sabertooth where do you find all these producers of natuRal lamb at such cut rate prices? i have never met any who did not use chemicals and was all grass fed at the same time except for the one i jjust bought out. all the sheep farmers i know charge twice for cuts and half as much moore for ground than i do for whole. plus their grass fed lambs arent loaded down with extra fat like mine are. i guess all that bluegrass in your state, must be a lot of sheep farms
Its a magical land I live in. A far away place, called Kentucky.
Kentucky was once the mutton capital of the world, before refrigerated rail cars ushered in the age of Beef. Though now days the comercial lamb busness is fairly small. The bluegrass area of Kentucky is known for its mineral rich soil. Sheep do very well being pasture raised in these parts.
Lambs in general are lean, because they are immature and still growing, but fully mature sheep have no problem at all fattening up on pasture around here.
I think much of the reason people try and use grain to fatten sheep and use chemical wormers and vaccines, is due to ignorance and greed. Lambs are slaughtered young and fetch a premium at the market, so farmers will use corn to fatten them up quickly to slaughter before they mature. They have to worm them because while keeping them pinned up to feed grain they become more susceptible to parasite overload. Sheep if allowed to grow at their natural rate fatten up just fine on grass, and if people practice good animal husbandry by rotating pastures, and using hardy breeds acclimated to the area then wormers are not necessary.
A warning to everyone, conventional producers almost always worm animals before taking them to a slaughter house. Many of the wormed animals fattened on grain I have seen have cyst on their livers, and taste bad. If you do buy from local producers make sure the animals are grass fed and not treated with chemical wormers. There are herbal wormers and minerals like DE that are just as effective and will not damage the animals organs.
I depend a lot on craigslist and word of mouth to find small scale farms run by people who raise sheep on pasture.
Some people raise wool sheep and because there is no push for them to fatten them up they leave them to pasture, and I can buy up unwanted rams for a bargain.
Many of the people are aware of the problems with modern food production and raise a small flock for their own use, and will sell off a few sheep in order to keep their flock to a manageable size.
Here is an add for example
http://lexington.craigslist.org/grd/4133491991.htmlSabertooth I am so proud of you...! We need more of those daring souls that burn to change things for the better. If I can help you in any way with your endeavour please let me know (just money this girl does not have.. )
Thank you for the encouraging words, I will keep your offer in mind..... The day may come when I will need your help....
Perhaps if I do get famous in Germany and travel to Europe, I could tour the continent. If so, then some Aid for the Crusade from the Raw Paleo people out there on the other side of the Atlantic, would be greatly welcome.