Lamb Production for Ethnic Consumers in the USA

Fahim I. Qubain

Delivered on December 3, 1994 at The Virginia -North Carolina Shepherds Symposium Held at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg

Edited for space considerations.

The Introduction

There is a continually expanding market for lamb meat consumption in the United States due in part to increasing immigration into the United States of individuals from countries whose inhabitants eat primarily lamb and goat meat; and in part due to increasing conversion to Islam here in the United States. This market is potentially fairly large and is waiting to be exploited by American sheep and goat producers.

Where do They Come From?

Most lamb and goat eating immigrants to the United States today come from Muslim countries and from among the Christians of the Middle East. The Muslims are prohibited by their own religion from eating any pork products, and although there is no prohibition against the eating of beef and beef products, they are primarily consumers of lamb and goat meat.

There are some one billion Muslims in the world today including about 200 million Muslims from the Arab countries which include a huge land mass stretching from North Africa to the Persian Gulf. … However, the large majority of Muslims in the world today -- some 600 to 800 millions ,are not Arabs. They include the several Muslim republics of Central Asia that have recently split from the former Soviet Union, Albania, parts of the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan , Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, 80 millions in India, several millions in the Philippines, Mongolia, several millions in China and several millions in other parts of South East Asia.

In addition to the Muslims, there are some 50 million Christians mainly in the Middle East. These Christians are not prohibited by their religion from eating pork or beef, but by custom and tradition they almost always eat lamb and goat meat. These include some 12 million Christians in the Arab countries, as well as Greeks, Armenians and few other nationalities.

Islam in the United States

Another factor which would probably effect lamb consumption in the United States is the growing number of converts to Islam. Adherents to Islam are growing at a relatively fast pace, not only due to immigration but also due to conversion by native Americans. This is specially true among Black Americans but also to a lesser extent among White Americans. It should also be noted that Muslims in the United States tend to be fervent adherents of their religion and follow its precepts faithfully in their daily lives.

Number and Location of Lamb Consumers in the United States

No one knows for sure the exact number of Muslims in the United States, but it is believed that they number around eight million and growing at a fairly fast pace. Some have estimated that by the turn of the century the number of Muslims in the United States may reach fifteen millions -- due to natural increase, immigration and conversion.

Muslims in the United States tend to be concentrated in urban areas especially in the New York metropolitan areas including New Jersey, The Washington D.C. area, especially northern Va., Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco and similar large cities, as well as at University centers. For instance, here in our own backyard at Blacksburg there is a mosque with some 200 active members most of whom are associated with Va. Tech either as students or as faculty members -- Similarly, in Harrisonburg, Va. a small group of Muslims meet every Friday for prayers and instruction at one of the local Christian churches . Their Imam or Sheikh (that is religious leader who leads them in prayer) is an engineer who owns and operates a small industrial factory.

In addition to the Muslims, there are also lamb consuming Christians from the Arab countries, Greece, Armenians and Christians of other nationalities. Their number is not known, but as a wild guess I would estimate that they number at least five millions. Members of this group tend to melt into the American mainstream by the second or third generation. In recent years, however, there has been a resurgence of cultural and national identity with emphasis -- among other things, on eating "ethnic" food.

To sum up, there are probably some fifteen million "ethnic" Americans who are actual or potential consumers of lamb meat. The Muslims can and do eat lamb , goat, beef, or deer meat as well as poultry and game. The Christians eat any kind of meat including pork. Both groups would prefer lamb if it is available at reasonable prices.

Religious Restrictions

In Islam there are no special restrictions on the slaughter of animals or rituals on the eating of meat -- The only requirement which would be the Halal (legitimate) method is that the slaughter "be humane, convenient and effective." and would involve the least possible hardship, pain and suffering to the animal. "A bird killed with a gun or an arrow is lawful, but not the one which is strangled, knocked down, gored or beaten to death by a stick or blows." Also, when a person commences to kill an animal for food he is required to say Bismallah, Allahu Akbar --"In the name of God, God is Greater."

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When is Lamb specially in Demand?

As mentioned earlier, lamb meat is preferred and is eaten regularly when available by the ethnic groups under discussion. When not available --which is most of the time, beef is consumed as a substitute . It is however in special demand on religious holidays, or 'Eid, weddings, birthdays, wakes, and other special occasions.

… [There follows an interesting discussion of Muslim holidays for which we do not have space. We'll print the entire article on the web page.] …

It is possible to obtain a Muslim calendar which would list the dates for these two events for several years.

Among Christians of all denominations lamb is in special demand on Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter . However, Arab-American Christians for the most part now follow the practice of mainstream Americans by eating stuffed turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Easter and Palm Sunday , however, still demand lamb. Protestant and Catholic Christians follow the Gregorian calendar (Anno Domini -- AD ) , but Greek Orthodox and other eastern rites Christians follow the Julian Calendar (Anno Domini +13 days) so that Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter come on dates different from those of Catholics and Protestants. In recent years , however, in both the United States and in the Arab countries, there has been a movement for holiday unity so that Christmas and Easter for all denominations would fall on the same date.

The Kind of Lamb Meat in Demand

On religious holidays such as al-Adha among Muslims. and Easter among Christians an entire small lamb minus the head and tail is usually called for -- The lamb cavity is stuffed with a basic mixture of rice, good quality lamb meat cut up almost like hamburger , butter, sweet spices, and very often also almonds or better still, pine nuts. Some add raisins and other condiments to the stuffing. The stuffed lamb is then cooked by either stewing or roasting in an oven. This dish is also often popular at weddings, birthdays, other non religious feasts and special occasions.

Another important Arab national holiday dish -- popular in Ramadan and other holidays and formal occasions when many people are invited, is the Mansaf. The Mansaf consists of a huge mound of cooked rice (pilaf style) piled on a large tray , then drenched in a yogurt stew of lamb chunks with bone cooked in yogurt.

In addition to holidays and special occasions, lamb is also the primary staple meat for everyday life. It is used at least in three different ways:

In stews. Stews of green beans, okra, eggplant, tomatoes, yogurt, fava beans, dried beans and so forth (with a side dish of rice pilaf) are used extensively in the Arab countries . Fairly large chunks of lamb meat (much larger than regular stew beef usually sold in supermarkets ) with bone are used with these stews. Here in the United States, when lamb is unavailable or too expensive Arab-Americans substitute beef. Often neck bones are used.

Lamb is also very extensively used --especially in the spring and summer for kabobs.

And finally, lamb in the form of a hamburger is used very extensively for stuffing

Obstacles to the expansion of Lamb Consumption

There are today many obstacles to the expansion of lamb meat consumption. Some of the main obstacles are the following:

American, Australian and New Zealand lamb is simply too fatty . Ethnic consumers prefer a much leaner cut of meat. In fact, when lamb meat is purchased a great deal of time is spent by the buyer defatting the meat before cooking. This represents a waste of the consumer's time and money.

Ethnic consumers prefer a lamb that is butchered when it is fairly young with much less weight than usually the case. This is especially true when a whole lamb is to be used for stuffing on holidays and special occasions.

For the most part lamb is far too expensive for every day consumption. Australian and New Zealand lamb is much cheaper, but it has the disadvantage of being frozen.

Lamb is often not available in stores , and when available it comes in the form of a leg of lamb , shoulder roast or lamb chops. These are usually not the type of cuts used by ethnic consumers. For everyday use, what is wanted are large chunks of meat with bones for stews, lamb hamburger for stuffing, and kabob meat. And during holidays and special occasions a whole small lamb. Because of these obstacles, most ethnic groups in the United States substitute beef and use lamb on rare occasions --usually when it is on special sale and when the cuts desired are available. Very often because of the price difference, Australian and New Zealand lamb meat is purchased.

Suggested Initiatives to Increase Lamb Consumption

As I have mentioned there are probably around fifteen million ethnic Americans who are actual or potential lamb consumers. This of course is in addition to non-ethnic Americans who consume lamb at one time or the other. To tap this market to the fullest extent I suggest the following measures: :

Carry out a research project which would locate concentrations of ethnic consumers of lamb meat in the United States. This would include estimates of their numbers, their tastes, and the kind of lamb meat they would be especially interested in.

Establish "Lamb Shops" . Such shops located near- ethnic concentrations would not only specialize with lamb and lamb products, but in particular would provide the kind of cuts usually consumed by ethnic groups. I should mention that there are many very successful "ethnic" food stores in metropolitan areas. "Lamb Shops" near such stores would I believe be equally successful.

Locate and identify "ethnic" restaurants and establish continuous contact with them. There are many well-known and successful " ethnic" restaurants in metropolitan areas. Many of them --I suspect , use beef instead of lamb.

Advertise in ethnic newspapers, and establish contacts with national Muslim organizations such as the American Muslim Council in Washington D.C. and the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council in Chicago.

The cost of lamb meat must somehow be reduced in order to make it affordable on a daily basis rather than just for special occasions.