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I know that 'beef' is derived from the french word 'boef', but isn't lamb simply the juvenile form of a sheep? I was under the impression that 'lamb' meat was from a juvenile sheep, and 'sheep meat' would be from an adult animal, or is 'lamb' the general term for sheep meat in english?

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Mutton is the term for meat from a mature sheep, but it is rarely sold outside of halal and speciality butchers in the UK these days, which is a pity as it's better for stews.

Hogget is between lamb and mutton in age.

Here in Australia we have more sheep than many.

Lamb is meat from a young sheep - raised to be eaten young.

Mutton is meat from an older sheep, generally from sheep no longer good for wool production, too old to bear lambs, etc.

Mutton is a relative rarity outside the farm gate in shops and city butchers .. in an economic sense as soon as a sheep is big enough and well fed enough to be sold on to super market chains, why invest further time in that animal?

Unless, of course, wool production and| lamb production (ie. older ewes and some rams).

Thanks for the clarification!

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