How to Buy a Whole Lamb in Minnesota
A grass-fed lamb buying guide from Feathered Acres Farm in Belgrade, MN: price, hanging weight, cuts, freezer space and how to reserve yours.
The quick answer
- Price: $12/lb hanging weight, processing included.
- Size: lambs typically hang around 40 lbs; your final price is set once yours is weighed.
- Deposit: $300 reserves your lamb. The balance is due at pickup.
- Timing: butchered November through January, in time for holiday meals.
Why buy lamb straight from a farm?
Buying a whole lamb from a local farm means you know exactly how it was raised. Our lambs graze freely on open pasture and are never confined or given antibiotics or added hormones. The result is tender, mild-flavored lamb that’s naturally rich in nutrients and perfect for holiday dinners, Sunday roasts and the grill.
How reserving a lamb works
- Reserve online with a $300 deposit on our Grass-Fed Lamb page.
- Choose your cuts. Trisha will reach out to go over your options.
- Butcher day. Your lamb is weighed at the butcher, which sets your final price at $12/lb.
- Pay the balance and pick up. Pick up at our farm in Belgrade, MN, or get free delivery on orders of $150 or more along our route: Sauk Centre, Belgrade, St. Michael, Monticello, Maple Grove, Wayzata and Plymouth.
What is hanging weight?
Hanging weight is what the lamb weighs at the butcher after it has been dressed, but before it’s cut into chops and roasts. That’s the weight you’re charged on. The meat you take home is less than the hanging weight once bones and trim come out.
Lamb makes a great holiday gift
Planning Christmas dinner, Easter or a family gathering? A whole lamb from a farm you can visit makes a memorable centerpiece, and it’s a thoughtful gift for the cook in your family.
Supply is limited this winter.
Lamb questions
How much does a whole lamb cost?
Our grass-fed lamb is $12 per pound of hanging weight, and that includes processing. Lambs typically hang around 40 lbs, but every lamb is different, so your exact price is set once your lamb is weighed at the butcher.
How does the deposit work?
A $300 deposit reserves your lamb. Once it’s weighed, the deposit comes off your total and the balance is due at pickup.
When is lamb available?
Our lambs are butchered November through January, just in time for holiday meals. Supply is limited, so reserve early.
Is processing included?
Yes. Unlike our hogs, the $12/lb lamb price includes processing.
What cuts come with a whole lamb?
Common cuts include chops, leg of lamb, shoulder roasts, shanks and ground lamb. Trisha will reach out after you reserve to go over your options.
How much freezer space do I need for a lamb?
Much less than a hog. A whole lamb usually fits in a regular kitchen or small chest freezer.
Is your lamb grass-fed?
Yes. Our lambs graze on open pasture on our regenerative farm in Belgrade, Minnesota. They are never confined and never given antibiotics or added hormones.
Can I pick up my lamb?
Pick up at our farm in Belgrade, MN, or get free delivery on orders of $150 or more along our route: Sauk Centre, Belgrade, St. Michael, Monticello, Maple Grove, Wayzata and Plymouth.