Lamb Chops?

[MissPrissy]

I paid $50 for my ram lamb. Put him on pasture and just put over 100 lbs of meat in the freezer. I took the hide to the taxidermist this morning for tanning. I think I got my monies worth out of him.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
Yeah, I've seen the scary places Safeway meat comes from now.

I run my sheep and cattle in the same pastures at times. Woven wire with a high tensile hotwire does the job.

AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I LEFT OUT THE ROSEMARY!

Finely chop rosemary and rub the chops with it when you're doing the sea salt and olive oil.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
I sell my shanks for $7 each. I can't keep them in stock. Sunset magazine must have done a special on them or something, because they are all the rage this year.

The real issues I have with the New Zealand lambs:

1) Carbon emission. Food shouldn't be flown halfway around the world when there is perfectly good lamb here to eat.

2) They grain the lambs heavily. It's a feedlot industry.

3) Up to 1/2 the price you pay for the lamb is going to diesel/jet fuel. When you look the markup and transporation, are you actually buying quality meat?

I'm not sure about the goat/lamb thing. I go to a USDA inspected facility. The goats/sheep are hung separately and were done sequentially. They are certainly labeled "goat" or "lamb".

All they ever ask me is how old the lambs are and if they've had antibiotics (was the withdrawal period honored?), since if under 1 year they are still considered lamb. HOWEVER, there is no approved labeleing for mutton, hogget or fat lamb. So cull ewes are still marketed and sold as "lamb". When you buy lamb & rice dog food, your dogs are not eating lambs.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
I'm having a real hard time dealing with my fleeces. We are actually charged $5/hide to incinerate them, due to a USDA rule regarding scrapie transmission. I'd sure like to get them and have them processed, but apparently crossing state lines with hides is also an issue (we live in Washington, our processors are all in Oregon). I would love to be able to sell the fleeces, not just the wool.

I paid $300 for my registered Texel ramb. He's given me probably 30 lambs now, so it's a nice amoratized cost. I'm trading him to my neighbor this year for one of his registered Texel rams. There are real advantages to raising the same livestock/breeds as your neighbors. :0

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
By the wya, if we get over to Sun Mountain this winter, you should join us for some good lamb. They source a vast ammount of their food locally, which is a real benefit to the Methow. My would I love a farm there someday.... except, of course, I'd be giving up all this good grass for growing lambs and beef on.

 

[MissPrissy]

Loren, go to a local taxidermist and see what they can do for you. I have a hard time comprehending no one in your state can tan those hides for you to make use of in your home - even for a rug for the dog to sleep on.

My hide will cost me $40 to tan and $20 handling fee by my taxidermist.

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

Quote:
What is New Zealand Lamb fed?
New Zealand sheep are raised on grass - their natural diet - a luxury this country can afford because of the temperate climate, and its extensive pasture and hill country.

http://www.nzlamb.ca/faq/

http://www.nzlamb.ca/