. Louise Livingstone louise@tubb.ca

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