Cate in NZ Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Oh no, what dreadful news, I'm so sorry to hear about the lamb Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2008 Author Share Posted May 20, 2008 We had a phone call this morning to say that our cows were being butchered today We collected one this afternoon - we've had the other frozen at the abattoir and will collect on Thursday. It was too much meat to collect all in one go They weighed 237kg and 173kg dead weight - that is a lot of beef The one we brought home has filled one 18 cu.ft. freezer These are the eight boxes of meat and a big bag of offal we brought back - it doesn't look much does it? (the meat is darker than in this photo) There are three layers in this big freezer....... Here are the Dinners enjoying the sunshine - they are at the right weight now - but we don't have freezer room ....and here is one of the rabbits - we have got them on weed control.....to eat the weeds coming up around the Eglus We tried it with some of the Dinners over the weekend..... but far more came out of one end than went in through the other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 heavens Lesley That is a lot of meat what do you do with it all? Beef for breakfast, dinnner, tea, supper, and additional snacks cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2008 Author Share Posted May 20, 2008 To be honest, we hadn't even thought of it as beef I'm due a cholesterol test.....I'd better go before we start eating all this beef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 You need another freezer (or two!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 You need another freezer (or two!) erm........ I made the mistake of telling my Dad (retired Electrician - he sorted out the extremely dodgy electrics to the outbuildings) that we had ordered another freezer......... he looked like this........ I forgot that he'd told me we need to speak to the supplier about having a separate supply for the freezers At least they are all working at the moment. The first time we went to the abattoir to collect our first three pigs, we'd unpacked two freezers, turned them on, seen the lights......... and driven off to the abattoir.......... On our return, we found that the freezers had tripped all the electrics and we had nowhere to put all that pork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 That is one large amount of meat Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 What alot of beef you got........ How fantastic to know tho that you know you will be eating quality reared meat that was given a fair chance whilst alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yummy! I can buy some mince from you if you have spare Lesley - I was going to get some at Deddington market this Saturday anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Wow all that lovely fresh meat from cows who have lived a proper life . I wish I lived near to you so I could buy some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Wow Lesley, that meat looks lovley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yummy! I can buy some mince from you if you have spare Lesley - I was going to get some at Deddington market this Saturday anyway It's got to last us a couple of years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I think it will do twice that Lesley!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 I think it will do twice that Lesley!!! ..... and we have to collect the second one today I think the family are becoming bored with pork and will welcome some beef instead We both had a sirloin steak on Tuesday and a fillet steak last night - I know we are biased......... but we've never tasted beef like it, it was really superb Lauren and Jake made burgers on Tuesday - just 100% beef - we all tasted some. The butchers at the abattoir have done a brilliant job - I can't usually stand mince and find it has little gristly bits in it, this didn't! We had been worried that the abattoir can only hang beef for two weeks, but we spoke to a man who bought some of the other Dexters from the same farm and he said that hanging for 3 weeks was too long and his beef developped too strong a taste. He said 2 weeks would be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Its personal taste with the hanging Lesley Given you are not a big meat eater etc I would short hang till you are used to it and maybe try a bit longer next time I love meat well hung (no puns please) Especially game like pheasant and venison The only thing I can't bear is rabbit That is because of the smell of their guts I can taste it in the meat If I had never gutted a rabbit I would be none the wiser as I used to eat it before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Dexters were mentioned on the Great British Menu recently. Designer beef apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 We had Dexter sausages from our local organic shop the other day. They were really meaty and very yum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 IGiven you are not a big meat eater etc I would short hang till you are used to it and maybe try a bit longer next time Next time?????? - you really think there will be a 'next time' - not with Dexters there won't be! If there is a next time at all, it will be a very young Hereford/Simmental cross - it will be halter trained...... and docile! Dexters are regarded as The Smallholders Cow - we now know that that is only because they are small They can be completely unpredictable and scatty The Vet goes The Abattoir staff go ...we know now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 You have really earned that tasty beef I am a bit envious though, really tasty beef is hard to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Oh Lesley, do you ever fancy a really boring week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Lesley, I don't know how you manage. By the way Trish, I love seeing your chicken with the little knitted hat. Makes me smile every time! Can you post some more please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Oh Lesley, do you ever fancy a really boring week Only occasionally Today....... we have one more dead sheep and a dead cockerel The sheep are due the second part of their vaccine - we can only think that we didn't vaccinate her properly with the first dose The cockerel is one of the cockerels we keep - not for eating. He was a magnificent Welsummer cockerel and he lived with the Rescue Hens He appears to have died of a heart attack - perhaps the girls were maiing up for lost time and wore him out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 What a nightmare Lesley! Shame about the sheep and cockerel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Sorry about your sheep, was it one of the possibly pregnant ones? I can't remember when the window closes, are you still on lamb alert? Interesting reading about your cattle - I have always fancied a dexter but not so sure now! Cheers Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 No more lambs Alex - it just wasn't our year......... Dexters? - just ask around first........... It didn't help that ours were 11 months old when we bought them and had never been handled. We weren't very good at saying 'No' in the early days...... Maybe if you had one just after weaning and it was used to being handled........ Our original plan had been to breed from these two heifers but I think even a Dexter Bull would have been running scared - and I don't think the Vet would have been too happy had we considered AI It was a shame to see two healthy heifers going for meat........... but it was the right decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
