I have an old Ram that has gotten mean. Does anyone have a good way to use the meat? Is there a recipe for Mutton Sausage?

-- Don Hepler (dhepler@gci.net), September 23, 2000

Answers

Probably several of them, but you should be able to use any sausage recipe. I would suggest castrating the ram first, though, and feeding him for a couple more months -- that should help with the flavor of the meat. Then make sure you remove ALL the fat from the meat, and season the sausage well. Good luck, and good eating!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 23, 2000.

Oh, and I meant to say also, because sausage does need fat in it, to add pork fat or bacon to your sausage. Just don't use the sheep fat.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 23, 2000.

I butchered a Ram a few years ago and had him made into summer suasage & pepperoni but I did not like the flavor, ended up giving most of it to the dogs.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), September 24, 2000.

I will be butchering a baby ram in about another month. I used him on his aunts and half-sisters (all Feb. lambs too). I haven't decided if I will casterate or not, the vet said to and others on the sheep forum say no difference. I am told he will taste mutton like too because of his weight. so., if you ( I have done this before with great success) buy spicing from a company in Ill. and have all the meat done in bratswurth its good. I do not mix with pork as some say and it taste like the german bratswurth(I use to live in Germany) not lamb at all. Some butchers will do the sausage and other will not. When I lived up north there is this butcher in Lena, Ill., called Lena Butchers and they raise sheep, they are the ones who did an excellent job with sausage using mutton. Here in OK., the butcher will not do it so I found a Colllege that is willing to try all I have to do is give them the spicing.

-- Debbie Wolcott (bwolcott@cwis.net), September 30, 2000.

Good question, Don! Thanks for the info, Debbie. Very helpful, we don't live too far from Lena.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), September 30, 2000.