In New Zealand, we have a lot of sheep and their babies. I always thought a baby sheep is called a lamb, but when I came to New Zealand, a lamb is not just a New Born. The meat of a sheep in its first year is lamb; that of a juvenile sheep older than 1 year is hogget; and the meat of an adult sheep is mutton. In doing this post, I learn that an unusual name for a young lamb is a yeanling. We learn something new everyday.
The first Sheep were landed in New Zealand by Captain Cook in 1773. The Sheep population grew to 70.3 million in 1982 but has now declined to 43.1 million due to declining profits compared to other types of farming.
That represents 12 sheep for every person in New Zealand. Lambing is usually in Spring, sometimes the yeanlings decide to come earlier, and then there is a cold snap, and it is tragic to see the farmers losing the babies.
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17 comments:
I did another Wednesday photo theme called watery Wednesday...
That's a y-word I can't remember ever coming across before.
Well that is news to me too! Thanks for enlightening me.
Sweet post. When I was in New Zealand three years ago, driving through the South ISland, all we saw were sheep! Hard to imagine their numbers are declining...We laughed at the number of sheep we saw each day but LOVED trying to estimate their numbers. There is something so warm and fuzzy about sheep...
WIshing you a spectacular 2012.
I have never heard this before, and I have never eaten lamb, hogget, or mutton... Oh wait, maybe I did have mutton once. I was not impressed then, but would love to try it again someday, if only it was not so very expensive. I rarely see lamb or mutton for sale here in the US.
I knew about lamb and mutton, but never heard of hogget or yeanling; indeed, I thought you had misspelled yearling.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
have never heard of hogget or yeanling, so thanks for the education!
Thank you Ann for all the info. When looking up yeanling, I found yean -- to give birth to a lamb or kid.
Sheep are the symbol of peacefulness for me.
HelenMac
ABC Team
'Yeanling' is a new term for me as well. Thanks for the education.
Since I have met sheep babies I never had lamb again ! That's the same with a calf ! Can't eat babies !
So cute! Interesting information.
Wonderful shot of the yearlings. Interesting information too.
I learn something new today, thanks Ann! The sheep are cute. sad to learn that some babies do not make it. Great photo, have a wonderful weekend!
Loved this post - being a kiwi myself
Hello Ann. Happy New Year!
I love lamb, but it's so expensive!
I knew lamb was young & mutton was for older meat, but I didn't know about yeanling. Never too old to learn something new (smile).
Thanks for sharing & visiting. I appreciate the comment.
Youth At Play
interesting post!
oh so cute. Happy 2012
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