Keeping lambs for meat

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Keeping lambs for meat
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mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 06 3:52 pm Post subject:
I was thinking of feed, in particular. Am I wrong in thinking they need lees bought-in feed?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 06 3:54 pm Post subject:
If you have enough grass there isn't a need to buy any feed in.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 06 4:01 pm Post subject:
That's what I thought. It's a lovely, grassy field, but I know I'd have to get feed in for the coldest months. And there's always plenty of advice to be had around here. Oh hell, I feel a livestock buying soree coming on. Other women get away with buying shoes, but, oh no, not me. Livestock or nothing. Please don't anyone tell the old chap!

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 06 4:03 pm Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

Please don't anyone tell the old chap!

Hate to tell you this, but I think he might notice!

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 06 4:06 pm Post subject:

judith wrote:

mochyn wrote:

Please don't anyone tell the old chap!

Hate to tell you this, but I think he might notice!

That's the benefit of very lumpy land. I can hide them behnid a lump.

For a while.

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 06 4:07 pm Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

judith wrote:

mochyn wrote:

Please don't anyone tell the old chap!

Hate to tell you this, but I think he might notice!

That's the benefit of very lumpy land. I can hide them behnid a lump.

For a while.

Then just act surprised, when they appear over the hill

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 06 8:55 am Post subject:
I can imagine the conversation: TOC: "Carwyn's bloody sheep are in the field again." Me: "Oh, are they dear?" TOC: "Hang on, that's our number on their ear tags..." Noise of swift footfall disappearing over the other hill... Me; (shouting from a great distance) "Do you fancy mutton for tea, dear?"

pink bouncy

Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 174

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 06 9:58 am Post subject:
LOL, thank you Mochyn. You've just made me feel normal. (my thing is usually chickens or ducks or tiny goslings....)

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 06 6:59 pm Post subject:

Hannah

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 277
Location: Pembrokeshire

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 06 9:05 am Post subject:
Thanks everyone for your replies to this ... So, can I just clarify, I can slaughter a lamb at 4 months but I would need to feed additionally? What is the normal age for slaughter assuming it will only have grass to eat (and with that, are you supposed to give them extra feed in winter)? Many thanks Hannah

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 06 10:18 am Post subject:
We've reached a compromise: buying two lams from the neighbour and taking them straight to slaughter. Less fun, but then we won't fall out either.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 06 11:11 am Post subject:

Hannah wrote:

Thanks everyone for your replies to this ...

So, can I just clarify, I can slaughter a lamb at 4 months but I would need to feed additionally? What is the normal age for slaughter assuming it will only have grass to eat (and with that, are you supposed to give them extra feed in winter)?

Many thanks

Hannah

At four months (assuming a March lambing) there shouldn't be any need for additional feeding other than mothers milk & grass. It depends upon the grass situation (ie how much you have) during the winter as to how much & what you will need to feed them during winter.

Hannah

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 277
Location: Pembrokeshire

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 06 1:19 pm Post subject:
Thanks for that Rob. I was only thinking of keeping about 3 or 4 on a field of around 1-1.5 acres. At what age are they normally slaughtered then, if 4 months is a bit young? Many thanks Hannah

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 06 2:14 pm Post subject:
At that rate I would expect they won't need much feeding throughout winter, maybe starting around Christmas through to early March. I would say about 6 months is about the earliest I would slaughter a grass fed lamb, and from that point they improve with age.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 06 3:50 pm Post subject:

So you could therefore take them through to 8-9 months old on no extra feeding , assuming March lambing.

Sourcing organic store lambs : been discussing this with a local organic hill farmer. Best bet for those down south is to contact the Soil Association for contacts in your area, or use the Sales and Wants area of their website (which is, apparently, not easy to find on their site - I've never seen it - but it is there). There will be organic store lambs in Wales, but elsewhere..... ?

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