A few months ago we were approached by friends, who chatted to us about the concept of raising a lamb for meat. Our friends have previously done this and asked if we would be interested.

We really had not thought about the concept of processing our own meat, but after hearing about things such as the price of the end result, what it is being fed, no chemicals being used and if any medicines were provided then we would know what it was given, it did seem like an obvious choice.

Note I will not be providing any pics so no worries so here are some lovely autumn pics in its place.

Credit Pixabay

So we decided to get a lamb.

This was back in April, we bought one from a neighbour for 6 lev a kilo about 3 euro a kilo, the one I bought weighed in at 23 kilos and it was a good strong healthy lamb. I knew I had to be adult about this, knowing that the end prospect of the animal was to feed us, so I did not want to become too attached to it.

I decided that it was important that it not be given a name and not to become attached, my friends also agreed that it should be kept at theirs as if it were here, it probably would be roaming around the house being treat just like the dogs, so I decided against it.

The lamb was killed as humanely as possible which was a bullet to the head, which was the only means in which for its life to be ended, it was quick and caused as little suffering as possible to the animal. When checking this out I found this interesting article about it, and made me feel better rather than the thought of other ways which animals are killed, which prolongs suffering.

As we speak now it is being processed ready for the freezer which I am waiting to find out the dress weight of the lamb and seeing what meat we got from it in the end I will leave this up to you if you want to know this as I did not post this to cause offence in any way but to share my experience.

The lamb has had a happy life roaming a field and paddock, which gives me comfort and was not mistreated in any way shape or form.

Update

So the processing has now been done and I have just got home filling the freezer, after sharing the lamb with our friends we will get the other half next year with the next lamb, had it have been a full lamb I would have needed two large carrier bags with what we got.

So this is what we would have had if it were a full lamb.

• Neck
• 2 x Shoulders with leg
• 2 X Legs
• Sirloin
• Skirt
• Rack
• Chops

So what i got was

• 1 x Shoulder with leg

• 1 x Leg

• Sirloin

• Skirt

• Chops

• Rack

The neck our friends kept and we will have the neck off next years, and with the innards of the lamb will be made a haggis for burns night in January which is celebrated as our friends are scottish.

So all in all it was and is very much worthwhile rearing your own lamb for the price the meat is very clean and it has a good amount of meat on the bone very happy with the outcome.

Thank you Lamby for what you gave us.