[Mammyshaz]

   what a lovely piccie. That's what I would love my boys to go through  the three of them look soooo content, your daughter is a natural with them 

[Bumblebear]

I'm dreading Monday when mine go but like you have all said they have had a great life, will hopefully have a good death and I won't be supporting the suffering of some of the commerically produced stuff.  It's gonna be hard though.

[Mammyshaz]

Try to be brave. You are the reason they have lived in the first place. They have had the best life ever! And now they go where they are intended. 
  hope it all goes smoothly for you. Let us know. 

[ppd]

Bumblebear
Good luck and it won't be as bad as you think.
Just keep one thing in your mind, and that is, if you eat meat then you know how it was produced and cared for and we are sad and upset because we cared and nurtured these animals and they had a GREAT life with us
and have a good cry if you need to on the way home  (OH and I stopped for takeaway coffe as I had the driest mouth ever )
And be proud

[HappyHippy]

Excellent photo Pauline 

That's what it's all about 

I too, had folk (especially my folks, who talked me out of becoming a vet for fear that I'd end up overrun with waifs and strays) saying I'd never be able to go through with it when we kept our first two weaners - but I did  It's not nice, but it's part and parcel with keeping pigs (you just can't keep them all !) and for us, it's important to see them right to the 'end' to make sure the death they have is as good as it can be.
Karen 

[Sylvia]

It really doesn't matter to a pig when  it dies, it's the life it's had, albeit short, that matters and a well loved pig goes more happily to slaughter, without fear or hesitation, than one who hasn't had human contact and belly rubs etc. and that is so important to me.
I have a sleepness night and can't manage as much as a glass of water when the day comes but feel a great wave of relief when I know they've been done. AND every time I take animals to slaughter I swear I'll become a vegan . I always aim to get my animals to the abattoir really early, usually before they open so that they will be the first ones through.

[ScotsGirl]

We took our 3 boys off last Monday and have just enjoyed a joint tonight.  I feel quite sad not having any piggies now but not sure I have enough ground to do this regularly.  What do most people here have set aside for pigs?  Unfortunately I will not have the field we used this time and only have 2 acres of my own which I use for the goats and ponies.

Is it possible to do them without being in a constant quagmire?  I would love to have a sow eventually so I can fuss it without knowing I have to kill it.

[Mrs Snoodles]

Lovely picture .