WELL 10:00 CAME AND I ASKED MY HUSBAND TO PLEASE GO GET HER... WELL HE THOUGHT I WAS OUT OF MY MIND.. I SAID I COULDN'T SLEEP AT ALL KNOWING SHE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MORNING TO BE BUTCHERED.. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE'S GONE NOW AND I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN... THANKS FOR TRYING TO HELP MAUREEN

-- maureen (onemaur@yahoo.com), September 12, 2001

Answers

Maureen: listen to your heart. Vegetarianism is SO much easier on the ol' conscience. I'll gladly send you veggie books and info if you'd like.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), September 12, 2001.

Maureen, I understand how you feel. I am the soft one in the family, and have always had a hard time butchering our animals. Still, we raise our own meat, and I am not a vegetarian. In the previous thread, many mentioned the quality of life home raised animals provide, as well as the quality of the meat itself. These are all very valid points, and reinforce my own efforts when the time comes.

It is important, however, that you don't act in a reactionary way,and determine that all meat eating is evil. As an Historian/Anthropologist (and former Paramedic), I can tell you that the human body is designed to function best on a varied diet which includes meat. We are omnivores--not herbivores. I defy any vegetarians out there to cite even a single example of a society down through history whose diet consisted solely of plant materials. Protein, in the form of the flesh of animals and fish, has always been utilized to one degree or another (depending on its availability). Our history and biology dictate that we consume meats. Some here may tell you (as they have told me) we have "evolved" beyond the need to eat meat, and that is morally and ethically wrong to do so. I don't have the inclination right now to debate the issue. Suffice it to say that thousands of generations of humans can't be wrong.

You've got to follow your heart, but please don't be swayed by emotional pleas to "save the animals". That is not what God intended when he placed them here. The greatest way to respect and honor your pig is to consume him as he was intended to be. The real tradgedy would be in wasting him.

-- Charlie P. (webducks@uswest.net), September 12, 2001.

Here, Here Charlie P.

-- Dean (dsklaus@accessus.net), September 12, 2001.

Maureen, & all I belive that every one of us is on their own path and that path IS THE RIGHT ONE. not a lot of conversion doctine in buddism :], but there is a respect for all life,sentient or not. I am imperfect in my emotional attachments, i respect the person who raises/kills/prepares their own food more than the one who does not know strawberries are not a year round crop or that they are eating the skin,muscle,organs of an animal. Your choices are yours alone to live with. not saying that you don't affect other people or anything. Go read from a variety of opinions/doctrines make a stand but be ready to discuss your decision AND listen to others so you may continue to learn. Because humans have been wrong for thousands of years before, & will be again.[ for example: religion is worth murdering strangers, women should not own property/show their face, the earth is flat...we are often really dumb ,'group mind' monkeys at times:{] hmm, i agree we are made for a varied diet, but what's the evidence that those of us not on a feast/famine or subsistenance diet need meat?

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), September 12, 2001.

Maureen, it's too bad you feel so rotten over this. I think it's hard if you aren't reared as a kid with animals walking around with you that will be food, or don't have a father that hunted. Just don't anthropomorphize (I think that's the spelling) and it gets better.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), September 12, 2001.

Vegetarianism is not for everyone. We each need to make that decision based on what our heart tells us. My personal belief is that God speaks to us in ways that we don't always recognize as being Him...we refer to it as our intuition, or gut-feeling, or whatever. His is the voice that makes us feel unsettled when we are faced with a decision or action that we just can't quite get comfortable with. For people who feel 100% okay about killing animals for food, I would honestly say that God has given you that peace of mind, and for you, animal consumption is acceptable. But for those of us who hate the whole grisly notion of it, I believe God put those feelings in our hearts, as well. God has different expectations for each of us, and holds us accountable for what He has put on our personal agenda. If God has created in your heart an aversion to killing and eating animals, then you should honor that, not try to "get over it" by continuing the practice in hopes that your feelings will change. (Ken, I'm not getting religious here; you know me better than that. Hope this post won't be deleted because of potential controversy...)

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), September 12, 2001.

I refuse to eat my friends, all the animals here on our farm, are my friends, the deer and squirrel in the woods are my friends too. There are some that can butcher and hunt, I am not one of them, but I do not wish everyone to things my way, but every one must decide what their conscience can bear.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 12, 2001.

Annie Miller, I am curious if you are a vegetarian, or let someone else do the "dirty work" for you. I can respect, though not agree with, vegetarianism. I would however, be quite disappointed if you still eat meat, given your ethos on killing animals. I too love animals, but I understand their role on this earth (it's not just keeping my pastures eaten down either), and prefer to be a conscientious carnivore, when compared to a consumer of feedlot produced (and yes, ABUSED) meat. My animals seem to be very content, right up until their deaths. one other word of advise from my G'ma--"don't pet the ones your gonna eat, it will give you a stomach ache."

-- Charlie P. (webducks@uswest.net), September 12, 2001.

Charlie , smart Grandma ! We still pet the ones we are going to eat .The get the best care we can give along with some love .My feeling is there is a reason we are on top of the food chain .When the time comes they are killed as fast and painless as possible .Most are shot here on the farm then transported to be butchered.Its less trama for them that way.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), September 13, 2001.

Maureen, butchering can be tough, especially since pigs are so personable. Don't make a decision right now as to what you will do in the future. Give yourself some time and then decide. You have several options.

First you have to realize that when you raise your own animals, you are giving them the best life they could lead. A feedlot pig will probably never see the sun. It will probably never see the earth. It will never get a chance to eat anything except pelleted food. To enter the barns the pigs are housed in, workers must wear masks in the morning before cleaning since the ammonia levels are so high. Those pigs will live no longer than yours, but would be MUCH less happy. With nothing to distract them, there is a lot more fighting amongst the pigs.

When a pig is raised in a feedlot, it will probably be receiving medicated feed, at least when young. It will not receive vitamin D from the sun and many other nutrients will be man-made rather than the natural ones found outside. This will reduce the quality of the meat that the pig produces. Your pig was happier and it will nourish your family much better.

However, even if you can physically prepare yourself to butcher, we all have to acknowledge that it is more difficult for some people to emotionally prepare for such a thing. You do have other options. Are there part-time farmers in your area who raise a few pigs in a humane way who you could buy a pig from at butchering time? What about 4H auctions at the local county fair? You may even be able to barter with someone else for something you can raise on your homestead (eggs or honey or milk supplied for the year?).

Every pig (or other livestock) that is raised humanely by you or someone you know and trust is one less that is raised in a feedlot.

Of course, your other alternative is to go vegetarian. I would reserve this decision for last, simply because it is a difficult one to do since it requires a full lifestyle change (I'm not saying that it is hard to be a vegetarian, just that it's hard to change your lifestyle). It can be difficult in some areas to formulate a fully balanced vegetarian diet, especially for small children. (I am not saying it will be so in your area, or that it is like that everywhere, just that you should research availability of a variety of appropriate proteins before you sell the contents of your freezer!)

Good luck with whatever you decide.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), September 13, 2001.

Charlie, I must admit that I am only 95% vegetarian, and I fully realize that that 5% I do eat most likely suffered a horrible agonizing death, and I eat less and less meat as time goes on.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 13, 2001.

Greetings Maureen and others,

About 8 years ago, we began homesteading and prior to that I had NO contact with any livestock, but always told my dad that I would marry a farmer or never marry at all. I got my wish. My husband had always raised chickens & ducks and knew at an early age what they were here for. Being polish, he had several "aunties" only too happy to show him the proper way to butcher and save the duck blood for soup. Our lifestyle has greatly impressed his family. However,we are not very well respected amongst others, but this has not hindered us in our dedication to the earth. Some people just can't understand how, where & why. No matter how much explaining there is.

The first time my husband butchered chickens, all I could do was hold the twist tie for the freezer bag. Now, 8 years later, I fully participate without any qualms. Our diet has changed. Yes, we do eat meats, but our selections have changed. I am much more informed as to the conditions of animals that wind up in our supermarkets. Who knows what's sprayed on our produce, too. Each person must decide for themselves what to do, and you also have the right to change your mind.

Please don't be too harsh on yourself Maureen.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), September 13, 2001.

Another word for vegetarian in se,ks. is poor hunter. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), September 13, 2001.

I'm vegetarian, healthy and sleep with a clear concience. The toughest part of being a vegetarian in getting grief all the time from your meat-eating partner and other folks not willing to accept your choice. My boyfriend can eat meat when we eat out, and as for the rest, to heck with 'em

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), September 14, 2001.

Maureen, I plan to e-mail you privately but wanted you to know I know EXACTLY how you feel! Once I started really raising a lot of animals and saw all their little individual personalities I quit eating meat entirely! My rabbits are sheared for their fur but they will live until they die of old age! I enjoy COUNTRYSIDE both print and the forum and I think there is room for all of us here....I realize it's COuNTRYSIDE and SMALL STOCK JOURNAL but those of us who don't eat meat should also be welcome here too. I don't judge others on here and they shouldn't judge me. suzy

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), September 14, 2001.