THE QUESTION ABOUT USING PIGS AS TILLERS GOT ME TO THINKING. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO RAISE A PIG OR TWO TO BUTCHER. (I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY BE THE ONE TO KILL, CLEAN, OR DRESS THE ANIMAL AS A NEIGHBOR DOES THIS FOR A LIVING). HOWEVER, HOW DO YOU RAISE AN ANIMAL FROM A BABY, ONLY TO KILL AND EAT IT? I RAISE CHICKENS AND EVENTUALLY GOT AROUND TO KILLING AND EATING THEM. (I WAS GETTING TOO MANY!) BUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I BOUGHT A "FIXED" BUCK GOAT IN THE SPRING, WITH THE THOUGHT OF KILLING HIM OFF IN THE FALL. (I'VE NEVER ATE GOAT BUT THOUGHT IF A DEER AND A GOAT ARE ALIKE, EAT THE SAME, ETC. THEY CAN'T TASTE TOO DIFFERENT!) ANYHOW I STILL HAVE HIM ALONG WITH MY MILKING GOAT. BUT I DIGRESS, HOW DO YOU RAISE AN ANIMAL FOR FOOD, WITHOUT GETTING SO EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO IT? THANKS.

-- MICHAEL SMITH (KIRKLBB@PENN.COM), February 27, 2000

Answers

Michael,This is hard on everyone.First you name it Ham
-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), February 27, 2000.

WOOPS SOME HOW SOME GOT CUT OFF. NAME IT HAM OR BACON .FEED IT , WATER IT AND LEAVE IT .DON'T GIVE YOURSELF THE CHANCE TO BECOME ATTACHED .BY B-DAY IT WILL ONLY WANT TO SEE YOU TO GET FOOD.IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR A FEW HOURS.THE GUILT WILL FADE WE THE OW SO GOOD TASTE .I WON'T SAY IT WILL NEVER BOTHER YOU BUT IT DOES GET EASIER.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), February 27, 2000.

Patty's exactly right, it's not easy, usually. With the pigs, the older they got, the nastier they got. In spite of being treated very well, I couldn't turn my back on them. Then it's pretty easy. The hard ones are the ones (animals) that have personality. If you allow yourself to see their personality you're a goner. At least I am. My husband says if you don't feel a little guilt you aren't really respecting the animal and might as well buy your meat from a slick store.

-- Peg (jnjohnsn@pressenter.com), February 27, 2000.

I find that if I butcher Jan -March it is easier because by the time you deal with winter and the frustrations involved you are glad to see them go. Also make up your mind what it is and avoid attachment.

-- tom calloway (Calfarm@msn.com), February 27, 2000.

Michael, you must always remmber what the animal is there for. To be bucthered and ate. Don't name the animal. The first time he gets bucthered and in the freezer, then you set down to eat is always the hardest. Then after that the next year get another one and start al over agin. It will be alot easyer the second time around. By the time number 3 rolls around you will be old hand at it. We went through all this when our kids were in 4H. I always had to remind them what the animal was used for. It is always very hard that first time. But you can do it, good luck

-- Linda Hess (hesscat@cot.net), February 27, 2000.

Michael, This is how we look at it. Our meat animals are not pets but we do treat them well, give them good food, kind treatment (pets and scratches etc..) What kind of treatment does the average commercial meat animal get? They may have a shorter life than some other animals but the life they have is good. When it is time to butcher, it is done in the quickest most humane way possible. Thinking about it this way has always helped me deal with the guilt.

-- Amy (mstydale@aeroinc.net), February 27, 2000.

Just do it. It's pig there is nothing to be sad about, If you weren't going to eat animals why would you grow them?

-- denden (denden@camasnet.com), February 27, 2000.

Intellectually I know there is nothing wrong with eating your animals. Life eats life period. I used to think as long as I felt guilty it was okay. But the truth is I feel so much better not doing it. When I have to eat meat I buy it at the store. So I guess that makes me a hypocrite. But a relieved hypocrite. Ha. Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), February 28, 2000.

Mike, I used to have a hard time of it. Before Thanksgiving, I went out to put a couple of turkeys in the freezer, and they are so gentle mannered, they came running right up to me. I froze for a good thirty seconds or so, then reminded myself of the economy of it, and if I want to keep any animals at all, then this is how it works. It also helps me to remember that I project a great deal of thought and personality onto animals, that they really don't possess.

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), February 28, 2000.

As mentioned earlier , you home animals are treated much better than feed lot animals.At least by raising my own animals, I know they are treated well,feed well, and over all have a good life.They are not shot up with antibiotics and growth hormones.They get to enjoy the fresh air and pasture,they are not locked in some small feed lot walking in manure .They are not hit or beat to get them to move from one pen to another.And most of all when it comes time to kill them its fast and painless.Can that be said for all large producers?They do not have to stand there and watch one animal after another get shot before its there turn.You can look at it this way , for every animal you raise you save an animal from being raised under horrible conditions.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), February 28, 2000.

Well, I certainly agree with all those who have pointed out that your animals are going to be treated much better than those that wind up in the market. I have found that when I first get my piggies in the spring (I buy them just to raise for meat every spring) that it helps to sit quietly on a bucket in the pen every time I feed them until they get used to me. After a few days, when they settle down, slooowly move closer to them as they feed until you can scratch their ears as they eat. Prety soon, they'll come up to you just to get their ears scratched. This will also make things much easier when the time comes to load them up for the final ride. Some advice based on my experience: 1. Get 2 or more pigs. They like the company, and the competition for feed makes them eat better. And you will spend no more time caring for 2 or 3 than you will for 1. You will not make big bucks, but raising 3 should put "your pig" in the freezer "free", if you don't count your time. Never count your time! This economy is especially true if you plant some garden goodies for them and don't use just commercial feed. They love pumpkins, almost any greens, even weeds, and dropped apples. 2. They are very smart. An electric fence is the way to go. Even with a good board fence, these babies are going to get big, and can break fences. They respect the electric and train to it quickly. One or 2 wires is sufficient. However, if you turn the fence off, it won't take them very long to realize it doesn't bite anymore. 3. Do not name them. Let the kids or grandkids name them, and forget who is who. 4. Since you have more than one, don't tell the butcher which one you want. Just say "the best looking one". Unless one of them has won a beauty contest, you won't know which one it is! No, wait! Tell him you want the one that looks best for eating. If he thinks the best looking one is the prettiest on the hoof, I'd find another butcher. 5. Good Luck!

Brad

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), February 28, 2000.

Im with Kirk. I just dont. My husband was raised on a farm and knows how to butcher and put up all kinds of meat. I on the other hand cannot look an animal in the eye if I pretend to care about it and then kill it. We buy our meat and raise animals that have other uses such as dairy goats, chickens and cows. Each has some other purpose besides just meat.If iI had to kill I would be a vegetarian even though I do like meat. It would be one of those sacrafices you make for your conscience. Maybe hypocritical but thats how it is.

-- Susie Stretton (nightsong@beci.net), February 29, 2000.

Personally, I don't think there is any reason to feel guilty. No where in the Bible does God forbid us to kill an animal, in fact many of God's children eat meat. Part of an animal's purpose, is to feed us. Remember, animals do not have souls and therefore, not feelings. Our animals don't start to cry when we joke about them being ham and bacon. We named one of our beef cows Sir Loin and we name all of our animals, whether its purpose is to give us milk or give us meat. I guess I don't see it the same way some people do, especially after slaughtering 600 chickens this past Summer.

-- Abigail (treeoflife@sws.nb.ca), March 02, 2000.

Theres now reason to feel guilt as long as they receive good care and treatment while they are alive , and when b-day comes it is done as painless and quickly as possible.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), March 02, 2000.

Hello,

I agree with everyone else,, Don`t name it. It is hard,, and I will never get used to it. But people do have to eat. We just started butchering the animals that were agressive and dangerous to people and other animal. With those kind of animals it is no problem to butcher them. And I am always glad they are gone! The larger animals we take them to a USDA butcher and have them do it. But we do the chickens, and turkeys ourselves. And remember with the animal you raised, you know what went into that animal!! Pretty scary what those big livestock breeders feed their animals now a days!!

-- Mrs S. Nees (autumnhaus@aol.com), March 03, 2000.

We took our first pigs to be butchered last year. We didn't realize how much they were our pets until the vet came out and they came right up to him and he said (looking at us) oh, I can tell these are your pets! Broke our hearts! When we dropped them off, there was another pig lying in the gate whose legs were so weak it couldn't stand up, had cuts & scrapes all over it (all sausage, the man said). We were disgusted, but then realized that we had taken such good care of ours. We cried, but we'll raise more. We enjoyed having them so much and they are a big help with my garden. So many benefits that overshadow the inevitable end, and then the good feeling of having provided healthier meat for your family.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), March 03, 2000.

To all God's children. You are at the top of the food chain. There are many who hunger for your life style. Therein is the answer to this dilemma. Give Thanks for all and get HUNGRY. Works for me. JR

-- JR (jr3star@earthlink.net), March 03, 2000.

I can't quite go for not naming an animal, "hey, you" doesn't seem to impress them much. I do make a point of naming the more personable animals so that I can't forget what they are for. Link, Curry, Ham, Stu, etc. I also keep in mind that if I raise my own, I don't have to feel guilty about contributing to the abuse of animals by encouraging the meat packing industry. I have far too often seen animals clubbed into submission because they were holding up the schedule at the slaughterhouse, or living in conditions where it is a race to get them to slaughter before they get sick. Be proud to feel guilty, you are at least showing that you care enough to be a responsible carnivore instead of a clueless one.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), March 03, 2000.

It really does me good to read all of these varied responses. I thought that my husband and I were the only weak-kneed ones in the bunch. We have the best of both worlds with our Amish neighbors.They raise the animals, feed them, care for them,and then butcher them and give us the meat for us to wrap.This is a barter system that I set up....meat for medical care for their children at all hours of the day and night. It works for all of us. Growing up in the cities and suburbs, with always a dream to live in the country on a farm, we were not raised to be pragmatic and sensible regarding raising animals for food, so we are quite squeamish and rather silly about it.Yet, we do not buy meat from the supermarkets for all of the reasons stated so well by the others on the forum.We are,indeed, very fortunate to have the best of both worlds.When I drive home from a farm visit at 3A.M.,I remember all that nice clean meat in my freezer and am truly content.I envy those of you who have the "right" idea regarding meat production..I really do, and empathize with those of you who cringe at the thought.

-- Lesley Chasko (martchas@gateway.net), March 03, 2000.