[Jacob-list] Lamb Processing

[Mary McCracken]

I sell larger breeds of lamb for $85/100+ lamb the buyer then has to pay the $25 slaughter fee and the $35 cutting and wrapping.  I also have mutton buyers for ewes in fine shape but who I what to cull for flock improvement or for habits that I don't enjoy.  They also bring $85 but are generally 200# animals.  Jacobs have been difficult to sell due to size.  I've kept wethers until they are yearlings and then donated them to fund raisers or nonprofit parties.  They pay for slaughter and hanging then cook them whole.  Delicious but hasn't caught on in terms of producing BUYTERS.  Selling through the saleyard has been DISMAL.  $11.00 for a ram lamb this year.  The slaughter and cutting prices are the same for a Jacob lamb or a Suffolk lamb.  Although the cutting for a giant ewe is higher!!  :-)))  I have my rams slaughtered and eat them since I'm always afraid there will be a 'bad' one but that's really how I've gotten my mutton market.  I take mutton burger or kabob pieces to gatherings....then sit back and let folks try it.  Having mutton buyers has certainly made me better at culling.  I can keep a ewe lamb and sell a five year old ewe. 

mary mccracken
Red Wing Farm
La Grande, OR
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Jim Spahr <spahrfarm at dragonbbs.com>
    To: Jacob List Members <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
    Date: Friday, October 26, 2001 7:53 AM
    Subject: [Jacob-list] Lamb Processing
    
    
    Here in Ohio, Kroger's charges $7.99/lb. for lamb chops.  Not many people in the Midwest eat lamb.  When we take lambs to the stockyards, they are sent on to New Jersey.  What do others charge per lb. hanging wt. for their lambs?  Is $1.00/lb. fair for live wt.?  
    I understand Maria's frustration about selling her ewes.  It seems that it can be very difficult at times to sell good breeding ewes, and her prices are certainly cheap enough.  At stockyard prices, or selling mature ewes for the freezer, they would be considered mutton and not bring as much as a young lamb.
    We all need to work on marketing our sheep and their products.  I am still interested in organizing a Make It With Jacob Wool Contest which would promote our sheep and their fleeces.  I have mentioned it to the JSBA BOD, so will see what we can come up with.
     
                                                                             Mary Spahr  
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