Other: #79425 Farm animals

It is about treating the animal in a good and respectful way. Knowing that the animal had a happy and comfortable life. And when it is time to harvest it, do it in as quick, painless, and humane way as possible. Then you know there was no suffering.

For chickens, ducks, or turkeys, there is a cone that people get. The bird goes upside down in the cone with the head sticking out a small hole in the bottom. Then the head gets chopped off. There is no way for the bird to shake or move, so you know it will be one quick and clean cut done very soon so there is no time for the bird to feel pain or fear.

For larger animals like sheep or cows, I think the most humane way is one shot in the back of the head. I'm not sure but I think that is a common way to do it, and should be quick and painless.

Give it to a butcher to do it for you? Also, you must do blessings for the farm and the animals.

Ask Satya Operator wrote:View source

Me and my loved one will get a farm to become self-sufficient, or as much as possible and we wanted to also own animals, (we'll treat them humanely and with love as it should be), but how does one overcome fear of humanely killing it for meat?

We want to be able to do it without fear, but I feel we might become monsters in doing so. Please help us understand how to do it a Zevist way.

I do not know how else to ask this question, thank you! We wish to remain anonymous for our safety, but we've been dedicated for many years. Thanks!

"Remember" how it used to be for most of recorded history and beyond. Healthy societies had a normal, respectful and rational way of going about these things. There's really no need to fear anything. Consult your guardians and I'm sure they'll confirm this.

I have chickens bit they're still young and we keep them mostly for the eggs (and company too if we're being honest). I raised them from little chicks and they're practically family. We haven't gotten to that point when we'll think about slaughter and maybe we never will, however if there's a need for this I'm sure that after properly thanking them with a suitable ritual it won't be a problem to go through with it. I've seen it as a child and the good men and women who's task it was to do these things usually pet them and talked to them for a short while saying thank you and good bye then skillfully got the job done.

Ask some old folks that have experience with these matters and they'll teach you.

I source my meat from neighbors that I know are good people, love their animals and treat them as they should be treated. If it's too much to handle then maybe you can just get the milk, eggs, wool, honey or whatever yourselves and have someone else do the rest but I recommend you try and get acquainted with the practices of slaughter because there might not be someone available in the future to help you out with it.

Never fear or feel guilt because you're doing what is natural and good for us.

SWP

Ask Satya Operator wrote:View source

Me and my loved one will get a farm to become self-sufficient, or as much as possible and we wanted to also own animals, (we'll treat them humanely and with love as it should be), but how does one overcome fear of humanely killing it for meat?

We want to be able to do it without fear, but I feel we might become monsters in doing so. Please help us understand how to do it a Zevist way.

I do not know how else to ask this question, thank you! We wish to remain anonymous for our safety, but we've been dedicated for many years. Thanks!

First of all, humane treatment of animals.

Animals should feel love, be healthy and well-fed, as well know that they are being treated well.

When an animal goes to meat, the most important thing is that the animal does not feel fear and pain.

This is a topic that would leave most of us feeling uneasy or distressed because of urban living but if you're in the farm life and there's a chance to be faced with these decisions then in addition to the traditional methods, some of which require skill and practice, there are technological solutions that can be an alternative if you can afford them.

I've heard of the pros and cons of gassing and don't like that but there's also this:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22029423-500-drop-air-pressure-to-give-chickens-a-stress-free-death/External ↗

Took me a while to find it. They say this method is promising in terms of safety and humanness.

The way I was told, it is crucial to remain calm yourself because the animals can feel it if you aren't and be precise and decisive when delivering the stunning blow. Also have their eyes covered. This of course is valid for the old ways. It's usually an axe that's used (at least around where I'm at) or there are specialized tools for each type of animal.

Again, good luck with your future farm. It's a lot of work but totally worth it.

SWP

Ask Satya Operator wrote:

What about stabbing them in the heart

You physically cannot stab a cow in the heart. Even a pig, you would cause it a slow, messy, and painful death.

Look these questions up in your local government. All of this is taught. Contact other farmers in your area.

Ask Satya Operator wrote:

What about stabbing them in the heart, is it horrible/bad?

Isn't what you 'believe' of little relevance? It is.

Leave the necessary work to butchers then - it is literally their job to prepare meat for processing so that other don't have to have those 'moral' concerns.

It is common in America to use a bolt gun for cows. There is no projectile. There is an air compressor connected to this bolt gun tool which is an air piston that shoots out extremely fast, but it stays attached to the tool and does not fly away. It is put against the back of the animal's head then activated. So it has the effect like a bullet but it is not actually a gun.

Ol argedco luciftias wrote:View source

It is common in America to use a bolt gun for cows. There is no projectile. There is an air compressor connected to this bolt gun tool which is an air piston that shoots out extremely fast, but it stays attached to the tool and does not fly away. It is put against the back of the animal's head then activated. So it has the effect like a bullet but it is not actually a gun.

If one is very desperate, a powerful crossbow should suffice. Gruesome, I know, but it has the same effect, instant.

I think homesteading is really noble if you're able to do it, raising meat animals in healthy and happy environments with plenty of care and resources that they need to be comfortable until their time comes.

Regarding the Zevist perspective, I can't say for absolute certain but I think this may apply ethics-wise to your specific situation:

I heard a homesteader once say (to other people interested in becoming homesteaders) that it's more selfish to prioritise your own comfort of not 'processing' the animals yourself in ethical ways, versus 'looking away' and allowing the overall brutality of factory farming to take over an animal's entire existence (complete torture until a brutal death, basically) by opting to fund their horrifically cruel industry.

Astrid wrote:View source

I think homesteading is really noble if you're able to do it, raising meat animals in healthy and happy environments with plenty of care and resources that they need to be comfortable until their time comes.

Regarding the Zevist perspective, I can't say for absolute certain but I think this may apply ethics-wise to your specific situation:

I heard a homesteader once say (to other people interested in becoming homesteaders) that it's more selfish to prioritise your own comfort of not 'processing' the animals yourself in ethical ways, versus 'looking away' and allowing the overall brutality of factory farming to take over an animal's entire existence (complete torture until a brutal death, basically) by opting to fund their horrifically cruel industry.

Oh yeah, now I do not feel so bad about ending a life anymore. Thanks for reminding me of the insidiousness of the food industry.

Henu the Great wrote:View source

Oh yeah, now I do not feel so bad about ending a life anymore. Thanks for reminding me of the insidiousness of the food industry.

The Gods gave us the gift of stewardship over the domesticated animals so that we take care of them and they can take care of us, in the cycle of life. We should learn the importance of doing this very complex task in the most ethical and informed ways, as our High Priestess has urged.

I think the modern world has detached us from these realities, which has its pros and cons. I've also witnessed farm life at a young age and haven't become a "monster" for it, I still love all kinds of animals and even wrongfully became vegan for a time since learning about the brutality of factory farming compared to ethical farming.

I can't wait to see the day the cruelty towards meat animals ends in the factory farming industry, but the logistics of this are rather involved considering our large population needs food and meat is critical to a balanced diet. Do what you can, where you can. This is why I admire whoever is able to sustain a homestead or free-range farm techniques.

I also think there has been artificial manipulation of the markets to make ethical rearing of meat animals less accessible for most people and farmers, which is a different conversation.