The Monheisers — Karleen, Kevin and CJ — are proud to produce prime lamb meat on an acreage southeast of Hershey. Their company is NE Prime Lamb.

The son, CJ, does most of the work to keep the herd well fed, healthy and happy.

Their fat lambs are finished on a grain ration for maximum tenderness and flavor. Karleen Monheiser gives customers durable booklets of recipes for customers, with practical advice and instructions.

Lamb meat is naturally high in vitamin B12, protein, zinc and selenium, with healthy amounts of vitamin B6 and iron. A serving of just three ounces of lamb meat provides 108% of the daily value of B12, according to Colorado State University.

Karleen says lamb is easy to prepare using the same methods as other meats, so long as it is not overcooked. Use a good meat thermometer and you cannot mess up, her booklets say.

The family sells lamb to regular customers, and introduces it to new customers at farmer’s markets and arts and craft shows.

“Demand is growing more than I thought it would,” Karleen said. “We’ve met a lot of neat people. Just the other day someone new to the community said she was really glad to find lamb meat for her family.”

They started with a few lambs to help train stock dogs, and the sheep herd kept expanding. Now they have 200 ewes that give birth every three months from Oct.-April.

“People found out that we were raising lambs and asked if we knew a place to buy lamb meat. At the time, I didn’t know of anywhere,” Karleen said.

“I guess it’s how I’m wired,” CJ said. “We got a few ewes and I thought, we might as well get a ram.”

The herd consists primarily of Dorset sheep, with some Polypay. Polypay sheep were introduced in the early 1970s after four breeds were carefully crossed to create better animals. Both Dorset and Polypay are known for mothering ability, fertility and high carcass quality.

CJ also does some day work for other farmers, sometimes trading his labor for hay and grain. Ewes give birth in individual pens in the barn, bedded with straw. Ewe and lamb pairs remain there until it’s time to move a new batch of ewes in. Then the older ones move into a series of outdoor pens with three-sided sheds that provide protection from rain, snow and the north wind.

“We’re getting this figured out,” CJ said.

To contact NE Prime Lamb, call or text 308-520-3631.

First published in the agriculture section of the Bulletin’s Oct. 22 print edition.

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