Livestock Animals Are Not Pets
Posted: Thursday, January 29, 2009
by Cher King
As I have said I do get all walks of life here and to do get people that do not share our vision on farming. I have had people say how can you kill your pets as they are looking at a 600 pound pig. I look at them and plainly tell them I do not kill my cats. Sorry to say, livestock animals are not pets to most farmers. I have cats for that purpose. I am not going to get attached to a 1000 pound bull either. HE is not my pet, he is my hamburger for a year and that's how I have to look at it. Most people cannot share that same view but if you question them about the meat they buy in the store, well I didn't know that animal. Oh so that makes a difference?
I have had customers ask how they are killed, I do not know. I hire a professional to do that. The first reason for that is I have no tools for that trade. Second it would take up too much of my time for other things here on the farm. I have killed chickens here and there but to do a whole flock I'd rather have a professional do it. For 50 turkeys it would take an entire weekend of 4 people working 12 hour days. I would rather take it to a poultry facility and be there a half hour and my birds are done and I didn't have to deal with the mess of it. Not that I am a lazy farmer it is the best way to utilize my time. My time is valuable and summer and fall I am busy with so many other projects I really do not have the time to take care the processing of the meat we raise. I'm sure that no one wants bits of gravel and other miscellaneous things on their meat.
One woman in particular wanted details when my store was packed, from the onset I could tell she was a vegetarian.
"How are the animals killed" she asked
"I'm not sure" I said
"I see it is too much for you to handle" she said.
As she is asking me questions her voice is getting louder and louder.
"No, I just would rather have a professional do the work since I'm not sure how to" I said
"So you don't know if they are mistreated" she asked.
"Look, the butcher doesn't sell tickets to watch on butchering day. He is a nice man that has been doing this his whole life and I am sure he does this as humanely as possible and that is the end of the conversation" I said.
She paid for her items and left. So why I was grilled about the whole process I'm not sure but I get that a lot and I am sure she's not the last person to do so. I don't mind explaining the process but I do mind being badgered and belittled especially in front of other potential customers. People also have to understand animals do not have the same thought process as we do either, you are not killing another human being, it is livestock bred and raised for that purpose.
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