Lamb and mutton: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Meat of domestic sheep}}

[[File:Lamb meat (1).jpg|thumb|right|Lamb]]

'''Lamb and mutton''', collectively '''sheep meat''' (or sheepmeat) is one of the most common meats around the world, taken from the [[domestic sheep]], ''Ovis aries'', and generally divided into '''lamb''', from sheep in their first year, '''hogget''', from sheep in their second, and '''mutton''', from older sheep. Generally, "hogget" and "sheep meat" aren't used by consumers outside Norway, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland, and Australia. Hogget has become more common in England, particularly in the North (Lancashire and Yorkshire) often in association with rare breed and organic farming.

In [[South Asian cuisine|South Asian]] and [[Caribbean cuisine|Caribbean]] cuisine, "mutton" often means [[goat meat]]. At various times and places, "mutton" or "goat mutton" has occasionally been used to mean goat meat.

Lamb is the most expensive of the three types, and in recent decades, sheep meat has increasingly only been retailed as "lamb", sometimes stretching the accepted distinctions given above. The stronger-tasting mutton is now hard to find in many areas, despite the efforts of the [[Mutton Renaissance Campaign]] in the UK. In Australia, the term '''prime lamb''' is often used to refer to lambs raised for meat. Other languages, such as [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[Italian language|Italian]], make similar or even more detailed distinctions among sheep meats by age and sometimes by sex and diet—for example, ''[[lechazo]]'' in Spanish refers to meat from milk-fed (unweaned) lambs.

== Classifications and nomenclature ==

[[File:Lamb chops 2014-03-06 12-39.jpg|thumb|[[Meat chop|Lamb chops]] with [[new potatoes]] and green beans]]

The definitions for lamb, hogget and mutton vary considerably between countries. Younger lambs are smaller and tenderer. Mutton is meat from a sheep over two years old, and has tougher flesh. In general, the darker the colour, the older the animal.

=== Britain, Australia, and New Zealand ===

;Lamb: A young sheep which is less than one year old. From 1 July 2019, the Australian definition is, "an ovine animal that: (a) is under 12 months of age, or (b) does not have any permanent [[Incisor|incisor teeth]] in wear". This new definition meant that Australian farmers could extend the term "lamb" by another month. This followed a similar definition change in New Zealand in 2018. In Britain the definition is still "0 permanent incisor teeth". A permanent incisor tooth is said to be '''"in wear"''' if it protrudes further than the nearest [[Deciduous teeth|milk teeth]].

;Mutton: The meat of a female (ewe) or castrated male (wether) sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear.

===Italy===

[[File:Abbacchio Pasquale.jpg|thumb|''[[Abbacchio]]'' is consumed throughout [[central Italy]] as an [[Easter in Italy|Easter]] and [[Christmas in Italy|Christmas]] dish. It is a product protected by the [[European Union]] with the [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union#Protected geographical indication (PGI)|PGI]] mark.]]

In [[Romanesco dialect]], the offspring of the sheep who is still suckling or recently weaned is called ''[[abbacchio]]'', while the offspring of the sheep almost a year old who has already been shorn twice is called ''agnello'' ({{literally|lamb}}). This distinction exists only in the Romanesco dialect. ''Abbacchio'' is consumed throughout [[central Italy]] as an [[Easter in Italy|Easter]] and [[Christmas in Italy|Christmas]] dish. It is a product protected by the [[European Union]] with the [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union#Protected geographical indication (PGI)|PGI]] mark.

Throughout [[central Italy]], including Sardinia, [[pastoralism]] was the main source of meat. Since ancient times, ''abbacchio'' has been one of the staple foods of the [[Lazio]] region, especially for rural communities, whose consumption at the table was considerable. The tradition of consuming ''abbacchio'' spread in ancient times where mainly adult [[sheep]] were slaughtered. The slaughter of ''abbacchio'' was forbidden except during the [[Easter in Italy|Easter]] and [[Christmas in Italy|Christmas]] periods, and until June. Over the centuries, given the importance of the food, around 100 recipes for preparing lamb have been developed in Lazio. Given the importance of ''abbacchio'' in social life, historical events dedicated to ''abbacchio'' are still organized in the Lazio region today, i.e. ''[[Sagra (festival)|sagre]]'', country festivals and popular events. In ancient times, sheep was eaten during work in the countryside, while ''abbacchio'' was consumed only during the Easter holidays.

=== South Asia ===

[[File:Mutton briyani from Little India, Singapore - 20130719.jpg|thumb|Indian-style [[mutton biryani]]]]

The term "mutton" is applied to [[goat meat]] in most countries of South Asia, and the goat population has been rising. For example, [[mutton curry]] is always made from goat meat. It is estimated that over a third of the goat population is slaughtered every year and sold as mutton. The domestic sheep population in India and the Indian subcontinent has been in decline for over 40 years and has survived at marginal levels in mountainous regions, based on wild-sheep breeds, and mainly for [[wool]] production.

However, in some Indian states(such as [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]]), sheep meat is also popular.

=== United States ===

In the early 1900s, mutton was widely consumed in the United States, but mutton consumption has declined since [[World War II]]. {{Asof|2010}}, most sheep meat in the United States comes from animals in between 12 and 14 months old, and is called "lamb"; the term "hogget" is not used. [[USDA grade]]s for lamb are only partly a function of the animal's age. Animals up to 20 months old may meet the quality of the "USDA prime" grade depending on other factors, while "USDA choice" lamb can be of any age.

"Spring lamb" is defined by the USDA as having been slaughtered between March and October.

=== Other types ===

[[File:Agnello spiedini.12.piatto.jpg|thumb|Lamb skewers with potatoes and tomatoes, [[Italy]]]]

;Saltgrass lamb: A type of lamb exclusive to [[Flinders Island]] (Tasmania). The pastures on the island have a relatively high salt content, leading to a flavor and texture similar to saltmarsh lamb.

== Butchery and cookery ==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">

The meat of a lamb is taken from the animal between one month and one year old, with a carcass weight of between {{convert|5.5|and|30|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. This meat generally is more tender than that from older sheep and appears more often on tables in some [[Western countries]]. Hogget and mutton have a stronger flavour than lamb because they contain a higher concentration of species-characteristic fatty acids and are preferred by some. Mutton and hogget also tend to be tougher than lamb (because of connective [[tissue maturation]]) and are therefore better suited to [[casserole]]-style cooking, as in [[Lancashire hotpot]], for example.

Lamb is often sorted into three kinds of meat: [[wikt:forequarter|forequarter]], [[loin]], and [[wikt:hindquarter|hindquarter]]. The forequarter includes the neck, shoulder, front legs, and the ribs up to the shoulder blade. The hindquarter includes the rear legs and hip. The loin includes the ribs between the two.

[[meat chop|Lamb chops]] are cut from the rib, loin, and shoulder areas. The rib chops include a rib bone; the loin chops include only a [[vertebra|chine]] bone. Shoulder chops are usually considered inferior to loin chops; both kinds of chops are usually [[grilling|grilled]]. Breast of lamb (baby chops) can be cooked in an oven.

Leg of lamb is a whole leg; [[saddle]] of lamb is the two loins with the hip. Leg and saddle are usually [[roasting|roasted]], though the leg is sometimes [[boiling|boiled]].

Forequarter meat of sheep, as of other mammals, includes more connective tissue than some other [[Primal cuts|cuts]], and, if not from a young lamb, is best cooked slowly using either a moist method, such as [[braising]] or [[stewing]], or by slow roasting or [[barbecue|American barbecuing]]. It is, in some countries, sold already chopped or diced.

Lamb shank definitions vary, but generally include:

* a cut from the arm of shoulder, containing leg bone and part of round shoulder bone, and covered by a thin layer of fat and fell (a thin, paper-like covering).

* a cut from the upper part of the leg.

Mutton barbeque is a tradition in Western Kentucky. The area was strong in the wool trade, which gave them plenty of older sheep that needed to be put to use.

Thin strips of fatty mutton can be cut into a substitute for bacon called [[Macon (food)|macon]].

Lamb [[tongue]] is popular in [[Middle Eastern cuisine]] both as a [[cold cut]] and in preparations like stews.

=== UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries ===

[[File:British Lamb Cuts.svg|right|thumb|British cuts of lamb|upright=1.6]]

* [[mutton flaps|Breast]]

=== US and Ireland ===

*Square cut shoulder – shoulder roast, shoulder chops and arm chops

*[[flank steak|Flank]]

=== New Zealand ===

* '''Forequarter'''

** Shank

==Production and consumption figures==

===Sheep meat consumption===

According to the [[OECD]]-[[FAO]] Agricultural Outlook for 2016, the top consumers of sheep meat in 2015 were as follows: EU countries are not individually surveyed in this list. Among EU nations, [[Greece]] is the per capita leader in consumption at 12.3&nbsp;kg, while the UK's annual per capita lamb consumption is 4.7&nbsp;kg. Outside of the OECD, the largest per capita consumer overall is [[Mongolia]], with 45.1&nbsp;kg.

=== Sheep meat production ===

The table below gives a sample of producing nations, but many other significant producers in the 50–120&nbsp;kt range are not given.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"

|+Sheep meat production (kt)

|}

== Dishes ==

[[File:Kendall-Jackson May Farm-To-Table Dinner - Stierch 04.jpg|thumb|Lamb legs grilling over an open fire at [[Kendall-Jackson]] Wine Estate.]]

Meat from sheep features prominently in the cuisines of several [[Mediterranean cuisine|Mediterranean]] cultures including [[Greek cuisine|Greece]], [[Croatian cuisine|Croatia]], [[Turkish cuisine|Turkey]], [[Cuisine of Africa#North Africa|North Africa]], [[Jordan]], and the [[Middle Eastern cuisine|Middle East]], as well as in the cuisines of [[Iran]] and [[Afghanistan]]. In Greece, for example, it is an integral component of many meals and of religious feasts such as Easter, like ''[[avgolemono]]'' and ''[[magiritsa]]''. It is also popular in the [[Basque cuisine|Basque]] culture, both in the Basque country of Europe and in shepherding parts of the Western United States (where [[Basque Americans#Migration and sheepherding|shepherds of Basque descent]] have been active since the 1850s). In the United States, the [[Navajo]] have incorporated mutton and lamb into their traditional cuisine since the introduction of sheep by Spanish explorers and settlers in the 17th century, replacing wild turkey and venison and creating a pastoral culture. In [[Northern Europe]], mutton and lamb feature in many traditional dishes, including those of [[Cuisine of Iceland|Iceland]], [[Norwegian cuisine|Norway]] and the [[British cuisine|United Kingdom]].

Mutton is also popular in [[Cuisine of Australia|Australia]]. Lamb and mutton are very popular in [[Central Asian cuisine|Central Asia]] and in certain parts of [[Chinese cuisine|China]], where other red meats may be eschewed for religious or economic reasons. [[Barbecue]]d mutton is also a specialty in some areas of the United States (chiefly [[Owensboro, Kentucky]]) and Canada. However, meat from sheep is generally consumed far less in the US than in many European, Central American and Asian cuisines; for example, average per-capita consumption of lamb in the United States is only {{convert|400|g}} per year.

In [[Australia]], the leg of lamb roast is considered to be the [[national dish]]. Commonly served on a Sunday or any other special occasion, it can be done in a kettle BBQ or a conventional oven. Typical preparation involves covering the leg of lamb with butter, pushing rosemary sprigs into incisions cut in the leg, and sprinkling rosemary leaves on top. The lamb is then roasted for two hours at {{convert|180|°C|°F|abbr=on|round=25}} and typically served with carrots and potato (also roasted), green vegetables and gravy.

In [[Indonesia]], lamb is popularly served as lamb [[satay]] Both dishes are cooked with various spices from the islands, and served with either rice or [[lontong]]. A version of lamb and [[bamboo shoot]] curry is the specialty of [[Padang cuisine|Minang]] cuisine, although similar dishes can be found in [[Thai cuisine]].

In [[Mexico]], lamb is the meat of choice for ''[[barbacoa]]'', in which the lamb is roasted or steamed wrapped in maguey leaves underground.

In [[Japan]], although lamb is not traditionally consumed in most of the country, on the northern island of [[Hokkaido]] and in the northeastern [[Tohoku]] regions, a hot-pot dish called [[jingisukan]] (i.e. "Genghis Khan") is popular. In that dish, thin-sliced lamb is cooked over a convex skillet alongside various vegetables and mushrooms in front of the diners, then dipped in soy-sauce-based dipping sauces and eaten. It was so named because lamb is popular in Mongolia (see "Sheep meat consumption" above).

Lamb's [[liver (food)|liver]], known as [[lamb's fry]] in New Zealand and Australia, is eaten in many countries. It is the most common form of [[offal]] eaten in the UK, traditionally used in the family favourite (and [[Pub#Food|pub grub]] staple) of liver with onions, potentially also with bacon and mashed potatoes. It is a major ingredient, along with the lungs and heart (the pluck), in the traditional Scottish dish of [[haggis]].

Lamb testicles or [[lamb fries]] are a [[delicacy]] in many parts of the world.

   

Lamb [[kidney]]s are found in many cuisines across Europe and the Middle East, often split into two halves and grilled (on [[kebab]]s in the Middle East), or sautéed in a sauce. They are generally the most highly regarded of all kidneys.

Lamb [[sweetbread]]s are a delicacy in many cuisines.

== Environmental impact ==

{{Further|Environmental impacts of animal agriculture}}

{{Bar chart|title=Mean [[land use]] of different foods|float=right|label_type=Food Types|data_type=Land Use (m²year per 100g protein)|bar_width=20|width_units=em|data_max=50|label1=[[Beef]]|data1=50|label2=Lamb and Mutton|data2=20|label3=[[Cheese]]|data3=11|label4=[[Pork]]|data4=7.6|label5=[[Aquaculture|Farmed Fish]]|data5=6|label6=[[Poultry]]|data6=5.7|label7=[[Egg as food|Eggs]]|data7=4.2|label8=[[Tofu]]|data8=2|label9=[[Faboideae|Groundnuts]]|data9=1.2|label10=[[Peas]]|data10=0.4|label11=|data11=|label12=|data12=|label13=|data13=}}

[[File:World Emissions Intensity Of Agricultural Commodities (2021).svg|thumb|Sheep have the second highest emissions intensity of any agricultural commodity.]]

Production of lamb [[greenhouse gas emissions|emits more greenhouse gas]] per gram of protein than other common foods, except for beef.

[[File:Land-use-of-different-diets-Poore-Nemecek.png|thumb|left|The amount of agricultural land needed globally would be reduced by almost half if no beef or mutton were eaten.]]

{{-}}

== See also ==

{{Portal|Food}}

{{div col end}}

== Bibliography ==

* K.F. Warner, "Boning Lamb Cuts", Leaflet 74, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, June 1931. [https://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1538:1 full text]

*[[Bob Kennard]], "Much ado about mutton". Ludlow: Merlin Unwin, 2014  

== External links ==

{{Commons category multi|Mutton|Lamb dishes}}

* [http://helgilibrary.com/indicators/index/sheep-meat-production Sheep Meat Production]

{{Cookbook|Lamb}}

{{Domestic sheep}}

{{Meat}}

[[Category:Lamb dishes| ]]

[[Category:Meat by animal]]

[[Category:British cuisine]]

{{二次利用|date=8 August 2025, at 21:56}}