More period critters- Re: [Sca-cooks] back to food was PETA

[Phlip]

Ene bichizh ogsen baina shuu...

> I seem to recall reference to the fact that there were period, now no
longer
> extant, breeds of rather large sheep that were bred more for meat and
> perhaps milk than for their wool.  When I say large think of the Odyssey
bit
> with the Cyclops.  Anyone have any input in this regard as it might
pertain
> to recipes that appear to call for larger than what is currently available
> cuts of mutton?
>
> Daniel

Sorry- changed the subject line, so Master Johann would be likely to read it
;-)

I'd be very interested in more period breeds. One breed that has my
curiosity up, are the "fat tailed sheep" mentioned in a couple of Arabic (I
think) recipes. Certainly, larger sheep would be of interest too.

I suspect that the reason sheep never got bred up for fat was that they're
basicly designed to live on more marginal land, so that a breed which grows
and develops well on a strctly grass diet isn't likely to get as marbled,
as, say, pigs and cattle, which are confined and fed grains. I imagine that
the free range hogs in the MA were pretty lean, although I'm sure that there
were some confined and fattened, like the example in Platina.

Johann- have you got any input or insight into these breeds? Maybe know of
breeders, or references you might share? Something like the Sand Hill
catalogue would be great- speaking of which, if I wanted to order a period
breed of chickens, what would you suggest, as easy keepers, not likely to
challenge that idiot rooster of mine, Cogburn, for dominance.

Saint Phlip,
CoDoLDS

"When in doubt, heat it up and hit it with a hammer."
 Blacksmith's credo.

 If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is probably not a
cat.

Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....