Heritage pastured lamb is an option with so much more to offer! There are many heritage sheep breeds. Each breed with unique qualities in its meat, milk and fibre. We raise a variety of heritage breed sheep, some of which are on the verge of extinction.
Below you will find a breakdown of the heritage sheep breeds we raise. Our heritage pastured lamb offers delicious flavour. We focus on wool-breed sheep that bring more than food to the table. Their hides, fibre, and bones are put to use as well. Our goal is always to use as much of the animal as possible. They are raised on Alberta pastures and offered quality forage, hay and grains as needed to meet their nutrition requirements with extended grow-out times.
Each breed we raise is here because it holds historical significance or is currently on the endangered list by the Livestock Conservancy or Heritage Livestock Canada. We believe their numbers will increase by creating space in the food system for these endangered and heritage breeds. Heritage breed numbers initially decreased due to centralized intensive farming practices. As a result, the demand for many of these unique breeds was lost. We believe in the initiatives to increase the demand for these fantastic breeds, including the Eat em’ to Save em’ encourages and with sheep, Shave Em’ to Save Em’, a program run by the Livestock Conservancy.
Heritage Pasture Lamb – Learn More
The Heritage Sheep Breeds We Raise:
At Hogs & Horns Homestead, we raise heritage pasture lamb. Our breeds include Jacob and Jacob x other heritage breeds such as Icelandic, Cotswold and Finn for meat, fibre, hides and horns. Each offers unique properties for the table and elsewhere. We chose these breeds because of their exceptional flavour, great temperaments, historical significance and conservation status. By farming these truly great breeds, we can offer you and your family a variety of pastured lamb and mutton.
Jacob Sheep:
Jacob sheep offer lean, tender meat. They are a small breed. Jacobs are fine-boned with a good meat-to-bone ratio. Their meat has an excellent mild flavour that is not too gamey.
Why Eat Lamb Meat?
Lamb meat has a very healthy nutrition profile. It’s known to contain a wide variety of essential nutrients and be known to be a rich source of high-quality protein. Sheep have a branched-chain fatty acid, which contributes to their more earthy flavour than beef.
Our Goals and Ambitions:
Hogs and Horns Homestead raises pure lines of Jacob sheep to work on their conservation efforts alongside providing delicious meat for your table.
How Do They Live?
Hogs & Horns Homestead raising them in an outdoor pasture setting, in turn, allows our sheep to live a life with plenty of exercise, fresh air and sunshine. We ensure to shear all of our sheep yearly, so they remain comfortable in the summer months. They always have access to a shelter to escape the elements and remain comfortable throughout the seasons.
What’s their main diet?
Free-ranging on Alberta’s natural weeds, grasses and foliage. They are also offered a small amount of soy-free grains to meet their energy needs.
How Are They Finished?
We raise and finish all of our sheep on Hogs & Horns Homestead. They are processed at a provincially inspected abattoir, allowing us to offer amazing individual cuts.
