Good luck Judith - I'm really impressed and in a way I think it's a good thing that you're affected by it, because it shows you really were taking good care of them while you were responsible for them.
I hope we'll be doing this ourselves one day and I'm really grateful for you letting us know how it's going.
Like JB says, the fact that you're thinking about it says it all.
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Tue May 24, 05 12:31 pm Post subject:
Feeling a bit better now - I was ridiculously weepy earlier.
Had the classic beginners reversing-the-trailer debacle at the abattoir. I tried, OH tried, then the nice farmer who went in before us took pity and did it for us . In one seamless movement!
Glad you're feeling better Judith, I hate to think what I'd be like at reversing a trailer in at the abbatoir, I'm sure it did nothing for stress levels.
I'm glad you shared your feelings because it is (contrary to my previous post) definitely something that takes a lot of doing, I respect anybody that raises their own livestock.
jema Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 28239 Location: escaped from Swindon
Posted: Tue May 24, 05 12:56 pm Post subject:
I know i'd struggle badly. I am not even convinced i'd want to eat the Bacon
I congratulate those who really do have the courage of their meat eating convictions.
I know it's not really the same thing, but in a way it does relate.
The first few times we ate our own chickens' eggs I felt quite sick about it...bit too close for comfort, plus all the slugs and snails I'd seen go in the other end But it was something I wanted to do and something I knew was right so I simply perservered.
These days I love looking at the eggs as I crack them, examining the colour and size and shape and knowing that the animal that produced them is merrily devastating the vegetable patch without a care in the world rather than squashed in a box with four other birds and very little opportunity to devestate anything apart from its neighbour's body.
A year or so ago I realised I'd completely turned a corner when I brought home some fresh pasta for dinner from the supermarket. I read the ingredients and thought about the eggs and had exactly the same sick feeling eating that pasta as I did when I first started eating "home grown" eggs, because I knew that if they're not labelled free range they're quite likely to come from appalling conditions.
I'm not sure if this makes sense but I think it would be the same feeling eating meat from your own animals to begin with - but you know it's right and you couldn't have done anything better for them or for you, so it won't take long for you to turn that corner (plus Judith has a much more sensible attitude than I do!)
jema Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 28239 Location: escaped from Swindon
Posted: Tue May 24, 05 1:07 pm Post subject:
I am sure you are entirely right. You just have to relearn conditioning.
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
Posted: Tue May 24, 05 1:29 pm Post subject:
I think the sight of the empty pen would bother me too! There must be something very forlorn about it!
I wonder how other people cope. Do you think its harder if they all go together, or if you've got other animals around to distract yu a bit?
Oh dear Bugs - I think becoming a smallholder is going to be a long road for us!
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Tue May 24, 05 1:31 pm Post subject:
It certainly was for me - they were very endearing chaps.
If Farmwoody reads this thread - your boys were much admired up to the last. Even the trading standards woman at the abattoir was rather taken with them!
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Tue May 24, 05 1:34 pm Post subject:
wellington womble wrote:
I think the sight of the empty pen would bother me too! There must be something very forlorn about it!
OH has gone out and taken it down for me. Bless him!
Anyway, enough of this maudlin bit. I am looking forward to getting them back too - we are doing the full sausage / brawn / bacon-making thing over the weekend. My sister wants to make light sabre sausages for her four year-old's birthday party!!!
Judith! Do you know when I first joined the forum i thought it might be you but I was too shy to ask
I'm glad the boys behaved and yes they were handsome werent they? Another 5 of their sisters went from here on Monday, that leaves 3 for bacon. We're going to put them at the bottom of the hill field for the summer, they've got shade from the trees and the stream to wallow in. So were looking forward to great bacon!
The sows are preggers again and due to farrow the last week in June. The new site will be up and we will have webcams watching the birth. The next two litters are pure OSB instead of OSBxTammie. Its NEVER easy taking them on their final journey but at least you are taking responsibility for the meat that you eat. You should be applauded for it.
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Tue May 24, 05 3:13 pm Post subject:
Don't forget to post a notice when they are due to farrow - we can all watch in. Better than anything on telly!
. In one seamless movement!
But it was something I wanted to do and something I knew was right so I simply perservered.
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