Why is lamb not popular in America?!


Question: It goes back to the time when cattle was first introduced in large numbers in the west. (the era of the cowboys and the catle drives). Cattle ranchers (mostly financed and owned by Englishmen) did not want to share grazing fields and watering holes with sheep ranchers. Violent confrontations (a common practice when settling diputes in those times) were frequent and the bigger operations (cattle) prevailed. Cattle ranchers had more money, more hired hands/guns and more influence. The rumors that they spread with regards to sheep and shepherds became western folklore and greatly influenced the negative views of americans against sheep/lamb. They also lobbied railroads not to allow shipment of sheep to the east thus limiting the availabilty of mutton and lamb as meat.


Answers: It goes back to the time when cattle was first introduced in large numbers in the west. (the era of the cowboys and the catle drives). Cattle ranchers (mostly financed and owned by Englishmen) did not want to share grazing fields and watering holes with sheep ranchers. Violent confrontations (a common practice when settling diputes in those times) were frequent and the bigger operations (cattle) prevailed. Cattle ranchers had more money, more hired hands/guns and more influence. The rumors that they spread with regards to sheep and shepherds became western folklore and greatly influenced the negative views of americans against sheep/lamb. They also lobbied railroads not to allow shipment of sheep to the east thus limiting the availabilty of mutton and lamb as meat.

because for americans a lamb is a pet....is actually good mand and low in fat and cholesterol..

Maybe it goes back to revolutionary days. Americans began to drink coffee instead of tea in defiance of their European, and especially British, backgrounds. Could that be also why they prefer beef? It's a shame, you know. Lamb is so versatile and so delicious and the English have so many good recipes, as do the other British countries.

because it's sure to follow Mary everywhere she goes

Because it tastes different. I am not sure if it is because in most middle eastern countries (where it is most popular) they kill it in a halal manner.
But they eat it in europe too... so I guess it's got to do with what they feed it or something.

It is too heavy here, like if you eat it then you can't eat anything for the whole day... i don't know how to explain it.. but i hope i helped anyway

It does taste different and i have tried to pass it off as a pork chop of some sort...
I was feeding kids......they can tell it is NOT a pork chop....never again
It is a better meat for us, but cattle has always been number one in the USA to produce since the year one..........

here in australia we eat lamb just as much as beef or chicken or pork. When we lived in the U.S you could barely find lamb in the stores and when you did it was sooo expensive. It is a different tasting meat. Lamb is hugely popular in australia and new zealand because we farm it here ourselves, and export it to numerous countries. Same as our seafood. Asia is a big importer of australian seafood. It is on of the best quality in the world. Maybe there is no demand for lamb in america, other wise it would be imported more. Turkey is very popular in america where as it isnt here in oz and nz.

Because the beef lobby is stronger.

Middle America does not like lamb, probably because they have not been raised eating it.(With the exception of the occasional lamb on Easter.) With the increased Middle Eastern population in the last few decades, it is slowly gaining popularity. Like most things, money and demand drive markets, so until a lot of people fall in love with eating lamb, it will probably not be readily available.





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