"Harvesting" the Lambs

You might recall this past spring, we got a couple lambs to raise for butcher.

We wanted them to be grass fed so knew we were in for a chore.

My mom commented how she always enjoyed fattening out critters.

I explained that we weren't graining them so they weren't just kept nice and tidy in one little spot.

We began saving our grass clippings for haylage before we even got the lambs.  Since sugars are what gets stored as fat (marbling in the meat,) we wanted a natural way for them to have those sugars without grains.

Making the haylage was easy enough.

We put grass clippings of moderate moisture content in a black garbage bag and sat on it to get as much air out as possible.

(Sorry, no pix of that:)

Then we wrapped it in 2 more bags making it triple wrapped.

And yes, it is necessary to triple wrap them.

Then let it sit to ferment for 6-8 weeks.

Doing this does require one to plan ahead.

The lambs started out in a 12 X 12 pen that we shuffled around the yard twice per day.

Once they began eating well, the area of the pen was not enough to feed them.  We began tethering them while we were home.

We used a cork-screw anchor so they would be less likely to get hung up on anything.

We just had to make sure we sank it far enough away from anything they weren't supposed to eat.

At night we put them up in their pen which we had expanded.

We tied the dog near them at night for protection - 

or at least as an alarm system since we have bear, mountain lions, wolves, etc. in our neck of the woods.

They got loose only twice:

once during our ice-cream social (they wanted to join the party) and 

once when we were gone and they proceeded to completely destroy our garden.

By the last month, they were eating the haylage heartily and enjoyed our abundance of apples as well (more natural sugars.)

When it was nearing time to butcher, Mr. LB began asking me if I was going to  miss them (nope,) asking if I would be okay when we butchered (yep,) if I would be able to eat them (double yep,) etc.

I finally asked him if he was just trying to make me feel bad.

He said I just didn't scratch them under their chins enough.

I asked him if he would be okay.  He assured me he would be.

(He's a big softy, but don't tell him I told you;)

My folks came up to help butcher.

Mom picked plums for making jelly.  I got hanging bags, vinegar water, and towels, etc. ready.  I also set up the wringer washer out in the yard. 

I kept the fleeces to tan, but first ran each one through a couple of rinses to clean them and to cool them faster.

I then spread them on a tarp, salted and rolled each one.

Those are now in the freezer awaiting further processing.

Dad and Mr. LB got their part done, cleaned, and bagged.

Then, later that week, we began cutting and wrapping.

The great thing about doing our own cutting and wrapping is that we can be picky and package it according to how we will be cooking it rather than how it fits in a box.

The remaining bones and scraps went to the dog and the chickens (chickens are meat-eaters too) so there was very little overall waste.

Conclusions

(both good and bad)

Haylage: This is fabulous though does require planning ahead.  The only change I would make is to do it in large zip-locks then in the 2 extra bags.  Once the large bags were opened, it only took a couple days to begin to mold.  Feeding only 2 lambs, a large part of each bag was wasted (well composted.)

Yard: We did not mow this summer.  The lambs fed.  They do not mow evenly so overall appearance of the place was sub-par.  We have an acre and they ate it all!  So figure about 1/2 acre per lamb.  (They also ate garden, flowers in pots, any landscaping they could get to. . . )

Time: This was time consuming!  We moved them at least twice per day.  We did not take any vacations together.  We made sure one of us was home.  Though they tethered well, they weren't really "leash trained" so moving them could be a challenge.  Each move involved re-sinking the anchor and toting their water bucket. 

Meat: We have 2 grass fed lambs in the freezer (minus one tasty leg o' lamb) for relatively little monetary cost per pound.  I am one of those who likes having the peace of mind that if something happens, we can still eat, so it's a bonus in that department.

Fleeces: We will also have two lamb skin "rugs" whenever I get around to pelting them.  They will be a lot! of work so hope they turn out nicely.

Do it Again?: Probably not next summer.  We have the trailer restored so will be taking a couple trips and wouldn't dream of asking someone else to take on such a chore.  After that, we'll see.

                                                          

*Back Yard Butcher Lambs*

~Taco and Squeeze~

They just might be pigs in sheep's clothing.

(Taco is lighter, on left. Squeeze is darker, on right.)

We acquired these 2 characters a few weeks ago.

They are "bummers," and though he is slightly smaller,

Taco is about a week and a half older than Squeeze.

They are suffolk which is a meat breed and

should finish out at about 105-125 lbs. each come fall.

I raised sheep years ago, but that was years ago,

and it was primarily breeding stock.

Market lambs were a very small part of it.

The other thing is that grain was the feed of choice "back then."

We are raising these on grass - and a bottle at the moment.

There are reasons both for and against doing this.

I'll share some of the rewards and sacrifices that have gone into making this decision, and will attempt to show how our little operation functions.

The For or Rewards List~

*The most prominent reason for embarking on this little venture is that we want grass-fed meat and the various health benefits of it.

*Lambs take minimal space (as opposed to beef or hogs)

 and minimal / non-permanent facilities.

*They are easily handled due to size.

*They are a meat product that we don't usually purchase (expensive.)

*They have a quick growing season (just until fall.)

*We should be able to process them ourselves with little difficulty.

*And 1 more, I am hoping to process their skins so might (if I don't mess up) have 2 lamb skin "rugs."

The Against or Sacrifices List~

(This list is small but mighty.)

*They still cost money.  Though start-up is the most expensive, they don't just give bummers away like they used to.  Many I looked at were over $100 and didn't appear to have had first milk.  Ours were not that much, had first milk, shots, castrated, tails docked, and were eating well on the bottle before they were sold.  Finding such a breeder, we have already made an agreement to be in contact again next year.

*They take time.  This is huge!  Mr. LB and I both work outside the home and have nearly an hour drive at each end of the day.  Also, if we plan on leaving, even for a weekend, we will have to find someone who is physically able and willing to tend our critters.

*A clean and manicured yard is out of the question.  They don't "mow" evenly.  This might not sound like a big deal to some folks, but kinda like the fall back - I'm no beauty queen, by my clothes are clean and my hair is brushed, for the property (to me) it might not be HGTV, but the lawn is mowed.

What we are doing~

Their pen was made from a 3/16" wire mesh that comes in an 8'X20' sheet.

Mr. LB cut it in half both ways, a few zip ties and they have a 10'X10' pen.  When they are gone, we can simply cut the zip ties and the panels will store flat.  He also put the scrap of tin over where the feeder hangs.

They get moved every day.

This is much more labor intensive than the good ol' days when they were kept in a solid pen and fed grain, but we are hoping it's worth it.  Also, they have 
the Bird Mobile following 2-3 days behind.  Then the dog(Rip) is tied near them at night.  We have bear, cougar, wolves, coyotes, fox and more in this area.

It looks like animals on parade around here.

Humans could play a nice game of "Name That Poo" after they've tracked by.

(Sorry, I'm still kinda struggling with the yard part.)

I know that blue tarp looks high-class, but we have had some major thunder showers go through.  Like kids, they don't seem to mind getting wet, but it makes us feel better to offer them some coverage.

      

Their diet~

Water of course, and they get a bottle for a few more weeks.

We do give them a very small amount of alfalfa about every other day just because they were already nibbling on it when we got them, and it should help them transition over to the haylage more easily.

I have been mowing certain areas of the yard with the push mower and bagger in order to gather the clippings and make haylage.  That process is kinda like planting carrots or spuds - you don't know how it will turn out until you open the bag after 8 weeks (or dig into the soil come late summer.)  About the time they are weaned, the first bag of haylage should be ready.  This will be in addition to they grass they are eating as we move them daily.

(Rip, hard at work!  This is how he prefers to spend his days.)

Lastly~

We can't get attached!

They are way cute.  They have a ton of personality.  Squeeze is a demanding brat, and Taco is an ornery stinker.  They are a hoot to watch as they pounce around and "act tough."  Mr. LB has actually been the one who takes care of them most of the time just due to schedules.  I'm making dinner as he's making bottles and moving them.  The other night he commented, "Squeeze likes his throat scratched.  He goes all hypnotic."

I asked if he remembered that they would one day be dinner.  He assured me he would be okay.  There is a different mind set to raising animals for butcher.

It doesn't mean we can't love and care for them, it's just different.

In the end, they will provide us health and nourishment in return for the care we have provided them.  We will offer a prayer of thanks to them for being such an important part of our being.

In the mean time, we will make sure they have a safe and pleasant life.