[princesslayer]

Hello experienced people.

So I now have six Jacob lambs, three wethers three ewes who I'd like to get away. They weigh between 43-52 kilos.

I don't have any experience of whether they are 'ready' or not. What's the worst case meat-wise if I send them in and they aren't ready?

Also, just rung the abattoir and they said they have to be 'as clean as possible'. What does this mean practically? Do I have to give them a bum bath and a comb?! They aren't scouring, or even loose.

Many thanks for your experience!

[wayfarer]

Where are you taking them?  We used to use Laverstoke until they shut to private kill and have used Newmans in Farnborough this year.  Neither Laverstoke nor Newmans have commented on the condition of our lambs - they went straight from the field into the trailer in the morning without any extra cleaning etc. (although we have never had to lad wet sheep luckily) so sound as though they were in a similar condition to yours.

I find it hard to tell when they are ready to go and tbh my decision is usually made by my unwillingness to overwinter them rather than their actual condition towards the end of October.  When I have had a small one in the past the lamb still tasted great but the joints were just smaller than normal.

[Remy]

Hello experienced people.

So I now have six Jacob lambs, three wethers three ewes who I'd like to get away. They weigh between 43-52 kilos.

I don't have any experience of whether they are 'ready' or not. What's the worst case meat-wise if I send them in and they aren't ready?

Also, just rung the abattoir and they said they have to be 'as clean as possible'. What does this mean practically? Do I have to give them a bum bath and a comb?! They aren't scouring, or even loose.

Many thanks for your experience!

Hi, if they aren't 'ready' weight and condition wise you will just get a lower price.  They may be marked 'L/F' - lacking flesh - but you will still get some money for them, just means they aren't prime fat lamb.


If your lambs are clean I wouldn't worry - they probably mean if the lambs have been scouring etc and have dirty back ends

[SallyintNorth]

'Clean' means nothing that would dirty the knife.  So no dirty back ends, and if the weather is wet, no wet muddy bellies.

We clip lambs' backsides whenever they go, unless they are spotless and for our own use.  Once the weather turns wet and the ground muddy, they'll get their bellies clipped before they go and will be kept on plenty of straw overnight before going.

You also need them empty before they go on the wagon - lambs with clean butts and bellies but grass in their tummies can be absolutely filthy at the end of a 30 minute journey   Ours are hungered overnight if they're going to our local abattoir; if they're going on a lorry to a distant abattoir then they'll have had hay in the morning, up until maybe three hours before they're loaded onto our trailer or the lorry.  Sawdust on the trailer floor to soak up any wet.

[Anke]

If you bring them to the abattoir for a private kill they have to be dry (best to get them inside the day before or even two days if the weather forecast is bad) and no feed for at least 12 hours before. From November onwards I would normally clip their bellies, depending how woolly they were.

Often you can also deliver them the day before to the abattoir as they have lairage pens (with water).

[Marches Farmer]

I prefer to take ours in on the morning of kill - beter a short journey and short wait than a short journey and long wait.  I generally house ours overnight with just enough hay to lst until the early hours of the morning and unlimited access to water right up to loading.  I dag and belly clip every time.

[Foobar]

I take mine on the morning.  I just make sure they are dry (been in overnight with no food) and clip any dirty bums (don't usually have many).  I've never been asked to clip bellies or neck.  Just brush off any straw, hay or bedding that might be on them (check underneath) before loading - I just run a brush over each of them quickly.

[harmony]

Ours abattoir asks for clipped bellies or clips them for you at a small fee.


Best to ask the abattoir exactly what the want/mean.

[princesslayer]

Where are you taking them?  We used to use Laverstoke until they shut to private kill and have used Newmans in Farnborough this year.  Neither Laverstoke nor Newmans have commented on the condition of our lambs - they went straight from the field into the trailer in the morning without any extra cleaning etc.

I'll probably take them to Newmans. Are they understanding of small sheep keepers do you think? Chap didn't have much time for me on the phone but I've heard good things about them, might have just been busy. Where are you Wayfarer?

[wayfarer]

I am in South Oxfordshire.  Newmans seem OK and I think you were probably unlucky on the phone.  My husband takes them in and says it s very chaotic as the abattoir is located in a residential area.  You definitely need to be able to reverse your car with a trailer!  But the upside is that both times he has been he has come back having chatted to other smallholders which he never did at Laverstoke.  One thing - make sure you ask what time they want you there as we were told 10.30 for the pigs and 6.30-8.30 for the lambs.  They are unwilling to hold the carcasses for long - I persuaded them to let me collect on Thursday after taking the animals in on a Tuesday but normally they want collection on the Wednesday.  They are really helpful when you collect but make sure you have your own lining for the car as they don't have rolls of plastic like Laverstoke.  Oh, and don't go for their butchery option - it is very basic and they literally just chop it up and put in a box.  Other than that good luck.

[twizzel]

Ours come in the day before going to slaughter, if it is wet they come in 2 days before. We don't clip them but the fleeces are clean. The most important thing is they are starved and empty inside. We normally take ours on the morning of killing but sent 2 this week and they requested them the night before- no odds to me as they can settle in overnight and be calm for the next morning rather than being loaded and transported on day of killing.

[Melmarsh]

Not near you but the abbatoir I use  just wants clean back ends, mine are usually dry because I get them in the night before and kept on straw with water. Size wise I'm hopeless at judging condition despite having sheep for 28yrs !!!! Terrible I know but I have relied on scales and just weighed them .All mine come back to me so I'm not trying to sell in the open market , I do ask the butcher for feedback and  they always, so far have been very good carcases.

[princesslayer]

That's encouraging Melmarsh, thanks!