[kane]

Hi everyone,
This is our first year raising lambs (second year with sheep), we have 1 ewe and 2 rams coming up to 6 months old. We didn't get castration bands in time so they boys are still in tact.
They are suffolk x hampshire.

I've read on here about sending lambs for slaughter and butchering and they come back pre packaged. Is that just a standard service that abbatoirs offer? I am really clueless about the whole process if anyone has any advice.

Can we transport the rams and ewe together for slaughter?

Do you have to find specific places that just deal with small volumes?

We're near Leeds if anyone has any recommendations.

Any guidance is really appreciated!

Kindest regards,
Kane

[twizzel]

Not all abattoirs will offer a cutting service- some just kill the animal, and then transport to a butcher. Others will kill and cut. If you say where you are, maybe some members might be able to suggest a good abattoir.

[kane]

Thanks twizzel, I've updated my post to include our location.

Also if anyone has a general cost for the process of slaughter/cutting/packaging that would be great.

[twizzel]

I pay £40 per lamb for kill cut and vacuum pack.

[Buttermilk]

I have just paid £45 for kill and cut some large lambs (60lbs meat per lamb)  I had to pack myself.

[silkwoodzwartbles]

My local slaughterhouse and butcher charge £25 per lamb to kill, cut and pack. Is there a Facebook smallholders group for your local area where you could ask for recommendations on where to take them? No trouble to transport the three together. Good luck

[kane]

Thanks for the help everyone! I'm not on facebook but will see what I can find.

I've come across John Penny and Sons of Rawdon, so I'll give them a call and see what services they offer.

When people talk about cutting and packing, what is a standard cut? Do the legs come as whole legs, or are they split into half legs/shanks etc?
I'm aware the answer to that probably depends on where you go, but just wondered what to expect.

Do they all come packaged separate so you can identify which lamb is in what box?

I just need to find somewhere to rent a trailer from now.

[twizzel]

It really depends on the butcher. Some will put a whole lamb in a box, others will put half a lamb per box, some might just put it in a big bag.



I would say standard cut is leg in 2, shoulder in 2, breast as a slab, chops in packs of 3-4. But that’s just from my experience of butchers. You need to tell them exactly what you want, and if you don’t know, just ask them. We have customers who like their leg and shoulder whole, some who like them as steaks, some the joints cut in half, some like them cut in 3.


Renting a trailer will probably be hard work, you’d be better asking a farmer to take them for you, or using a haulage company.

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

Hi everyone,
This is our first year raising lambs (second year with sheep), we have 1 ewe and 2 rams coming up to 6 months old. We didn't get castration bands in time so they boys are still in tact.
They are suffolk x hampshire.

I've read on here about sending lambs for slaughter and butchering and they come back pre packaged. Is that just a standard service that abbatoirs offer? I am really clueless about the whole process if anyone has any advice.

Can we transport the rams and ewe together for slaughter?

Do you have to find specific places that just deal with small volumes?

We're near Leeds if anyone has any recommendations.

Any guidance is really appreciated!

Kindest regards,
Kane

Hi Kane

how are you?

i live in Leeds as my nmae suggests i live in Bramham, if you want to PM me i will let you know where i go and who butchers etc

happy to assist

Ryan

[Backinwellies]

This is our first year raising lambs (second year with sheep), we have 1 ewe and 2 rams coming up to 6 months old. We didn't get castration bands in time so they boys are still in tact.
.

Firstly 6 month olf suffock x should be well ready to go ... 5 months would be normalish

secondly just in case you had not realised but a ram lamb can mate from about 4 months so I hope you have them well separated.

Good luck with the abbattoir ... quite hard the first time

[kane]

This is our first year raising lambs (second year with sheep), we have 1 ewe and 2 rams coming up to 6 months old. We didn't get castration bands in time so they boys are still in tact.
.

Firstly 6 month olf suffock x should be well ready to go ... 5 months would be normalish

secondly just in case you had not realised but a ram lamb can mate from about 4 months so I hope you have them well separated.

Good luck with the abbattoir ... quite hard the first time

Thank you, and yes we've had them separated since they were about 3 months. That's why I was asking about transporting them at the same time. I've read about meat being tainted by in tact males, so wasn't sure if them getting excited before hand would cause any problems in that way.

[twizzel]

They’ll all go in the same pen at the abattoir lairage so travelling them together won’t be an issue. The meat taint will be from hormones that are developing, so I’d get the ram lambs killed ASAP before autumn progresses much further. And next year definitely get the rams ringed in time, it makes things a lot easier!