The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Helen Wiltshire Horn on October 04, 2017, 05:24:23 pm

Title: Ram taint?
Post by: Helen Wiltshire Horn on October 04, 2017, 05:24:23 pm

Quick question for you all if that's ok.  I have 8 Wiltshire Horn ram lambs who are recovering from fluke which they got on their summer grazing.  They were meant to be off for meat in early September but owing to having a 56 day withdrawal period they are going in early November.  I am now worrying about ram taint because of the time of year.  They were born in mid March and this is the first year that I haven't castrated the boys as I previously had a ram lamb who went off at just shy of a year old and who came back much heavier with no ram taint.  What are your experiences? 
Helen

Title: Re: Ram taint?
Post by: Me on October 04, 2017, 05:56:57 pm

The fact is, 100% of people say they can taste it. But on blind taste test, very few can actually tell the difference between ewe lamb and ram lamb meat

Title: Re: Ram taint?
Post by: SallyintNorth on October 04, 2017, 07:30:54 pm

We sent off a tup immediately after tupping last year and he tasted wonderful :) :yum:

Title: Re: Ram taint?
Post by: Helen Wiltshire Horn on October 05, 2017, 05:10:54 pm

Thanks for your reassuring replies.  I just can't bear to keep them much longer than the end of the withdrawal period! 
Helen

Title: Re: Ram taint?
Post by: lesbri on October 06, 2017, 08:49:08 am

We've used ram lambs on our small (10-12 ewes) flock for the last 4 years and then sent them off a week or two after coming away from the girls and have never noticed any taint. We do put 2 or 3 ram lambs in with the girls so none of them work very hard! I dont know if this makes a difference.