Learn how to slaughter and butcher your own lamb and go home with meat for your freezer!

We will provide a hands-on demonstration of how to slaughter, skin, gut, and break down a lamb into wrapped cuts. Each student will learn to slaughter their own lamb and complete the entire process from farm-to-freezer. Teachers will be available to give guidance and support each step of the way. We will work in a group so that each student will have the chance to observe others and be able to ask for assistance with technique. Everyone will go home with their finished butchered lamb after the second day. 

Students may bring one partner to help and participate in the processing of their lamb. The class is conducted over two days - the first day you will slaughter, skin, and gut your lamb. The carcass will then hang in our cooler overnight which allows time for the muscle fibers to take up lactic acid, firming the meat for easier cutting. The second day you will butcher the lamb carcass and learn about different cuts, our favorite ways to cook them, and how to wrap and store them. At the conclusion of each day, we will gather to enjoy a lamb-based meal and reflect on the experience.

This course is ideal for those interested in homesteading, slaughter, and butchery. We strive to use all parts of the animal and students are encouraged to take home bones for broth, offal as pet food, and skull for preservation. We also work with Driftless Tannery who can bark tan your hide for an additional fee of $100-$120 depending on size.

Three vintage campers on-site are available to rent on a first come basis. This includes all linens, towels, access to an indoor bathroom, sauna and breakfast. See http://www.circlemfarm.com/farm-stay.html for more information and inquire about availability.

We provide:

• sharp tools- knives, saws, meat grinder, band saw, etc

• butcher paper for packaging meat

• the lamb

Please bring:

• clothes that can get dirty (bloody)

• Comfy shoes

• Any knives or tools you prefer to use

• a cooler or boxes to bring meat home