Yesterday night I finally got the phone call I was long expecting, "Tomorrow morning we are going to kill the Sheep" the voice said on the phone. I woke up early, ate breakfast, took my camera and went to see how the story ends.
I'm not going to give you all the graphic details of what happened that day, I think the pictures and the videos speak for themselves. One thing is for sure, I feel more comfortable now to eat lamb. I felt a sense of compassion for the animals but unlike commercial killing, I felt that here there was a bond between the farmers and their sheep. After all, they say that Sheep keep the people here alive since 973C.E.
The place was small and crowded. The sheep trailer was standing right next to the entrance door.
The first thing that I noticed when I stepped in to what looked like a storage room, was the silence. A total silence. Sheep are noisy creatures so I figured: seconds before someone is going to shoot them in the head, aren't they going to bleat? Probably not. Unless they were really frightened, I don't know, the experience was awkward.
One by one the sheep were pulled out from the trailer and got slaughtered. The man with the gun grab them by the horns 'bang!' in the head, and immediately after he cut their throat with a big knife, while the other guy was collecting the blood in a small bucket to be used for making slátur (blood pudding), a traditional Icelandic dish.
I'm not going to give you all the graphic details of what happened that day, I think the pictures and the videos speak for themselves. One thing is for sure, I feel more comfortable now to eat lamb. I felt a sense of compassion for the animals but unlike commercial killing, I felt that here there was a bond between the farmers and their sheep. After all, they say that Sheep keep the people here alive since 973C.E.
Icelanders use almost every part of the sheep, even the heads are been eaten, it is called Svið and although it's kind of gross to see a head in your plate, the meat from the cheeks is actually not bad.
Be adviced! The video you are going to watch below is showing the process of how Sheep is been slaughtered in Iceland.
By the way, did you know that dead sheep can move?
By the way, did you know that dead sheep can move?
6 comments:
Hey Guy, I will have to enjoy this to its fullest later, but just wanted to mention the date should be 873 CE, not 973 CE.
One of my earliest memories here in Iceland was watching my uncle round up the sheep at the end of the summer.
Dead people can move too!
In the photo of the sheep heads, something about their eyes seems still alive!!
A bit unsettling... but very interesting. Thanks Guy
Wow, quite the post...yikes...didn't watch the video. didn't think i could handle it.
@Lissy - Thanks Lissy. I once saw it in the commercial but I forget to exact date, I just came up with something and hoped it will be close enough.
Very interesting. I have always wanted to try the blood pudding.
I confess I eat lamb cooked with white wine ;)
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