[Backinwellies]

Just back from dropping our first lamb to abattoir ..... will miss him calling me each morning when I go out.

[wellies]

Backinwellies I sob when any of our animals go off to slaughter, it's a sad business but I always feel proud when the meat comes back and I know it will be valued and put to good use. I think the day I don't feel a tinge of sadness should be the day I don't keep them anymore. It's only right you should care 

[SallyintNorth]

I totally agree, wellies.  I mostly don't actually sob, but I have a sadness all day when any of them go off.

[Rosemary]

I don't sob any more, but have done in the past but I dread the day and am always glad when it goes off smoothly with minimal stress for the animals (and us to be fair).

OMG The sun has just come out - full out and blinding - and it's pouring rain 

Sorry, I digress. I agree that if I ever don't care, I'll stop.

[Bionic]

It's a sad day but it has to be done 



How will you feel about eating yours? I am friendlier with mine (probably because I breed them) than I get with the pigs, so wondering how I will be.

[Louise Gaunt]

We live next to a large farm, which sends animals off all the time. The day our pigs went for slaughter, I was chatting to the farmer and he mentioned seeing the trailer going out, looked at my slightly damp eyes and said " it hurts doesn't it? I still worry when we send stock" . No matter how large or small your organisation, the day you stop caring, is the day to stop keeping any stock.

[Bramblecot]

I used to feel awful about taking ours to the abbatoir. 

Now, when I watch them quietly walking into the trailer, I think they have had the best life I can provide, with a short drive and gentle end with their familiar companions.
But I feel sick when I see the huge lorries that have driven hundreds of miles loaded with tiers of sheep, or the lorries bound for the ferry crossings .
So don't feel bad for your boy, he was one of the lucky ones .

[sokel]

I go into automatic pilot when the day comes for anything to go and once they are in the pens I cant look back.
For the rest of the day we don't talk about it !
I don't think I will ever get used to it   

[twizzel]

I also go into automatic pilot. In the week leading up to them going I tend to not be involved with them- they still get checked twice a day but not as much interraction. They get brought in the day before and loaded in the morning all very quickly and matter of fact. I hand them over to the slaughterman at the abbatoir who is very good with them, and walk out and shut the door.
Feel a bit sad... but when the butcher rings me 2 days later and tells me what good lambs they are, the sadness goes and it's replaced with pride And being able to eat lamb, which is so expensive in the butchers also makes it worth it.
I also tell myself they have to go to make room for next year's lambs which makes things easier.