There are tons of sheep in the Shenandoah Valley, so why don't people there eat lamb?

Answer 1

I once heard that during WWII they had a lot of dried mutton (sheep that are killed after a year of age) in rations and stuff. So when they got back home they didn't want there wives cooking lamb. They were just sick of it. Because of that their kid's grew up without the taste and the generations that followed did as well. So now most people think lamb tastes funny. It's also only a fifty percent yeild of meat from the entire lamb. So with demand down and the price for grain and resources going up it's driven up the cost. Putting the industry in a kind of lull. I use to sell my sheep at the county fair and people will pay better money cuz they know their lamb was grain fed. But if I was lucky I would get $3/lb. on a 135lb. lamb. Which barely covered cost and puts the meat at about six bucks a pound for them. It's worth it if you know how to cook it, and if you have a palette that use to the flavor.

Answer 2

If I assume the premise is correct: lamb is a relatively expensive meat. Thus, since people farm for profit and often raise that which makes a profit, they don't always eat what they raise if cheaper products are available. Also, most people do not like lamb from my experience (although I do).

Answer 3

Lamb is not everyone's cup of tea. I've eaten it but the meat has an "interesting" taste, which is probably why it's usually served with mint jelly.

Answer 4

People try to go for scarce items first

Answer 5

maybe the sheep are raised for their wool, or milk, rather than their meat.