This year was an experiment.
I’ve been toying with the idea of adding grass-fed sheep to our intensive rotational grazing system for awhile, but always assumed it was an “in five years” kind of thing.
But when the chance came to barter for a “starter flock” (chuckle) of heritage Jacobs and Finn sheep earlier this year, as is often the case, I said yes.
And then, things were going so well that a month or so later, when our farm manager Nathan found a great deal on his own flock of Katahdin sheep, he said yes too.
And now here we are, raising grass-fed lamb.
It’s been a wild ride.
I could write a dozen articles with titles like these:
- “Five Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Added Sheep To The Mix”
- “10 Mistakes I Made As A First-Time Sheep Farmer”
- “What To Say When They Think Your Sheep Are Goats”
But also titles like these:
- “I Thought I Didn’t Like Lamb But Boy Was I Wrong”
- “Grilled Lamb Chops: I’ve Died And Gone To Heaven”
- “In My Kitchen, Lamb Is The New Beef”
Grass-Fed Lamb Support Our Farm Goals
I knew that adding sheep to our farm would improve our overall system in a myriad of ways. Of course, it would (and did!) also come with plenty of beginner’s mistakes and learning curves, but it would be (and has been!) worth it.
Increased Biodiversity Grazing multiple species over the same pastures promotes soil aeration, even grazing and more robust regrowth, and increased fertility and diversity of plant species.
Efficient Use Of Resources We can add one sheep for every head of cattle with zero negative impact on our pastures (while also increasing fertility). This means that with the same acreage, we can raise almost 20% more nutrient-dense protein.
Diversified Farm Offerings I knew that adding sheep was absolutely the right move for our farm in terms of improving the pastures, fertility, and microbiome of our soil. And I was excited to be able to offer even more nutrient-dense options to families in our community.
Grass-Fed Lamb Supports Your Goals
Raising grass-fed lamb isn’t just about improving the systems and fertility of the farm. Everything we do here and every system we implement is about supporting the health and vitality of our own family and the families we serve.
Superior Nutritional Profile
Grass-fed lamb is, hands-down, nutritional superior to conventionally raised lamb. Pound for pound, grass-fed meats offer more essential nutrients, necessary components of improved metabolic health, immune support, cognitive function, increased energy, and overall health and well-being.
Read more about nutrient-density here.
Exclusively Grass-Fed
Because sheep are ruminants, they must be grass-fed. However, many conventionally raised lambs are “grain finished” meaning they are fed grain in the last stages of growth.
Though a grain ration delivers highly concentrated calories (and thus translates to robust weight gain and a higher percentage of fat), it is also highly acidic and difficult for the naturally basic microorganisms in the lamb’s rumen to balance, taxing the lamb’s digestive system and straining its overall health and well-being.
Impeccable Animal Welfare
In contrast, our lambs are raised exclusively on grass and forage from birth to harvest. They are free to roam our pastures in open air and sunshine, ensuring the highest quality of meat. They are free to express their natural instincts, grazing on a diverse array of grasses, legumes, and forbs, further enhancing their nutrient-density and flavor.
So far, the plan is working (grin).
It hasn’t been without its troubles (like that one time a ewe put her head through the handle of a five-gallon bucket and it took four days and five people to finally catch her, hold her down, and pry it off – facepalm), but our pastures are vibrant and healthy, our soil health is improving, and the grass-fed lamb in our freezer is delicious and incredibly nourishing.
As is always my goal, our farm continues to serve our community by raising animals in the very best ways we can so that you can feed your family the very best we’ve got.