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Regarding all animals going to the same slaughter houses (and if you believe videos put out by animal rights organizations, by the way, have I got some lovely ocean-front property in Oklahoma I'd love to sell you - they've been caught doctoring and editing more times than I care to count), I used to buy our grass fed beef from a man who escorted his cattle to the slaughter house that he used, and he called ahead to let them know that he was coming with a load, and the slaughter was humane. For a couple of reasons. One, he cared about it for the animals' sake. Two, he got a premium for his beef in part because of the flavor, and if an animal is frightened at slaughter, it releases adrenaline, which gets into the meat and gives it a somewhat unpleasant flavor. Thus, it's good for the bottom line (more per pound for the meat) if the animal is handled and slaughtered as humanely as possible.
We raise some of our own beef. And when we take an animal to be slaughtered at the local slaughter house for our own use (after its life, from birth to slaughter, has been one of fresh pasture, the company of its herd, back and ear rubs, the occasional beer, etc.), we, too, escort it personally. For much the same reason, except that we're not charging more for the humanely-slaughtered meat, we're eating it and want it to taste good.
As far as chickens, ours are free-range, true free-range - as long as they survive. Predators just LOVE free-range chicken because for them, it's a smorgasboard - and they're a LOT less humane about the way they slaughter their dinner than humans have ever thought of being. Heck, I've seen an entire flock of 9 hens killed and only a couple of bites taken out of one of them - apparently the slaughter was done by a raccoon for the fun of it.
I'm not going to say that the way we kill our meat today is the right way but it's the way , by law, that killing is to be done.
"Sec. 1902. - Humane methods
No method of slaughtering or handling in connection with slaughtering shall be deemed to comply with the public policy of the United States unless it is humane. Either of the following two methods of slaughtering and handling are hereby found to be humane:
(a)
in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or
(b)
by slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith that prescribes a method of slaughter whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument and handling in connection with such slaughtering"
Back when my Dad & his brother used to butcher our own meat it was a matter of honor to make 100% sure that the animal was dead before we started to cut the animal up. They believed a single .45 cal gunshot to the head would ensure a swift death with no pain.
Actually a lot of humanely reared animals end up in far more humane smaller slaughter houses which require certain certificates for standards such as the Soil Association. Many local farmers will choose to use those instead of the typical slaughterhouse. Some farmers even get their own certificate for slaughtering their own animals.
I am also in favour of permanent CCTV cameras being installed in all slaughterhouses as is being discussed in parliament at the moment so standards can be monitored. As someone whose great grand mother was pretty much all self sufficient and raised her own animals I do think free range animals taste far better and I don't know about better for you but I would certainly rather not ingest all kinds of chemicals and hormones I do not need to. Organic to me is certainly not something I am religious about, but if there is a choice then yes the one with the less chemicals and additives is the one I will chose.
Killing an animal is always going to involve some distress , that is unavoidable but this can be minimised as much as is humanly possible. And the conditions can also be greatly improved for animal husbandry and transport of live animals. Meat is always going to involve the death of an animal. We can try and make it better for the creatures involved though. It will cost the consumer more but to me is worth it.
Regarding all animals going to the same slaughter houses (and if you believe videos put out by animal rights organizations, by the way, have I got some lovely ocean-front property in Oklahoma I'd love to sell you - they've been caught doctoring and editing more times than I care to count), I used to buy our grass fed beef from a man who escorted his cattle to the slaughter house that he used, and he called ahead to let them know that he was coming with a load, and the slaughter was humane. For a couple of reasons. One, he cared about it for the animals' sake. Two, he got a premium for his beef in part because of the flavor, and if an animal is frightened at slaughter, it releases adrenaline, which gets into the meat and gives it a somewhat unpleasant flavor. Thus, it's good for the bottom line (more per pound for the meat) if the animal is handled and slaughtered as humanely as possible.
We raise some of our own beef. And when we take an animal to be slaughtered at the local slaughter house for our own use (after its life, from birth to slaughter, has been one of fresh pasture, the company of its herd, back and ear rubs, the occasional beer, etc.), we, too, escort it personally. For much the same reason, except that we're not charging more for the humanely-slaughtered meat, we're eating it and want it to taste good.
As far as chickens, ours are free-range, true free-range - as long as they survive. Predators just LOVE free-range chicken because for them, it's a smorgasboard - and they're a LOT less humane about the way they slaughter their dinner than humans have ever thought of being. Heck, I've seen an entire flock of 9 hens killed and only a couple of bites taken out of one of them - apparently the slaughter was done by a raccoon for the fun of it.
the "farm to fridge" video shows cruel and inhumane factory farming practices that are industry standard and legal in most states, yet unknown to most Americans. if it were doctored at all it could not be shown and would be shut down by the meat & dairy industries through legal means. that is why these same industries are lobbying to have video's in slaughterhouses banned in several states. humane slaughter of a healthy animal is an oxymoron used by the people who make profits off of the suffering of animals to make consumers feel better.
the "farm to fridge" video shows cruel and inhumane factory farming practices that are industry standard and legal in most states, yet unknown to most Americans. if it were doctored at all it could not be shown and would be shut down by the meat & dairy industries through legal means. that is why these same industries are lobbying to have video's in slaughterhouses banned in several states. humane slaughter of a healthy animal is an oxymoron used by the people who make profits off of the suffering of animals to make consumers feel better.
Like I said, I have this absolutely lovely ocean front property in Oklahoma that I'm sure you'd just love to buy.
Various such videos have been shown, in court, to have been doctored, snipped, edited, you name it, to give an impression that something has happened that was, in fact, the exact opposite of what happened. Very recently, in fact. These have been videos used for publicity and lobbying efforts that the organizations flat REFUSED to provide the complete footage for comparison until required to by a court of law.
Any video that is put out by an animal rights organization (some of which, PETA, for example, state up front and in public that the truth is unimportant when compared to shock value) is suspect. Their reputation precedes them.
By the way, the most consistent sentence I've heard, repeated over and over in every conversation I've ever had with an animal rights organization, has been, "And how much do you want to donate?" That, in and of itself, should be a big red flag to someone who objects to people profiting from the suffering of animals. After all, who profits most from animals continuing to suffer? Those who make money off of that suffering and who depend for their very continued existence on that suffering continuing, and that includes said animal rights organizations, who tend to have huge incomes, some of them nonprofit and thus nontaxable (though the IRS is looking into some of those as we type).
the "farm to fridge" video shows cruel and inhumane factory farming practices that are industry standard and legal in most states, yet unknown to most Americans. if it were doctored at all it could not be shown and would be shut down by the meat & dairy industries through legal means. that is why these same industries are lobbying to have video's in slaughterhouses banned in several states. humane slaughter of a healthy animal is an oxymoron used by the people who make profits off of the suffering of animals to make consumers feel better.
I am a so call "factory farmer" and I have never seen crap like that and by no means is it standard.
I am a so call "factory farmer" and I have never seen crap like that and by no means is it standard.
Go to a farm and find out for yourself, Markgil.
I had a co-worker who constantly pontificated about the evil farmers and all that. I asked her if she had ever been on a farm? Of course not. Do you know any farmers? No.
So I set up a farm visit to meet up with my father-in-law who had a herd of sixty Holstein dairy cattle. She agreed to go meet him and watch him milk his herd and do his other work. My FIL really liked to have company while he does his chores.
Needless to say, she was a no-show.
Mistreatment of animals leads to lower profits. Farming is a business where you cannot afford any abuse or neglect. For example, if you don't wash the ***** properly after milking and the cow develops mastaitis in an udder, you lose 25%+ on the milk the cow will produce.
I just wonder where this aggression and cruelty come from? What kind of "people" work there? Are they all mentally sick?? Are they violent criminals? They seems to have so much joy beating, kicking, stabbing, hitting those animals.
I wonder how they behave when they go home to wifes and kids.....
I personally despise the "evangelical vegans" who make these videos and go around trying to convert other people. They're just so holier than thou.
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