Sheep roundup in autumn

In Icelandic valleys you often pass large, circular buildings that from above look like an eye or a cut cake. These buildings are mostly made of wood or metal. They are "réttir", circular pens with sections in which farmers separate their herds after the sheep roundup in autumn. 

The sheep roundup is always a special local event in September in Iceland. People come together. Often relatives and friends who now live in the city come to help. Together the sheep are driven down from the highland pastures and finally sorted by farms in such large pens as this one here at Hveragerði. And when the work is done, people often talk, eat, sing and celebrate for a long time. 

For many of the sheep, however, it then goes more or less directly to the slaughterhouse. 

In Icelandic cuisine there are many delicious dishes with lamb and mutton. Of course, in the near future you will also find corresponding recipes here on the blog, e.g. for the traditional meat soup (kjötsúpa), a leg of lamb from the oven, many stew dishes, fried hearts, not to mention the classic sheep's head (svið). Already here available are recipes for lambakjöt með curry, lambaþríhyrningar með feta and lambakjöt með lakkríssósu.

By the way, lamb is also used in the production of the classic Icelandic hot dog sausages!