[novicesmallholder]

Hi all,
 
sad day today, sent our first boys for slaughter  (18 months old - and hand reared one), took us this long to get round to sending them. Plenty tears when they went, but we know they have had a really good life. Are we just daft or is this normal? Understand that if you are breeding sheep this is a inevitable consequence.

[lachlanandmarcus]

It's normal and the day it isnt hard to send them and a solemn occasion is the day to give up the smallholding game, as the care we give our animals from day 1 to the day they go 'up the road' is the thing that makes it different from factory farming IMO.


There might not always be tears but it's never easy, and it shouldn't be,


However when you get the amazing meat back and make use of every scrap, the sorrow does fade into gratitude and appreciation of the animal that provided you with it 

[Hevxxx99]

Well said lachlanandmarcus!

Mine are a year old and due to go any time so I feel your pain novicesmallholder, but knowing your animals have been raised with love and care and not as meat on the hoof is worth all the pain.  The supermarket meat was an animal too once, but almost certainly no one cried about them or thought twice.

We raise, kill, pluck and dress our own turkeys too and every Christmas we swear next year it'll be a nut roast, but it never is...

[Mammyshaz]

  I guess it will never be easy but with the life you have given them be proud behind the tears.

[Pedwardine]

You know I thought it may get a little easier. In our fourth year now and dreading it. They deserve our love and care as much as any animal we take responsibility for. Haven't quite got to the 'feeling proud' bit here. I will never find it a savourable part of keeping sheep but I no longer buy lamb though from either the butcher or the supermarket knowing instead that what I eat, when I can face eating it, has had the best life it could. If I could, however, I would keep them all.....
Never feel shame in the tears, it just means that you cared and that is a very good thing 

[twizzel]

I sent the first of mine off a couple of weeks ago, our 2nd year of doing it but still felt sad that day and didn't really do much for the rest of the day. The few days later when you get the meat back though it will all be worth it    I find the run up to them going the hardest part, try not to fuss with them and leave them to their own devices.

[raygezer]

hi this is my third year really brave about taking mine untill the day arrives then i make sure im the first there.the drive back is horrible bit i know they have had the best short life i can give to them 9 in total .

[lachlanandmarcus]

The other way I look at it, is that them going off makes room for all their offspring and relatives, so they sort of live on in a way.