The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Hillview Farm on April 22, 2015, 07:22:56 am
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Can an older barren ewe (5 years old) be eaten as mutton? Or would it be too chewy. Obviously long and slow cooking would be in order :)
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Yes, as long as you cook it right. Would probably have too much flavour for me, but my husband would love it!
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We had a 7 year old ewe year last year .... best thing we've ever tasted, not too strong at all!!! Hung for 7-10days, and slow cooked ... most yumpious!! (although after a good hanging it shouldn't be chewy so you wouldn't necessarily need the long slow cook)
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Sent on a 4 year old Shetland ewe at Easter. Hung for 5 days (would have preferred longer) and the buyer said it was the meat mutton/lamb they had ever eaten, including grilled chops :yum: . Other joints were slow cooked, not roasted.
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I did a 7 year old last year, delicious!!!!
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Another vote here for older mutton
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Thanks all ;)
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As one says around here:
Lamb is a good waste of mutton. :thinking:
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The best mutton traditionally comes from 5 year old wethers so it shouldn't be too chewy. Try to have it hung for about a fortnight though if you can.
Mutton is so much nicer than lamb, I completely agree Hannes!
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Even commercial breeds?
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Yes, why not? :) They mature faster, but I don't think they go over once they've got there. I hope not anyway: I've got a Texel cross and a Northern Mule simmering away nicely in the field at 4 years old and they're heading for the freezer next spring. I've certainly had Swaledale ewe that old which was fine (read: delicious) and I'd have thought the tough, hill breeds would have been the chewiest mutton of any.
I belive it was Mrs Beaton who said about 5 year old wethers and she was talking about improved breeds (albeit not our modern commercial ones) rather than primatives or hill sheep.
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We sent a 4yo wether in on Tuesday, will let you know what he tastes like! ;)
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we shared 4 yr entire rams with the dogs, was surprisingly fine meat.