[The Irish Shepherd]

Hi,

I have 2 saddleback weaners that I bought in May, in 3 weeks time they will be at the correct age/weight for slaughter, I bought them to fill the freezer but have become so attached to them, I cant face killing them/eating them.

All I want for them is what they have cost me, I paid £80 for the two and they have had £60 of concentrate plus loads and loads of veg. Will accept £120 or may swap for some other stock of same value.

They are not castrated

I am in Norfolk - NR17

[Mammyshaz]

Is there nobody local who could help make the journey bearable for you. Perhaps somebody who can take them for you for some of the end product.
It must be very hard but two uncastrated boars are likely going to be destined for the table no matter who takes them?

Hope a solution  turns up for you 

[The Irish Shepherd]

I dont want to eat them, I can bear them going on a trailer and off somewhere else, just cant bear to have them in my freezer

[devonlad]

wish you were nearer. I so understand where you're coming from. My wife has this thing with the pigs about eye contact. They are so enchanting that she refuses to ever look them in the eye. The only time we have found it hugely difficult was last year when one of our ram lambs was born with contracted tendons and we handled him alot in the early stages until he straightened out. as a result he was far too tame and had his own personality to us- not ideal in freezer fillers. he would always follow us around the field whilst all the others would scatter to the 4 corners.  near then end we asked a local friend to swap him with one of his and despite this chap thinking we were completely ridiculous,  he agreed. we knew of course what the end result would be but we couldn't bear to be directly involved or for there to be any chance that he ended up in our freezer- good luck and sorry can't help cheers 

[shygirl]

we have been in the same situation. i tried desperately to sell ours to avoid killing them but no success.
in the end they went to slaughter and it was months and months before i could even taste it.
just give yourself time, its is difficult. or try swapping the meat once you get it back.
dont beat yourself up, perfectly normal, you do toughen up a little bit over time.

[Daisys Mum]

Sorry but I just don't get it!! You bought these pigs with the intention of eating them, it's not as if someone is going to come along and give them a lovely home, if it was me I would rather take them myself and make sure that the ending was as good as I could make it. Would much rather be sitting down to some lovely home reared pork that I knew had had the best of care and feeding than some nameless piece of meat.
My grandchildren love my pigs, they name them and play with them but can still sit down to a roast pork dinner and ask " who are we eating today Granny"?
It isn't easy,  the first time is definately the worst I cried all the way home from the abattoir but was so proud of myself when the butcher said that they were the best private kill carcasses he had seen.
Now that I have been doing it for a few years I find that I cannot buy a joint of pork or lamb, now I am hoping to be able to keep us in chicken too.
So...come on you CAN do it.

[shygirl]

So...come on you CAN do it.

yes, be brave. im sure your pigs have had a happy life. be proud of them.

[hughesy]

It's odd how people feel about animals and meat. I recently answered an ad about two 6 month old gilts, unregistered so no use for breeding, and when I told the seller I wanted them for meat they wouldn't sell them to me! At the end of the day pigs are made of meat. It's why they are kept. It's a bit of a puzzle why people who don't want to eat them get pigs in the first place. No disrespect intended.

[TheCaptain]

I totally understand where you're coming from and taking them will be the worst thing you've probably ever done - BUT you need to be proud of what you've done with them, and when you get the meat back you will be massively impressed with how they taste. I've got the dreaded feeling about my ram lambs going for the freezer, ever though that is what they're bred for and they are complete characters each and every one but but they have had a fantastic life and I will ensure that every last bit is used - horns, fleece, skins and meat!


Don;t forget, pigs are delicious and they;re even more delicious once you know that you've put all of that love and hard work into raising them.

[Bramblecot]

I totally understand where you're coming from and taking them will be the worst thing you've probably ever done - BUT you need to be proud of what you've done with them, and when you get the meat back you will be massively impressed with how they taste. I've got the dreaded feeling about my ram lambs going for the freezer, ever though that is what they're bred for and they are complete characters each and every one but but they have had a fantastic life and I will ensure that every last bit is used - horns, fleece, skins and meat!


Don;t forget, pigs are delicious and they;re even more delicious once you know that you've put all of that love and hard work into raising them.

I agree - but I still prefer to swap with my neighbour.  OH has no such qualms.

[Bumblebear]

If only they weren't boars.  I'm looking for a meat companion for my gilt before she goes as I've just lost one.