Etc... Freezer Beef Prices

[the simple life]

I just ordered a side of pasture raised beef from a local farm here.
I am paying $2.29 lb hanging weight and a 55 cent per lb wrapping fee.
Their cattle are free ranged on a 122 acre farm.
This beef is hormone free, antibiotic free and grass fed and was treated humanely during its life and slaughtered as humanely as possible.
The farm has a processing plant onsite and they are USDA, Organic, Natural, Kosher, Halal and Animal Welfare certified.
The processing plant was designed by Temple Grandin who is well known for her design for cattle slaughter/processing plants, her design is known for being the most humane way to slaughter.
I may be able to get beef cheaper but I don't look for the cheapest meat, I want the healthiest, cleanest meat available for my family and to know that the animal was raised and slaughtered humanely.
I feel you get what you pay for and I am willing to pay it when it comes to feeding my family.

 

[TimG]

What is "the most humane way to slaughter"?

 

[the simple life]

Well to some it could be anything other than dragging a downed cow with a front end loader to the kill floor or to others it could be killing an animal with the least amount of stress, fear and pain as is absolutely possible.
There are plants that will correctly stun an animal, properly use a bolt etc. so that the animal is not stressed and maybe even be unaware of what is happening.
We both know that there are plenty of processing plants that do not make the effort to do so.
There are some that use humane practices and have the certification to prove it and others simply do not.
Many will not put the money into the design or equipment necessary to make sure that livestock do not suffer during slaughter or simply do not want to change their practices.
You have to know that there are more humane ways to kill an animal than others stunning and a bolt to the head seem to be the least traumatic.


http://www.grandin.com/

 

[Bossroo]

Is holding the steer and slicing its throat with a sharp knife to bleed out humane?

 

[TimG]

I do understand that there are some way that are less stressful (and perhaps thus more humane). But, I am still a little confused when people profess to know the "most" humane way. I tend to think of "humane" as an either or thing, sort of like "unique". (Though it is now acceptable to say that something is "very unique".) Still, I would think that when it comes to slaughter there can't be any proof that any one of the humane ways to go about it is "most humane".

None of this should be misconstrued as approval of inhumane methods. I'm all for humane slaughtering. And, think that it is very good that people care enough to take the time to find out where their meat comes from and how it has been treated.

 

[Kittymomma]

We are very fortunate here. My butcher comes out here, he slaughters the animal in my field with a single shot to the head.

Having farm slaughter available is not only convenient for me, the steers and pigs we butcher every year for our table never have to go thru the stress of transport or a strange facility. I just open the gate to the field and everybody comes up. I do all the feeding so the sight of me and that red coffee can is enough to bring any critter on the place at a trot to see whats in it. They never get stressed out and it is very quick.

Thru other discussions on this forum I've recently learned that there are many parts of the country where farm slaughter is not available. I'm in no way implying that anyone is inhumane because they have to transport thier animals to a facility for slaughter.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
I'll take that bait...

Properly slitting a chicken is humane, because it dies quickly. Stunning it first is more humane, because it is usually dead before it can wake up, but not always. Decapitation is most humane, because it is instant death.

And then there is the whole leadup to the slaughter. The animal is traumatized, but then killed quickly. Humane? Mostly. Animal is held, talked to by a familiar voice, then killed quickly, more humane.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Is it for a chicken?

 

[Bossroo]

Quote:
Is it for a chicken?

NO, a S T E E R . Or a lamb or even a goat . So, is holding a steer, a lamb, or a goat, talking to it gently by a familiar voice , then slitting it's throat with a sharp knife to bleed out humane ??? I have seen this done on farms.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Is it for a chicken?

NO, a S T E E R . Or a lamb or even a goat . So, is holding a steer, a lamb, or a goat, talking to it gently by a familiar voice , then slitting it's throat with a sharp knife to bleed out humane ??? I have seen this done on farms.

Is it humane to do it to chicken?

ETA
I know where you are going. You are talking about Halal and Kosher slaughter. I'm asking what is the difference between that and the accepted method for killing and bleeding out a chicken. Personally, I don't see one.