After managing to empty and clean down the big freezer its didnt stay empty for long.
There is another local Water Buffalo who we have got to know and she had a 30month steer going to slaughter, we bought half a carcass from them.
It was hung for 21 days
before heading off to the butcher , who did all the cuts packaging and labels.
We have lots of joints,
lots of mince
lots of steaks
and packs of stewing meat, we got the butcher to do packs for meals for two, no point in having massive joints and having to re package it all, the cuts are the same as beef cuts. We had steak the day we collected it, very enjoyable meal, we have used some of the mince for meatballs and chili, Sunday we had a roast and the meat that was left over I have thinly sliced for sandwiches.
Buffalo meat is low in calories, low in cholesterol, higher in protein than beef, tastes just like a high end quality beef.
A welcomed addition to our diet.
A the same time we were doing a couple of the weather goats.
one came in at 11kg and the other at 15kg.
Martin butchered them to suit our needs
smaller than previous years but very lean.
lots of dinners and I do prefer goat to lamb, similar in taste but leaner. We do home slaughter meat for ourselves.
We use a Captive bolt stun gun
Its a very quick process, the skins have been salted and gone in the other freezer ready to tan when we have some time. We have a freezer we keep for skins, fleeces, bones and chickens and cockerels that we use in the fox trap.
we had another goshawk attack this time one of our chickens,
The latest snow days, saw us racking off wine.
This was the wine I made last year from our home own grapes
I am not a wine drinker, Martin tried some of it and declared it suitable for cooking with.
We are not yet ready to start our own winery, it will go well with all those up and coming casseroles.
As always you both have been very busy, your comments on the different meats are interesting. Back in the 80's we purchased goat meat from a friends mother, which we enjoyed. The supermarkets keep us limited to choice for meat, we get our meats from a good butcher, but they too don't offer anything other than beef, lamb, pork and poultry.
ReplyDeleteGoat is making ways to peoples tables and Buffalo is on the rise so fingers crossed one day you will see it in supermarkets
DeleteMy husband likes to read your blog on the days you show how you are becoming self sufficient in meat so today he was very pleased! He comes from farming stock and is totally unfazed by anything others may consider a bit bleugh. Sorry to hear you are losing stock -would it be the cold weather making the goshawk short of prey? I’ve been sewing during the bad weather and have used up some stash. Catriona ( and Norrie)
ReplyDeleteWe are over run with goshawks, sparrowhawks buzzards and kites and there is insufficient wild food for them, neighbors have the same issues
DeleteWow, that is a lot of meat! Good for you to be stocking up. I can't seem to empty out the freezer enough to clean it. I have to think about that soon though. Sorry about your chicken. :(
ReplyDeleteThe wine looks great, nice set up! I want to get back into winemaking in the future too, as I love to drink it! :)
There is more home brewing on the list this year
DeleteThat meat looks really lovely Dawn.
ReplyDeleteLots of beautiful meals to come.
Hugs-x-
It has been a real treat for us to have some red meat
DeleteI must say that I can only admire greatly what I suppose is your husbandry - you are incredibly industrious and must be almost self sufficient.
ReplyDeleteYes almost self sufficient, we now provide all our meat and vegetables most of our fruit and havent bought milk since June
DeleteI have tasted a buffalo burger once, it was delicious. We rely on our local butcher for meat, no doubt not as tasty as the meat you get. Lots of meals for two in those bags, enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWe have enough meat to see us through for a good year
DeleteI have never had water buffalo but have had American Bison (which we call a Buffalo here). Does it taste the same as beef from beef cattle?
ReplyDeleteI had goat once when I was growing up - but disliked it so much I never tried it again as I remember being awfully strong tasting (Although, in retrospect, it was a goat my great-aunt butchered so maybe is was not what it should be). I like lamb a great deal but it is very dear here in the US and somewhat hard to come by. Mongolian and Central Asian restaurants are the only ones that ever seem to have it other than as a Rack of Lamb.
It is very much like beef from cattle,
DeleteI wish I was more adventurous with our meat choices...but I don't think I have ever come across goat or water buffalo locally. x
ReplyDeleteThey have kangaroo and Ostrich in Lidl's and Aldi
DeleteWe often ask the supermarket meat sellers what breed is the joint of beef they have for sale. They often don't know. At least you know Dawn.
ReplyDeleteThat is a shame they cant tell you
DeleteWow, as usual keeping yourselves busy. Lovely to buy meat that you know exactly where it has come from.
ReplyDeleteAll our meat is traceable now, and the Buffalo is the first meat we have bought since May last year
DeleteI must admit to feeling a little jaded with continually eating lamb, which is now our main source of meat now that we are taking a rest from keeping pigs, but at least we are still providing our own meat, and feel blessed that we are able to do so. I am in awe of your efforts to feed yourselves, and think that you have done very well for yourselves. We have had a slow down during the last six months since my hospital visit and Lester started working online full time, but we are still able to feed ourselves. Don't forget to take time out though......Vx
ReplyDeleteI do take time out, we just plod along now at our own pace :-)
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