I got my first sheep! I think one ewe is about to lamb!!! help!

[Beekissed]

You're welcome! I've always been fascinated with the animal birthing process and am amazed at the instinct that is born into them to find that teat....how do they know?

That lamb was grass fed only, raised naturally without any chemical intervention and was processed here on my place a couple of weeks ago and I had his loin in stir fry yesterday....absolutely the most tender and flavorful meat I've ever tasted.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Same with me. I'm totally fascinated. Could read about it, hear about it and watch it EVERY DAY.

The new born lamb in the pic was processed????????

 

[Beekissed]

Well, honey...what do you think he was born for?

Boy lambs are breeders until they can longer do that...and then they are processed. Girl lambs are raised for breeding until they can no longer do that...and then they are processed. If the boy lambs won't be used for breeding they are banded and raised for processing.

Fats was banded, raised with love and many head scratchings, good food, never separated from his mama until the day he died. He got to run and play, come to me for hugs and rubs and generally just be a sheep before he fulfilled his purpose.

And here I thought you were a country girl!

 

[sfw2]

Quote:
Beekissed - Totally understand where you're coming from (and I love lambchops as much as the next gal), but look at this from our point of view: You had all that time to watch the little fella grow and play. We just met him, and now you've eaten him!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I understand breeding, etc. but it seems as if he were born yesterday and you processed him today. I didn't know that was a pic of him in his younger days.

In the words of sfw2 and I totoally agree with sfw2,

You had all that time to watch the little fella grow and play. We just met him, and now you've eaten him!

I am yet to read his biography. What was his name? His favorite color? His age? His past times? His hobbies? his favorite snack? What did he do on the 1st day of school? What was his favorite subject in school?

You dangle a beautiful baby pic in front of me and tease me and then you come back with a hammer to my face and tell me YOU ATE HIM !!!!!

On a serious note, I totally understand. As a matter of fact, one of my rams was taken for processing today. We will be picking the meat up on Saturday morning. His father was processed 8 months ago and dressed out at 105 lbs. He kept us fed for 8 months but the freezer is almost empty, so now it's time for more lamb chops.

Just fore warn us next time Beekissed.

Good job on being self sufficient.

 

[Beekissed]

Trust me on this one....it was not an easy one for me. Actually, none are but this was the worst. I had to let my boys do the butchering while I was at work, as this lamb had become rather close with me. He wasn't bottle fed and there was really no reason that a ram lamb would turn out that docile, but he was truly an innocent and sweet creature. He had no fear of me, would come and lean against me when I was working down low in the pens and want his head and belly scratched. He never offered to butt anyone....he was truly a big sweetheart.

Then came the time for me to downsize my operation and my wonderful sheep had to go. I sent the mothers back to the farm of origin...but what to do with Fats? They would have just sent him to the market. He would have been separated from Mom, pushed and prodded and moved about in strange places, killed in a hurry and by someone who didn't care about him. He would have been fearful and for what reason? Because I didn't have the nerve to give him rest right here on my place. So....I put on my big girl panties...






...and called for reinforcements!

My boys were nice enough to not make fun of my weakness for Fats and managed it gently and quickly. His mom didn't even cry or look for him. The next day they were taken back to their farm and to join a big flock.

I'm glad I got to help birth and raise this beautiful boy and I'm glad he is nourishing my body right now. He is also nourishing my dog and chickens with his fat and innards. His hide will be tanned and kept, enjoyed for it's beauty and softness. He was my first and only lamb and he will stay with me.

 

[boykin2010]

Ok so the sheep breeder just called my mom back a few minutes ago and said we could come and get the lamb tommorow when it is 3 days old! She said we could get him early because he is doing so well on his bottle. I am so EXCITED!!!! WE are going to buy the milk replacer and the nipples today!!!! WE are even going to let the lamb sleep inside in a box the first couple of days.

thank you so much for the pictures! He sure was cute but i dont know if i could eat him. I could probably sell him to someone who would eat him but just the thought of me eating him would make me sick i think. Was that a purebred kat mom? Just wondering

 

[Beekissed]

Yes, she was purebred. Someone else eat my Fats? No way! They didn't deserve to, whomever they would be, just because they paid money for his flesh. I'm the one that pulled those little hooves to clear that muzzle into the fresh air, the one that banded and bonded with him....he was mine.

Congrats on your bottle lamb! You will love it...they follow you around and call for you. When you pick them up they snuggle into your neck.....love baby lambs!

 

[boykin2010]

Well i guess when you put it that way it does sound better for YOU to eat it. Yes, i am still excited. My dad got a dishwasher box and we are gonna keep the lamb in it in my room! WE just got back from TSC and we bought the bottle and nipples and milk replacer. I am already trying to think of a name for it... i will post a pic on here when i get him and let yall think of some names i may like.

 

[lasergrl]

PLEASE read this before you consider keeping a bottle fed lamb as a ram and not castrated:

http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/Bottle-raised males can be very dangerous.pdf