The difference between Lamb, Hogget, Mutton, and Chevon

Assalamualaikum...

As an employee in Livestock Industry, I always met people (specifically Malaysians) who misunderstands the difference between Lamb, Hogget, Mutton, and Chevon. It's not really their fault as for myself, I've been taught in school dat lamb is sheep's meat and mutton is goat's. Well...is the teachers to blame? i don't know, coz they were taught the same before..*sigh*..

So what is all these stuff? They're a few small ruminants' red meat which we consume for years. We can find 'em easily in the market but do we know their difference or perhaps some facts about 'em?

In most countries, Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget and later mutton.

• Lamb — a young sheep under 12 months of age which does not have any permanent incisor teeth in wear
• Hogget — a young male sheep or maiden ewe having no more than two permanent incisors in wear
• Mutton — a female (ewe) or castrated male (wether) sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear.

In many eastern countries including the Indian sub-continent, Malaysia and Singapore the term mutton refers to goat's meat (which is also called chevon) and usually not to sheep's meat. Often, the so-called mutton curries of the Indian cuisine use goat meat when cooked at home, although in Indian restaurants sheep meat is often used.

So in Malaysia, we can conclude dat mutton and chevon is goat's meat and lamb and mutton is sheep's meat! dat's confusing...So as a consumer, do ask the shopkeeper this and that until u satisfied and buy wut u wanted. This is important as the prices are not the the same!!! In fact, the nutritions are shocking!!! Beware.....

I'll post the difference of the prices and nutritions later coz right now I have a date !!! =) Till we meet again!

Cheow! Salaam...