Hi Rebekah. Thanks for the response. I find your points quite compelling.(posted 9007 days ago)I haven't been able to find "sheep archives." (Can anyone help find these?) In any event, I would love to hear about the "knife method" (I think--actually, I have a pretty weak stomach, but have surprised myself by learning to do many things I thought I could never do).
I find scriptural arguments particularly compelling. I checked Deut. 22:24-25. I would tend to see this as a reference only to the burnt offerings. Can you give me references for your understanding "that the Israelites were not to practice castration on any animals or to buy castrated animals from neighboring gentiles?"
From a previous response about 6-month-old rams impregnating ewes, I'm worried the rams would breed their mother(s) and sister well before we were ready to slaughter. I assume this would not be healthy for the small (but growing) herd?