Lava Lake Lamb Frequently Asked Questions

• What does "certified organic" really mean?
• What does "all-natural" really mean?
• What is the difference between Lava Lake’s Certified Organic lamb and All-Natural lamb?
• How is 100% grass-fed lamb different from lamb that is both grass and grain-fed?
• What are the health benefits of eating grass-fed lamb, over grain-fed lamb?
• What is the best way to thaw frozen lamb?
• What is the difference between New Zealand lamb and Lava Lake Lamb?
• How old are your lambs when they are processed?
• What makes Lava Lake a predator-friendly operation?
• Does Lava Lake support sustainable agriculture? If so, how?
• What is the scope of Lava Lake’s conservation efforts?
• Why is your lamb shipped frozen, not fresh?
• Where can I buy Lava Lake Lamb?

What does "certified organic" really mean?

Certified organic means that the lamb is raised according to strict standards established by the USDA. No hormones or antibiotics are administered to the mother ewes within 90 days of lambing, and they are never administered to the lambs themselves. All the mothers’ and lambs’ feed and pasture must also be certified organic. Our ranch and our sheep are inspected every year by a representative of the Idaho Department of Agriculture to ensure that these standards are being followed. For more information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm.

What does "all-natural" really mean?

Use of the term "all-natural" is not regulated by the USDA in the same way that "organic" is, so "all-natural" can mean many things, and the burden is on consumers to ask the right questions. At Lava Lake Ranch, our all-natural lambs are never given antibiotics or hormones and are never placed in a feed-lot. All Lava Lake Lambs are 100% grass-fed and free-range and are raised with care by our experienced shepherds.

What is the difference between Lava Lake’s Certified Organic lamb and All-Natural lamb?

The taste, texture and integrity of our all-natural 100-percent grass-fed lamb is every bit as pure as our certified organic lamb, but because the lambs range and graze beyond our current certified organic acreage, they cannot be certified organic by the USDA. However, we assure you that all Lava Lake Lamb is raised in harmony with and respect for the cycle of nature - humanely and without antibiotics, hormones or feedlots.

How is 100% grass-fed lamb different from lamb that is both grass and grain-fed?

100% grass-fed lamb means that the lambs are not fed any grain products such as corn. Sheep evolved as grazing animals, and we believe that they are healthier and their meat tastes best when they stick to a natural diet of grass, herbs, forbes and legumes such as alfalfa. Grain feeding, which often takes place in a confined area, tends to put weight on lambs quickly, resulting in a higher fat content.

What are the health benefits of eating grass-fed lamb, over grain-fed lamb?

When you eat Lava Lake 100% grass-fed lamb, you are dining on a naturally lean red meat with an absolutely stellar nutritional profile. USDA Scientists who compared grass-fed lambs with lambs fed grain in a feedlot found that "lambs grazing in pasture had 14% less fat and about 8 % more protein compared to grain-fed lamb."¹ Grass-fed lamb is an excellent source of vitamin B-12, niacin, zinc, and a good source of iron.² While other red meats offer those nutrients as well, grass-fed lamb stands out with a surprising nutritional benefit. It is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, the cancer-fighting, heart-healthy fatty acids³.

For more information on the benefits of eating grass-fed meat, we suggest you visit www.eatwild.com.

1. www.eatwild.com
2. American Lamb Board
3. Western Maryland Research & Education Center - Maryland Cooperative Extension
   www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/grassfed.html

What is the best way to thaw frozen lamb?

We recommend that you thaw our lamb in your refrigerator overnight or, for faster thawing, submerge the watertight package of lamb in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes until the lamb is thawed. Changing the water will keep it cold, which is essential for safe thawing. Times will vary, depending on the cut of lamb.

What is the difference between New Zealand lamb and Lava Lake Lamb?

Most lamb coming from New Zealand is not certified organic, and consumers have no way of knowing whether the animals have grazed on lands that are treated with pesticides and herbicides. In addition, most New Zealand lamb has travelled thousands of miles over several days before it reaches retail outlets in the United States. Even when shipped to states outside of Idaho, Lava Lake Lamb is a much more local choice.

How old are your lambs when they are processed?

Our lambs reach the peak of their physical development and are processed anywhere between six to nine months of age.

What makes Lava Lake a predator-friendly operation?

Lava Lake Ranch is situated at the edge of one of the largest roadless areas in the Lower 48 States; as a result, our region has abundant wildlife. Large herds of elk and pronghorn, and predators such as coyote, bear, mountain lion and wolves inhabit the Ranch. Our approach to predator control is to avoid interactions by proactively discouraging them. For instance, whenever possible we move our sheep out of areas where wolves are active. When that isn't feasible, we set up temporary electric corrals which are strung with bright colored flags that wolves tend to avoid. We add extra guard dogs and use loud "cracker shells" to deter predators when they approach.

Does Lava Lake support sustainable agriculture? If so, how?

Lava Lake strives to make all our operations sustainable by (1) avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides and maintaining our organic certification on over 60,000 acres of pasture and range land; (2) continually evaluating our impact on the land where our animals graze through scientific research and monitoring; (3) implementing a variety of habitat restoration projects; (4) participating in and supporting local farmers markets and our local food distribution networks; and (5) conserving resources wherever we can. To learn more about our restoration projects, click on News or Conservation in this website.

What is the scope of Lava Lake’s conservation efforts?

Lava Lake’s grazing lands extend over nearly 800,000 acres from the deserts of the Snake River Plain to the high peaks of the Pioneer Mountains near Sun Valley. We are committed to operating the Ranch in such a way that this region and its rich wildlife are protected for future generations.

Here are a few examples of the ways in which we pursue our conservation goals:

1. Protecting the Integrity of the Landscape. 7,500 acres of our private land is under a conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy, ensuring that it will never be subdivided or developed.
2. Protecting the Health of the Landscape. 500 acres of irrigated pasture and 60,000 acres of rangeland on the Ranch are certified organic, ensuring that no pesticides or herbicides are introduced into those lands and waterways, and protecting the health of our sheep and wildlife.
3. Supporting Scientific Research. Since 2000, we have initiated more than 20 research projects including wildlife surveys, stream health studies, vegetation mapping, grazing impact evaluations, and more.
4. Habitat Restoration Projects. We have initiated two significant streamside restoration projects, and developed a state-of-the-art grazing management program to ensure that wildlife habitat is improved in the areas where we graze our sheep.
5. Education. In 2006, we hosted a workshop and public lecture by Gary Paul Nabhan, a noted ethno-botanist, which resulted in the creation of a new local foods distribution network and a new regional land protection initiative.

Why is your lamb shipped frozen, not fresh?

At Lava Lake, we raise our lambs in harmony with the seasons. Because our Ranch is in the mountains of Idaho where the winters are cold, this means our organic lambs are all born in late winter. When the snow melts, new grasses, herbs and flowering plants grow and flourish, providing the nutritious feed our lambs need to achieve the peak of health. Our lambs graze on fresh, rich pasture and rangeland for their entire lives and are never finished in a feedlot. They reach maturity in six to nine months, so they are all processed within a fairly brief period of time in late summer; we cannot supply fresh lamb year-round the way grain-finishing operations can. Furthermore, we have found that by processing the animals at the absolute peak of their physical maturity and flash-freezing the cuts of meat in vacuum-sealed packaging, our lamb retains all its flavor and freshness for many months.

Where can I buy Lava Lake Lamb?

A list of restaurants and retailers who carry Lava Lake Lamb can be found in Buy Organic Lamb under Restaurant Information.