Discussion
Yazza54 said:
Can't get my head around how you can do this.
I am a meat eater and an animal lover, so not going all woke on you, I just can't imagine looking after an animal myself then sending it for slaughter and eating it.
Why do you eat meat then? As most people are, you are detached from where your food comes from. I know I let someone else do the final deed, but only as I am not suitably qualified to do so, I led the pigs into the pen where the deed was done.I am a meat eater and an animal lover, so not going all woke on you, I just can't imagine looking after an animal myself then sending it for slaughter and eating it.
scrw. said:
BoggoStump said:
You can't be both.
Why not? I just accept we are apex in the food chain. ANY food a human consumes is the result of death, just because insects aren't fluffy veggies think they don't count. But growing veg means death for little critters.
superb thread
& its the way of the world and we (humans) have been doing it for a long time. We have had a number of pigs (still have some sheep) in the past from when the kids were around 10 so both of mine know how to look after livestock, deal with the issues one encounters and also where their food comes from. In the event they find themselves in a position where they have to fend for themselves its just another skillset.
& its the way of the world and we (humans) have been doing it for a long time. We have had a number of pigs (still have some sheep) in the past from when the kids were around 10 so both of mine know how to look after livestock, deal with the issues one encounters and also where their food comes from. In the event they find themselves in a position where they have to fend for themselves its just another skillset.
Cagney & Lacy seeing some weather they were bred for today.
326126109_695236622250823_1423603198475284222_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr
The herd is expanding next month, have 6 pedigree Oxford Sandy & Blacks arriving around the end of Feb (2 x 3months, 2 x 6months & 2 x 13months old). I was looking at getting some cattle in but pigs are much easier. Cagney and one of the new OSB's will be off on an 18-30 holiday may-ish to a local farm that has an OSB boar.
326126109_695236622250823_1423603198475284222_n by Old_Chad, on FlickrThe herd is expanding next month, have 6 pedigree Oxford Sandy & Blacks arriving around the end of Feb (2 x 3months, 2 x 6months & 2 x 13months old). I was looking at getting some cattle in but pigs are much easier. Cagney and one of the new OSB's will be off on an 18-30 holiday may-ish to a local farm that has an OSB boar.
scrw. said:
Why not? I just accept we are apex in the food chain. ANY food a human consumes is the result of death, just because insects aren't fluffy veggies think they don't count. But growing veg means death for little critters.
I came here hoping for a nice story about someone keeping rescue pigs on a farm. I forgot about dissonance most people have currently. Lets test the apex theory. Please fight Bruce the boar. To the death, no tools, just your bare hands.
Your pigs trusted you. Did you genuinely feel nothing when the butcher close the door and ended your pigs lives? Next time wait outside and listen to the struggle, or watch.
You have the choice to do good in the world. I ate meat for 26 years until i learned more about it.
I said apex in the food chain, saying fight a creature that is bigger than me and armed with a couple of 4" knives in its mouth is just stupid, although going back a few thousand years we would have been doing it otherwise we wouldn't be here now. I eat meat, I look after the animals, the abattoir is very good and the animals were not stressed or struggling at their end. People who don't eat meat do not seem to understand their food choices involve death on a huge scale of insects/small mammals (unless they grow their own food) but because they don't eat them as the end product that is okay with them. I am happy to defend eating my piggies, and feel less guilt than eating meat off a supermarket shelf as I have no idea if they were as well looked after as mine.
Anyway, more piggie photos in 3 weeks when the OSBs arrive.
Anyway, more piggie photos in 3 weeks when the OSBs arrive.
Cagney and Lacey could easily be mistaken for sheep! Also look forward to new pics when they arrive
I fundamentally disagree you can’t be an animal lover and a meat eater.
I assume all vegetarians/vegans are happy with the prospect of
A) total genocide of all cows, pigs, sheep and chickens
And
B) really haven’t looked in to the actual impact on animal numbers if you look at farming crops vs animals. And only care about fluffy things
For simplicity
All veg = massive land reclaim + pesticide use in nearly all parts of the world = massive decrease in the biomass that props up all other animal species = a lot less of all animals.
I fundamentally disagree you can’t be an animal lover and a meat eater.
I assume all vegetarians/vegans are happy with the prospect of
A) total genocide of all cows, pigs, sheep and chickens
And
B) really haven’t looked in to the actual impact on animal numbers if you look at farming crops vs animals. And only care about fluffy things
For simplicity
All veg = massive land reclaim + pesticide use in nearly all parts of the world = massive decrease in the biomass that props up all other animal species = a lot less of all animals.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
I'm enjoying this thread very much scrw, do keep it up.
If anyone objects they don't have to read it, but sanctimonious judgemental comments here doesn't do them any favours.
Totally agree.If anyone objects they don't have to read it, but sanctimonious judgemental comments here doesn't do them any favours.
Eat what you want to eat, but don't tell others what they shouldn't eat.
In all species there are some that eat other animals, e.g. Lions and Wolves, big fish eat little fish, so we are no different.
Keep it up please OP. I like how you write about 'stuff' (the way pigs naturally turn over land) but also the emotions involved in caring for animals and the land.
Sending Cagney and Lacey off to the local boar - LOL to read your description - "for their Club 18-30 holiday" I did LOL. Great turn of phrase.
It all takes me back to staying with my country cousins as a boy. Happy, and informative times.
Sending Cagney and Lacey off to the local boar - LOL to read your description - "for their Club 18-30 holiday" I did LOL. Great turn of phrase.
It all takes me back to staying with my country cousins as a boy. Happy, and informative times.
Lots to do this week on the piggie pens, a bit behind due to doing hedge cutting with any spare time I have (piggies & my orchard are just a hobby gone mad, I have a day job too). Current plan is to stick the new batch into the pen next to C&L to see how they get on, if I was getting just yearlings I would put them in together and just be on hand to sort out the worst of it while they get the pecking order sorted. Given 4 of the new ones would really come off second best I am going to keep them apart. However last time I tried to keep C&L away from a pair of new pigs (the fattening ones arrived a month later than C&L), they decided they wanted to be in the same pen, I was only using electric fences back then without the wire netting and Cagney figured out if you run through it fast enough she didn't get a zap.
On the house front, I currently have 2 arks, and will need 2 more for farrowing this year. For sad peeps like me I find myself drooling at piggie house kit and how I can justify them to my accountant & the wife http://contentedproducts.co.uk/ Soon adds up, farrowing arks come in at £700ish, then I am tempted by some of the plastic fencing to allow me some more flexibility on the pens, 15 of them is £1200. Is a lot of sausages to sell as my accountant keeps telling me!
On the house front, I currently have 2 arks, and will need 2 more for farrowing this year. For sad peeps like me I find myself drooling at piggie house kit and how I can justify them to my accountant & the wife http://contentedproducts.co.uk/ Soon adds up, farrowing arks come in at £700ish, then I am tempted by some of the plastic fencing to allow me some more flexibility on the pens, 15 of them is £1200. Is a lot of sausages to sell as my accountant keeps telling me!
the 6 OSB's landed this afternoon!
Snipaste_2023-02-20_18-21-54 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
11 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
22 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
33 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
They are 2 at 10 weeks old, 2 at 7 months old and 2 at 14 months old. Cagney & Lacy were interested but not that bothered really, unsure how to integrate them into 1 pen as that will be the plan eventually. Certainly Cagney & 1 of the older OSBs need to be pen mates in a couple of months ready for a boar visit for ~ a month. Of the weaners 1 is a fair bit smaller than its litter mate, will have to keep an eye on her to make sure she gets enough food, will get a few more troughs tomorrow so we can separate at feeding time. Little-un has really nice OSB markings though, will try and get more photos over the next few days once they are settled in and used to me.
Snipaste_2023-02-20_18-21-54 by Old_Chad, on Flickr11 by Old_Chad, on Flickr22 by Old_Chad, on Flickr33 by Old_Chad, on FlickrThey are 2 at 10 weeks old, 2 at 7 months old and 2 at 14 months old. Cagney & Lacy were interested but not that bothered really, unsure how to integrate them into 1 pen as that will be the plan eventually. Certainly Cagney & 1 of the older OSBs need to be pen mates in a couple of months ready for a boar visit for ~ a month. Of the weaners 1 is a fair bit smaller than its litter mate, will have to keep an eye on her to make sure she gets enough food, will get a few more troughs tomorrow so we can separate at feeding time. Little-un has really nice OSB markings though, will try and get more photos over the next few days once they are settled in and used to me.
Edited by scrw. on Monday 20th February 18:36
All piggies settled in now and pecking order sorted. Up to 3 troughs as they don't share 2 very well. Looking to move to an adlib feeder so they can eat when they want, takes the stress out of feeding time, Cagney & Lacy aren't like these at feed time, they share together okay. Decided to knock together a new ark too, my green ones will be a squeeze when all the pigs are up to size. My green ones at 8ftx6ft, my home effort is 8x8. To buy a green one in the 8x8 size with delivery is £950, managed to throw one together for just under £400. Not as pretty I know but its not £550 ugly either!
2023-02-20_09-51-21 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
2023-02-20_09-52-28 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
332466280_734279988324377_2356898496476089753_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr
332940247_1341735783276592_4708719875250880303_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr
2023-02-20_09-51-21 by Old_Chad, on Flickr2023-02-20_09-52-28 by Old_Chad, on Flickr332466280_734279988324377_2356898496476089753_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr332940247_1341735783276592_4708719875250880303_n by Old_Chad, on FlickrGassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff