The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Harebell on September 12, 2014, 04:35:34 pm

Title: Carcass quality?
Post by: Harebell on September 12, 2014, 04:35:34 pm

I got my first lamb of this year back from the abattoir.  It was a 20 week old grass fed Wiltshire Horn whether and the carcass weight was 19.99KGs and grade was U3H.  I think this is good?  Can anyone comment?

While my family have kept a few sheep (Wilts Horn and Wilt X) on their arable farm for a number of years, this is the first full year that I have been in charge of their management.  Lambs were just sent off whenever and we did not pay any attention to weight and grade of the carcass as lamb were just for the family freezer.  Lambs are still ‘just for the freezer’ (we’ll only be sending off 4 this year) but I like do things as best as I can with the resources I currently have.  I don't have a way of weighing lambs but hopefully will get an idea over time by just looking and feeling the lambs. 

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: twizzel on September 12, 2014, 04:51:47 pm

 Eblex have fantastic guides to carcass grading, what to feel for in a finished lamb etc. We don't have scales either and decide whether lambs are ready to go based on how they feel. U3H as a commercial lamb is a little too fat however as a butchers lamb or for home consumption probably spot on.
http://www.eblex.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/brp_l_Understanding_lamb_carcases250713.pdf (http://www.eblex.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/brp_l_Understanding_lamb_carcases250713.pdf)

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: Daisys Mum on September 12, 2014, 05:07:23 pm

Just picked my 3 boys up from the butcher looking fantastic and they were graded R3L. Yum!  lamb for tea.

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: Bionic on September 12, 2014, 05:57:36 pm

I have no idea what the grades mean. Can anyone putt a list up?
Thanks

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: Daisys Mum on September 12, 2014, 06:11:29 pm

The Eblex link that twizzel gave is very good, cause I had no idea either :-\

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: Bionic on September 12, 2014, 07:00:31 pm

Thanks Daisy's Mum, I had missed the link  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: twizzel on September 12, 2014, 07:03:02 pm

Eblex have loads of fantastic info on rearing, finishing lambs and cattle, worming info, well worth a look.

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: Dogwalker on September 12, 2014, 08:33:15 pm

Didn't Sally itn do a post explaining it a little while ago. I'll try finding it, hang on.

Title: Re: Carcass quality?
Post by: Dogwalker on September 12, 2014, 08:40:32 pm

Here you go.

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=45857.msg424598#msg424598 (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=45857.msg424598#msg424598)