Question on sheep breeds and what I cook.

John_Rambo

Hi everyone.

I've got in to cooking lamb lately, mainly slow BBQ legs and shanks with various rubs and marinades. I don't tend to overpower rack of lamb with much flavour.

I haven't seen much reference to breeds whilst buying except for when I buy in Fallon & Byrnes for special occasions. Then it's Connemara lamb. When buying beef I tend to get Hereford from my local butcher (who actually butchers rather than simply sells vac-packed meat) and it tastes as good as Angus (in my opinion).

From school I remember mention of Scottish Blackface and Suffolk Down being the main type of sheep farmed in Ireland, but that was in the eighties.

Are there many breeds here?
Should any taste better than others?

Thanks.

ganmo

The main beef breed difference is between traditional and continental breeds.

There is no comparable difference in sheep breeds, the closest would be lowland breeds vs mountain breeds which the lads in conemnera are marketing. And most of the taste difference there comes from what they graze on the hills

John_Rambo

Thanks Ganmo. Whatever you're all doing, you're doing it right!

Hillman86

I farm the Connemara blackface sheep. Keep some of my own for meat and wouldn't eat anything else.