There's alot of free meat out there

[Peepsi]

Yes, I accidentally upset someone yesterday at the Saturday Market a little, they were complementing the beef short ribs they bought last week, and I replied that it was because they were such happy cows. They got lots of scritches, almost daily grooming, and lots of extra love last year. They were also the sweetest, cutest animals I’ve raised since my fur babies were kittens 15 some odd years ago. If that’s not something they are comfortable with, then I don’t know why they are eating meat in the first place! They were happy and stress free right up to the end.

I feel the same way you do! I'd be HAPPY if you told me that about your cows. I'd feel much more comfortable eating the meat, because I knew you raised them with love, and they had wonderful, happy lives. I think people have become so removed from the process of getting their own meat, that when they go to the grocery store, they just want to pretend that the meat grew that way, all packaged and ready to go, on a tree somewhere. They don't want to think about the whole food cycle, where meat comes from, or anything like that. I don't understand that about people.

 

[Stiletto]

Yes, I accidentally upset someone yesterday at the Saturday Market a little, they were complementing the beef short ribs they bought last week, and I replied that it was because they were such happy cows. They got lots of scritches, almost daily grooming, and lots of extra love last year. They were also the sweetest, cutest animals I’ve raised since my fur babies were kittens 15 some odd years ago. If that’s not something they are comfortable with, then I don’t know why they are eating meat in the first place! They were happy and stress free right up to the end.

Most people just don't want to associate the meat they eat with a sweet, cuddly animal that enjoys scritches and affection.

The cognitive dissonance is incredible.

I admire the way you raise and care for your animals. Are they slaughtered on the property as well?

 

[Kris5902]

I feel the same way you do! I'd be HAPPY if you told me that about your cows. I'd feel much more comfortable eating the meat, because I knew you raised them with love, and they had wonderful, happy lives. I think people have become so removed from the process of getting their own meat, that when they go to the grocery store, they just want to pretend that the meat grew that way, all packaged and ready to go, on a tree somewhere. They don't want to think about the whole food cycle, where meat comes from, or anything like that. I don't understand that about people.

Thank you! I understand the thinking process, I spent ten years in the grocery industry before taking up farming, but I just don’t “get” it, never have and never will I suppose, and I just forget and talk about my animals as they were,and why that’s better than anything in a big store, while selling them as food.

Most people just don't want to associate the meat they eat with a sweet, cuddly animal that enjoys scritches and affection.

The cognitive dissonance is incredible.

I admire the way you raise and care for your animals. Are they slaughtered on the property as well?

We have an on-site Provincially (Canada) inspected Abbatoir here, so almost all our animals are processed on site. I’ve done some chickens for our personal use myself, but our meat birds get slaughtered at another small plant, either the one my husband works at when he’s not working here or another family run plant. We aren’t set up for pork or chicken. We also don’t do OTM (over thirty months) cattle, as our cold room isn’t big enough to hang anything that large, and there’s a lot of extra processing involved in removing and disposing of the spinal cord and heads at that age. We process beef and lamb for ourselves and other local farmers.

 

[Stiletto]

We have an on-site Provincially (Canada) inspected Abbatoir here, so almost all our animals are processed on site. I’ve done some chickens for our personal use myself, but our meat birds get slaughtered at another small plant, either the one my husband works at when he’s not working here or another family run plant. We aren’t set up for pork or chicken. We also don’t do OTM (over thirty months) cattle, as our cold room isn’t big enough to hang anything that large, and there’s a lot of extra processing involved in removing and disposing of the spinal cord and heads at that age. We process beef and lamb for ourselves and other local farmers.

Thank you! I wish there were more people raising meat animals they way you and your husband are.

 

[Kris5902]

Thanks for the support! I do believe that there are a lot of changes that need to happen in the entire meat industry for it to become a more ethical, humane and sustainable system. And a lot of that needs to occur at the average consumer level. Until the people buying meat decide that animal welfare is important enough to warrant increased prices, decreased consumption, and more sustainable ethical practices, the only thing that can be done is to buy from local sources whenever possible and investigate where the products are coming from. Cheap meat is unhappy meat. I feel truly blessed to be able to make even a small difference with a few hundred animals a year.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

I feel the same way you do! I'd be HAPPY if you told me that about your cows. I'd feel much more comfortable eating the meat, because I knew you raised them with love, and they had wonderful, happy lives. I think people have become so removed from the process of getting their own meat, that when they go to the grocery store, they just want to pretend that the meat grew that way, all packaged and ready to go, on a tree somewhere. They don't want to think about the whole food cycle, where meat comes from, or anything like that. I don't understand that about people.

X2!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks for the support! I do believe that there are a lot of changes that need to happen in the entire meat industry for it to become a more ethical, humane and sustainable system. And a lot of that needs to occur at the average consumer level. Until the people buying meat decide that animal welfare is important enough to warrant increased prices, decreased consumption, and more sustainable ethical practices, the only thing that can be done is to buy from local sources whenever possible and investigate where the products are coming from. Cheap meat is unhappy meat. I feel truly blessed to be able to make even a small difference with a few hundred animals a year.

I think education is key here. Until reading this thread, I had no idea that chickens were ground up live for dog food or whatever. And how are you going to get that information out there? People buy processed chicken at a grocery store and it looks all sanitary and pristine and they have no reason to question how it got there. Dog food comes dry in a bag or moist in a can, people don't think to ask questions. The dog food industry certainly isn't going to put an ad showing this process, they show happy, healthy, glossy dogs enjoying their product. I have no answers. Just a troubled soul at this point. But neither am I going to chop my own roosters and process them. I tried it once, without going into detail I will just say that I learned this is a skill I lack. I hire it done by those who have the tools, experience and skill to do it right.

 

[NewBoots]

They got lots of scritches, almost daily grooming, and lots of extra love last year. They were also the sweetest, cutest animals I’ve raised since my fur babies were kittens 15 some odd years ago. They were happy and stress free right up to the end.

I would be so happy to hear this about any meat I had purchased. Another reason people should know about the animals they consume, it makes it harder to just ignore their pain and suffering.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

there is a lot of low cost meat out there. am not going to call it free because even if you pick up the animals to butcher for meat your still spending gas, time and labor on it. (but i guess nothing is free then lol)

but i do agree that the factory farming can and is very inhumane i wish more people supported local farms who raise animals in a humane effort.

also am in the camp of hunting to provide meat. but i know that is not possible for everyone or is something that everyone wants to do.

 

[Kris5902]

But neither am I going to chop my own roosters and process them. I tried it once, without going into detail I will just say that I learned this is a skill I lack. I hire it done by those who have the tools, experience and skill to do it right.

Agree @BigBlueHen53, and I have to say that if it’s not a skill you have or feel you can develop than hiring it out to a professional is probably the most ethical and humane thing you can do!

Being in the industry ourselves gives us the advantage of being able to ask to see the plant we have our animals done at, and be fully aware of the process and how it’s handled. I’m very picky. There is one big commercial farm and processing plant here I am confident in buying from, I know their practices and have toured the plant. A close friend was working there for many years. Everyone will have a different experience.

As pointed out by @bigz1983 and several others, that “free” meat has almost certainly had a better life than anything in a factory farm! And a forthright ad letting people know you’re willing to take their excess cockerels or aged out layers, for the freezer, is fine by me. If unable to do it myself I would certainly be willing to re-home my boys to someone able to accomplish the task. I tried a bachelor flock for a while, and it did not work for the birds or me. I would rather see them dressed out for the table than in distress and constantly fighting for dominance (could have been a breed thing, I just know it didn’t work out in this instance)