Butchering ages

[Mike CHS]

That had to be a fascinating trip.

 

[Baymule]

That sounds like an awesome trip.

 

[mystang89]

What kinda sheep were there?

 

[Roving Jacobs]

The sheep were fat tailed karakul types called baidrag sheep. The goats are all cashmere goats as cashmere is a major export for Mongolia. All the animals they use are at least triple purpose, providing meat, milk, and fiber or hides. Even the horse manes and tails are trimmed to make strings for their horse-headed fiddles.

I should probably just do a Mongolia post since it's herd related, I'm just not sure which section it would fit in It was an amazing trip and a gorgeous country and I'm happy to talk more about it!

 

[goatgurl]

please do. frankly I don't have a clue as to where you should put it, every thing else sheep, random ramblings?? maybe. but i'll be anxious to read it when you do.

 

[Latestarter]

I'd say it could go nicely in the journal section...

 

[chickadee-ranch]

Read a few posts on here along with Google search. Found that butchering times differ for what you're taste buds want. Some butcher at 5 - 8 weeks which seems WAY to early I'm home. Not sure you'd really get anything out of it to even make it worth the trouble. Then 5 months or so and after that it just said 2 yo would be mutton.

So my question would be, what are your opinions as to when YOU butcher your sheep? How long do you wait? What's the taste especially for intact makes at whatever age?

Thanks.

I used to have a large herd of Nubian goats-- 100+ head. There is a huge spring/Easter market for young 8 week old or so kids and lambs-- I sold all my excess bucklings at that time as well as any doelings that had visible disqualifications for the show ring- i.e. wrong number of teats etc. This was a 'cash crop' for my farm. Nearly all the sheep breeders I know aim for this market as well. There are two groups who purchase at this time-- you have an ethnic market as well as the religious group (Eastern Orthodox being one of them) purchasing at this time.

 

[mystang89]

Where do you all seem them at? I know @Mike CHS does some of his at auctions but I don't even know if there is an auction for stuff like that here I've always just either posted on CL or had my wife put it on FB marketplace.

 

[Mike CHS]

We have used Craigslist but you have to be ready to ignore the usual bottom feeders. We have a super good sales auction that does the best they can for both the sellers and the buyers. Then we have a not so good auction that usually has nothing that I would want to bring home to our place.

 

[chickadee-ranch]

Where do you all seem them at? I know @Mike CHS does some of his at auctions but I don't even know if there is an auction for stuff like that here I've always just either posted on CL or had my wife put it on FB marketplace.

I used to ship them to the really big auction in Mass== several of us shipped out kids on the same load, same time. made it economical.