The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: GlebeFieldFarm on September 25, 2013, 10:30:48 am
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Hi
The time has come for some of our lambs to go, we're going to stagger their exit mainly down to freezer space, so roughly 3 will go at a time :-\
We also have two porkers that will be ready in the future so would love to make a relationship with abbattior so I feel comfortable leaving the animals there.
Any advice on choosing the right one would be great
Thanks :)
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We take ours to Griffiths of Leintwardine. Small, quiet, good butchers who'll give feedback on the quality of the carcase if you want it. Very busy around Christmas so don't take anything in in December
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We also take ours to Griffiths for slaughter, the carcases then gets delivered to another butcher for butchery. If they are a little distance from you, then you could find out if they delivery regularly to any of your local butchers as that at least reduces your traveling for collection depending how far you are from Leinwardine. They also do pigs too.
Can sometimes have to wait a bit to get them booked in, however we rang last Friday to book 2 lambs and they went in Monday, but sometimes have to wait 3 weeks.
Re not taking them in December we had problems last year, however if you book well enough in advance then you should probably be ok.
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I would also recommend griffiths as we used them for the first time recently and the were superb.
We did use partridges in Bromsgrove while we lived near Worcester, and they always did a great job for us.
But if I had to choose... I would say griffiths just because they were a bit more chatty and helpful in a personal sort of way... But the sausages from partridges are awesome!! ????
Let us know how you get on please.
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Thanks I'm going to see if I can arrange a visit. Been to abbattiors before so know what to expect just what like anybody raising livestock peace of mind that there treated kindly.
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I have a couple of lambs to go soon how much do they charge ?
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We use Griffiths in Lentwardine to & have done for years & they do sheep, pigs & cattle & I know some of the slaughter men personally which helps & they really are brilliant as for charges I honestly couldn't tell you but they are also in the good abattoir guide but they are always really busy especially on market days as they cover quite a large area because now Bishops castle 1 has closed the nearest to us for pigs is them & the only other that do cattle are shrewsbury - I'm not sure on the hereford side if theres 1 in hereford - probs is though x
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Not any more - Ensors in the Forest of Dean is nearest to Hereford now, I think. New facility, much bigger, entirely different atmosphere. I think big numbers = more stressful for livestock, however well they're treated. And the incoming stock picks up on it, the same way your dog's tail always goes down when it goes to the vet ...
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Ensors got bought out this month or went bust I think ... I heard they might have limited processing now, so check that out if you are considering them....
...http://www.insolvencynews.com/article/15904/corporate/food-processor-ensors-sold-in-pre-pack-deal (http://www.insolvencynews.com/article/15904/corporate/food-processor-ensors-sold-in-pre-pack-deal)
http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/12/09/2013/141015/meat-processors-squeezed-by-tight-margins.htm (http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/12/09/2013/141015/meat-processors-squeezed-by-tight-margins.htm)
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We paid £12 for slaughter only and deliver to local butchers this week at Griffiths. I am not sure of cut and kill price, around £20 or so I think. Its definitely cheaper to have them cut at Griffiths but we have found another butcher more willing to cut to requirements and mince etc, we also seem to get a higher proportion of meat back.
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that sounds good is the butcher you used local to Griffiths?
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that sounds good is the butcher you used local to Griffiths?
Yes Walls in Craven Arms, they seem to have plenty of room to hang carcases so will keep them hung until they deem them ready for cutting.
I am sure Griffiths must have regular deliveries to a wider catchment area though.
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Walls are good butchers to & I think they have their own abattoir also but don't know where & do great hog roasts - they used to own the 1 in craven arms years ago - that just does sheep & the occasional goat & are "Halal" specialists processing approx 15,000 - 25,000 sheep a week - which ok I understand is business for large food chains but I don't want to put our livestock through stress like that & would never use a "Halal" or "Kosher" abattoir.
But as for Griffiths they do own several butcher shops to & are good at what they do x
This is craven arms abattoir: http://www.euroqualitylambs.co.uk/en/people.htm (http://www.euroqualitylambs.co.uk/en/people.htm)
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Doug Griffiths every time . Pigs are £50 up to 50 kg then £1 per gk after for kill and butcher, about a 3 week wait to book in. it is behind their butcher's shop on the main rd through the village just next to the village hall .