[Jacob-list] eating lambs--err adolescents!

[kbarrett at oregontrail.net]

I try not to like my ram lambs too much...but have a perfect guy out in the 
pasture that I just couldn't let go. He is 4 horned, well behaved and gorgeous, 
and I know I will find a home for him, hopefully soon. The lambs I know I can't 
keep, get shipped and it is an impersonal way of having them butchered...we try 
to eat the ones we personally didn't like...if that helps.  I have sent off 
even some lovely ewe lambs, which is especially hard, but I really don't need 
to let the flock get totally out of control.  I started with 3 ewes 5 years ago 
and am up to 16, and that is with careful culling!! This is just a hobby, many 
more may bring me to work status!  It will get easier, and there will always be 
one that tugs at your heart.
Kate

Quoting Mary Hansson <buffgeese at yahoo.com>:

> Hi,
>  
> We re-named "Kermit" to "Freezer" the day he left a 4-5 inch bruise on my
> thigh.  I wasn't getting out of his way and he backed up and hit me----at 4
> months of age, mind you!  I called him Freezer and told him how tasty his
> little lamb chops were going to be when they were big enough to eat for
> awhile....and then carted him off to the butcher.
>  
> There is no telling how many heads have popped forth from their mom to be
> dubbed "freezer" before the rest of the body arrived here at my place.  I
> have 1 out here this spring that definitely goes----along with probably
> several more when their horns come on out and we take a look at the entire
> package.
>  
> Each shepherd has their own way of handling culling.  The best way by far is
> to make sure a less-than-perfect animal never makes it into somebody else's
> flock---and that is to make sure they get eaten.
>  
> We talk about eating rams very freely.  We seldom talk about eating the
> ewes---but they are just as tasty and edible when they have traits that do
> not belong in a breeding program.  The first time we sucked it up and had 3
> or 4 ewes butchered, it hurt---and was quite difficult.  It still isn't
> exactly easy, but these are meat animals.  
>  
> Nobody asks if it was Bessie or Butch that you are eating at McDonald's drive
> thru....but those cows can and are just as personable before they are
> slaughtered if somebody takes the time to get to know them.
>  
> Mary Ellen
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
> ISeeSpots Farm
> Jacob Sheep:  Lambs, adults, wool
> www.iseespots.com