[Mush4brains]

Last May my mixed flock of mules and rare breeds produced 12 lambs.  It was our first lambing season.  Full of good intentions, I booked 9/12 into the local abattoir for a date just before Christmas.  I had nightmares, I felt sick and in the end I cancelled the appointment.  I fully understand that this is an unsustainable state of affairs but it's not getting any easier and frankly I think of little else. Please don't tell me what I already know (ie I'm a fool and doing no one any favours) but any constructive advice would be very welcome.  Thank you.

[dixie]

Hi Mush! sorry do you mean you just couldn't go through with it? I think thats what you mean, and no you're not daft at all, why do you think you couldn't? would it help if someone else took them?

[sonyasmallholder]

i totally understand you. it is very hard first time you have to do this especially if you have a small flock, know each one individually or like me give them names.

I have some Jacob sheep and each one to me is special as we show them,but you cant keep them all.

You can try to sell them privately or at a sheep market. the first time i took 2 rams to the abattoir i loaded them in the trailer and gave them some food this kept them happy ,it wasn't far to travel so i couldn't worry to much. as soon as i got there they both followed the bucket of dinner inside. they closed the door and i went quickly. when you go to pick up the meat it doesn't look like a sheep . you know your sheep have had good feed and care when you had them, try not to
feel bad.
find yourself a small friendly abattoir, talk to them that this is the first time you have done this, im sure they will understand.good luck

[ScotsGirl]

Hi

I took 6 lambs last autumn which were my first lambs.  I did have a sleepless night worrying about it but in the end when I took them I actually didn't get upset.  By the time you sort the paperwork, unload etc it is over and you don't see anything after they go in the pen.

Best to let someone else take them for you and next time (if there is one!) make sure you don't handle them too much, give them names or get attached.  I kept 2 which I liked and had handled and now couldn't kill them.  It is difficult but you can't keep everything you breed so either don't breed or find a solution you can live with.

Best of luck

[doganjo]

I feel exactly the same which is why I won't have anything other than my laying hens and ducks.  I can quite happily eat other people's animals - but not my own.  I think this sound advice - find a friendly neighbour or farmer who will take them to the abattoir for you.

[Canadian Sheepfarmer]

I don't think you a fool Mush! You have compassion, you feel for an innocent living creature, some people are unable to feel for anything but themselves.

It is the worst part of my world too. I love everything to do with farming sheep apart from this.
You could sell your lambs as stores at the end of the summer and make less money but put The Deed on someone else?

The way I have come to look at it is: one bad day. You really work hard to give your sheep the best time possible, so that they end up with just one bad day.
You and I have many bad days and will have more yet, but try to make their lives the best that you can.

[Wizard]

No mush no no no not a fool softhearted maybe but no fool .I agree with the others Sell them at the cattle market get a neighbour to do it if you can.See if I can cheer you up As you will know if you read my posts Godfrey looks after some 12/1500 mixed flock They recently bought 250 Texels and I said How do you know how many there is Goff He said I run them through the race and count the ears and then divide the answer by two.Wot about that one that only has one ear.Oh thats mine it don't get counted 

[Mush4brains]

Thanks very much to all of you.  The local abattoir is only about 7 miles away and I now have an offer of help.  I haven't given names to any of them and haven't handled them any more than I have to.  Unfortunately, 3 of my rare breeds are unbelievably friendly and I spend many summer evenings sat in the paddock with a glass of wine watching the sun go down with one with his head on my lap, another stood next to me so I can rest my head on him and the other hanging around giving me the occasional "kiss".  I know look at all sheep very differently!  If only I'd known this before I put them into lamb.  The lambs have had a very cushy life though and we all have to go sometime.  I have to look at it that way.

Thanks again.

[dixie]

I think we'd all be heartless if we didn't feel sad on 'the day', I've made the trip so many times now and although it does get easier I never look forward to it. all I can say is my animals have a great life, its a life raised by me for a purpose that I can and do see through to the end. sometimes is harder than others, I have 2 more lambs to go soon, the most difficult of last years lambs as 1 was a bottle fed orphan the other rejected by its mum! so they a little more 'special', but I will book them in soon and look forward to this years lambing which starts in April.

[morri2]

Mush - I wholly sympathise.  I have NEVER taken my lambs to an abattoir.  I sell them privately in either the local press or a farming publication.  Usually they go to people who will breed from them.  The rams who are usually the most affectionate (unfortunately) are a bit different - if you hang on 12 months and they turn out to be good looking rams, you can sell them for breeding too.  Rare breeds usually sell well around here.  Otherwise your rams could go for stores (like has already been mentioned). 

[sabrina]

I think that last step is something that we all feel to be hard but I cope with it this way, I know my animals have had the best food and care that I can give them. that last journey they take is with myself and my OH to try and cut out any extra stress, its not easy and I for one do have tears once we leave but thats is what happens when you take on any animal, its hard not to love them so you are not alone. But be assured your own meat is 10 times better than anything you will ever buy.