The Rural Voice, 1978-12, Page 8Veterinarian sells practise
to raise sheep
More marginal land could graze sheep
By Bev Brown
After 19 years as veterinarian, Dr. Brian Nettleton has sold his
practice so he can devote his full time to sheep raising on his
farm in Nova Scotia. At the monthly meeting of the Western
Ontario Lamb Producers Association (WOLPA) held at the
Norwell District High School in Palmerston. Dr. Nettleton told
the members he firmly believes that a good living can be made
by raising sheep in Canada.
"Italians in Toronto and Greeks in Montreal are willing to pay
top dollar for a 60Ib. lamb. This ethnic market buys up almost all
of the Iambs produced in Eastern Canada," Dr. Nettleton stated.
He later explained that this is the reason why Canadian lamb is
not availableat the supermarkets or butcher store. "There simply
is not enough Iamb produced in Canada to supply both the ethnic
market and the regular consumer. Unless the consumer is
prepared to pay $3.00 -$3.50 per pound for a 100 -Ib. lamb, the
producer can make more money selling the lighter 60 -Ib. lamb to
the ethnic market."
Dr. Nettleton says that sheep production is in an embrionic
stage in Canada. He would like to see an increase in the number
of sheep producers and expansion programs for present herds.
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PG. 8 THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1978
In his opinion there is little danger of over -production unless
Canada becomes a dumping ground for lamb from other
countries. •
"Unfortunately," he said, "the life expectancy of a sheep
enterprise in Canada seems to be very short. Few people stay in
sheep production beyond 3-5 years. Thus the Canadian sheep
industry has been declining 10-20 per cent each year, although in
Ontario and Nova Scotia it has been expanding. The demand for
breeding ewes in these two provinces has pushed the price up to
$117. for a crossbred Iamb.
No Coyotes
He pointed out that although both Ontario and Nova Scotia
have millions of acres of marginal land which would be suitable
for sheep production. Nova Scotia has one big advantage over
Ontario --no coyotes.
Dr. Nettleton showed slides of some of the sheep raised in
Nova Scotia and also an instructional film on the "Art of
Shearing". Readers of the James Herriott books will be
interested in learning that before he left England. Dr. Nettleton
worked for a time with the famous Yorkshire vet who wrote "If
only they could talk" and "It shouldn't happen to a vet".
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