Coping - over myself now :)

[enjoy the ride]

Part of the reason I'm tending to look on the down side of things is it is time to get the kid crop butchered.

I started raising my own meat about 6 years ago as I was rather horrified at the way that cattle were finished off in feed lots- at least the one I saw. I tried being a vegetarian but could not do it.

I met a lady raising meat goats and I thougt that I could do that and at least give them a good life til they went. The first year was surprisingly easy as my first one to send off was the nastiest, meanest, most dangerous fellow. I was glad to get rid of him.

The next years were also not too bad- I did not involve myself in the boys' life much and when they started getting stinky, off they went too. The doelings were always traded for bucklings or just given away.

But last year, one lady killed the doeling I gave her and another gave me what amounted to the smallest Boer wether I have ever seen. So this year I decided that all the kids from this year were going for my own use- unfortunately I had a real doeling year- three girls and one boy. I got attached to the girls- stupid stupid stupid. They are soooo personable with none of the boy dominance issue that signal to me it's time they leave. Especially one of twins of high quality that I couldn't make a choice about til now.

So how do you get over the omnivore guilt trip?

 

[Blackbird]

Nope, I could never do it, not to the little doelings. Well, I might, but I wouldn't be happy about it. I'm glad we only raise dairy goats.

Our extras go to the sale barn.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

once you get a whiff of that spectacular stew hopefully you'll change your mind?????

sorry you're down about this :-( its kind of a hard thing growing your own food and its very easy to get attached. i think its easier once your own animals get to the 'not recognizable' point and not to think 'oh this is sally we are having tonite' - that one is hard for me so we tend to butcher in batches. if you get meat back from a processor you can just think its like getting it from the store???

i dont have a choice about eating meat protein (i have to) so its an easy thing for me to trust The Way of Things. to honor the animals that come in and go out of your farm you can practice extreme gratitude and thanksgiving and meditate on that instead of the guilt. you are feeding your family and participating in a long and glorious tradition of the circle of life.

good luck!

 

[big brown horse]

Good advice OFG!

(Please don't eat anything named Sally! )

Here is a nice hug to help you cope.

 

[FarmerChick]

No one wants to kill. It isn't pleasant to think of critters on the farm as pets and then put them in the freezer.

I actually hate my hogs but have a hard time being around them knowing that 1 per week goes to the butcher. I can't stand it actually but I say---I choose this life, I choose this way and meat in the freezer is what I am raising.

It passes til the next time which stinks. But again---I choose this way. Therefore I must put the feelings aside and cope.

You could just raise kids and sell them....never knowing where they go....then take that money and go to a local farmer and buy meats. or buy good organic meats that you think is an OK brand. Raising the kids and selling them keeps you from the butchering the pet part, seeing them leave alive from the farm, to whatever fate, but at least you weren't the final end for them......with that sale money then go buy meat you didn't become attached too.

I don't know...it is hard....been there, have those feelings also!

 

[SKR8PN]

I just have to "flip the switch" in my brain when it comes time to butcher. It becomes a job that has to be done. Doesn't make it any easier, but that is how I deal with it.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Tell the animals that you have to butcher Thank You. Out loud. While they are alive and after the deed.

This is what I do when hunting, as I look down my sight & squeeze the trigger, I say thank you. As I take care of all the rest of the aspects, I say thanks. Plus I imagine all the tasty stew/roast/BBQ etc I will be eating. And I say thank you when I eat it too

I don't worship animals, but I do realize that it is a conscious creature that gave its life to feed me, and I appreciate that.

It gets a little easier with time. Not a whole lot, but some.

 

[enjoy the ride]

Good advice OFG!

(Please don't eat anything named Sally! )

Here is a nice hug to help you cope.

Actually the one I decided to keep is named Sally.

Thanks for listening- it helps to let it out. :/

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

really!??!? hee hee hee that was totally random.... how funny - we must be on the same wave length...

hope you are feeling better about the whole thing

;-)

 

[Wifezilla]

There is a reason I have been raising ducks since last December but have yet to enjoy a duck dinner.