Well, you know he would be a pet. But he would not stay a pet. He would become food for my family.
Should I? Rusty thinks I am too mushy. I think I can do it. All I have to do is trade him for a goat. That's it. I eat beef. So, how would this be any different than buying a burger or going out for a steak dinner?
Do you all think I can do it?
He is cute.
OMG. Not if you keep looking into those eyes. LOL I raise animals for food too. While I love the fact that I grow and raise my own food, it's hard sometimes. But I take solace in the fact that i am raising good, chemical and hormone free food for my family's table. And while those animals are here they are raised with love and care. Not in small pens, suffering.
ReplyDeleteGood for you (and your family) Candace. It is not easy, but that is the point really isn't it? As a society, we are so out of touch with our food sources. If everybody had to look in the eye of the animal, instead of the neat and tidy package of meat they pick up at the grocery store, most people would at the very least take pause. People are so out of touch with the source. They source of everything. I am not judging, but I am responsible for my own choices. When I was born to this sort of awakening, I can't really go back. Do I want to support the Food Industrialism that is killing our earth? No. I don't think I can do that. So now, either I become a vegetarian (plant killer) or I go back to the way farming works and puts less of an impact on our earth.
DeleteI am sure you have struggled with this. Thanks for your comment. :-)
hmmmm, hes pretty cute--and your only having one will make it harder--my farmers where I work tell me cows are stupid ?? But you were able to do it with your pigs ? right? I think You can do it !! and If you can do it.. a Cow for a goat is a very GOOD trade !! guess theres only one way to find out !! :) :)
ReplyDeleteKris
Yes, I can do it with my pigs. This would be a bit bigger of a pig. :-)I would have to keep him until Fall 2012.
DeleteI have a feeling those farmers might say cows are stupid, so they don't have to look into those eyes and remember it is a precious life.
It sounds like a fair trade.
xxoo thanks girly.
I know I wouldn't be able to do it until he stopped being cute. I know it's weird. It's the same animal, just older. But I don't like eating cute!
ReplyDeleteTayet, I agree. There is something so precious and fragile about a baby anything! I can't eat cute either. eek! But come time for him to go to the forever farm, he would not be so adorable. But would be loved. Very loved. Thanks for your comment. :-)
DeleteNo! He's too cute! When I was a kid my parents bought a cow that had a baby and we ate one of them. Mom wasn't able to eat it because she was the one that took care of it. I was too young to realize it. They NEVER did that again! I couldn't do it. That's why I have 66 acres with wild critters roaming free on it and no animals. If you had a big herd of cattle and didn't know them personally then that would be easier. Hey, you asked! lol
ReplyDeleteAngela. Yes I asked, and I am so glad you gave me your thoughts. I need the input for sure. It would be much easier to have a herd. That is for sure. I don't have that option, so I am here looking at pictures of that cute little baby. It is hard to think steak and brown eyed baby at the same time! I am trying to be a realist though. If I eat burger from the grocery store, why wouldn't I eat my own cow? But, when it is all said in done... Could I eat him? Food for thought... literally.
DeleteI appreciate you sharing your experience in this.
ah... what to do?
Terry and I invested in cattle last year. The return is good and the animals are treated well. It's a small buiness in a financially-struggling area and it has provided much needed jobs. Now they are growing alfafa to provide feed and have expanded that business and sell high-qulaity alfafa to the Tuscon area. More jobs.
ReplyDeleteWe toured the ranch last spring. A whole bunch of big brown eyes watched us walk around that ranch and I could feel them watching me.
I don't eat much meat these days. I always feel a bit guilty when we do grill steak so I just don't suggest it anymore. I still eat chicken but after seeing the pics of your cute cute CUTE chicks . . I don't know. [Tell Jensen that I've never eaten duck and that I never will LOL]
You've got the best heart of anyone I know. I know that your animals are raised with love and care and there is certainly nothing wrong with raising them for food. I think Rusty is probably right though - I think this might break your heart. Sometimes it's ok to not have to be so involved in the process. Trade them your fabulous goat cheese or eggs for a few steaks?
xox Linda
If we had the land, we would do the very same thing you are doing. Local hay, local beef, local jobs, local food. I would try to do what the farmer did on the documentary FRESH - http://www.freshthemovie.com/
DeleteFunny, when we were picking up Lady Gaga and Alejandro from the meat processor. I saw a herd of older calves. I went to the fence to see them and try to take some pictures, and they ran away! lol
I don't eat a whole bunch of meat either. Never have. But my family does. This choice is for them as well. I want them to be in touch with their food source. The Source. It is all the same.
If I knew a local Farmer who would raise my cow without growth hormone, or antibiotics in the food. I would. But I can't seem to fins anybody. There is a lady up a couple hours from here, but she supplies restaurants, and her beef is super expensive. All organic. Grass fed. I wish she would trade, but I think she is too big. There is not much land to raise a bunch of cattle here in the mountains. Too wooded and too steep.
I think I might go down in the valley and talk to my neighbor who raises cattle down there, and see what he feeds them. I worry about the feed.
I am sorry I have wrecked your taste buds for a nice steak! For me, I would rather have beef that chicken! I guess we are having reverse aversions.
Rusty does know I am a sucker for all animals. I am sure he worries for me. But I would definitely have to break out the big girl panties for this one. EXTRA LARGE! ;-)
XXXX
In the first picture, I thought it was a donkey. Surely, a steak is a steak regardless of whether it's from one of YOUR cows, or someone else's. However, personally I'd rather it came from someone else!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I want to eat a steak from a cow who is stuffed in a pen, forced fed antibiotics and growth hormone and is sad, diseased and is susceptible to so many things wrong... including mad cow disease. I either have to find an local farm who's cows are happily grazing and treated well, or grow my own. Or become a vegetarian. This might be the journey to that. ;-)
DeleteThanks for your comment Cro.
Well you're looking at a calf right now so no, I wouldn't be able to do it looking at that photo.
ReplyDeleteWhen he's bigger though, when he looks mature and strong, when you KNOW he's had a fantastic life and been spoilt rotten, cared for , given the best you could offer, then maybe yes.
When you look at John's pigs as piglets, you think ahhhh, how could you even think of eating such a cutie. When it's bigger and eaten half of your chicken population (and would entertain the thought of eating you too given half a chance) then it might be a bit different.
The beef eaten at countless McDonald's - well what kind of life have they had?
You would be brilliant at this!x
The beef eaten at McD's is sometimes the "meat" that one wouldn't even consider eating. The processing alone is disgusting. The beef is mass produced, which means over crowding and antibiotics and growth hormone, which can include eating cow parts. Imagine if we fed our children human parts to make them grow. ewe. The thought of it all makes me want to hand my head over a bucket.
DeleteYou are right, John's piggies were so darn cyte when he got them, but they are not cute later. They can be a pain in the fanny after awhile. I know with my pigs, when they grew, I grew (closer to letting them go!)They can be a pain. Busting fences and getting big and strong. Hard to handle.
Sort of like teenagers. ;-)
I would be brilliant at this. Yes. I would. Thanks Chris. You would have to remind me of this brilliance close to a thousand times, if I do this.
:-)
must proof read, must porof reda.
Deletecorw~
You are brilliant! 908 to go.
DeleteDuny wry aboor proodredding tio mch.x
Marys hubby raised a few calfs the other year and I will tell you 1 thing. At 4 days old that thing will drag you down and run over the top of you...cuteness an all.
ReplyDeleteNicky xx
So, that will make it easier to eat? Darn thing ran me over. To the butcher!
DeleteYour the best Nicky. xx
Oh, crap, Crow...I hated it when I was growing up & one of our Angus was on table! Good luck to you...:)JP
ReplyDeleteOh gosh... So far the kids are ok with our piggies on the table. I wonder if the brown eyes facot in on this. eesh.
DeleteThanks for the heads up JP :-) Hugs~
OOOH!!! Dont think your few strands of zap wire will keep it in, it will go thru it and take the whole lot down for you. PLUS your gonna have to feed that sucker a fortune a week.
ReplyDeleteYou are making me think. Darn you WOMAN!
DeleteOK. I've had smarter moments. I sent a package to you 2 days ago and realized this morning when I put my lab jacket on that I forgot to put the purchased postage stamp on the package :::hitting forehead::: No problem - I got your local postal office number to call today and . . . put said stamp on the countertop at home [I am at work]:::hitting head again::: I was trying to be sneaky and didn't put my return address on the package. LOL Oh well. Still hoping that Terry gets off work in time to bring me the stamp so that I may settle with the post office
ReplyDeleteSO FUNNY! No problem. My PO called me and I am going to pick it up. They normally send packages back over a certain weight, and it was... but they couldn't because you only put the name of my duck on the return addy. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
ReplyDeleteNo worries. I am picking it up tomorrow. I assured him it was a safe package and that you were a very nice lady. I will take care of the postage. You are SILLY.
:-) Doctor supplies? I am excited to see.
Jensen also means 'not a brainiac'. So sorry! Hope you enjoy!!!
ReplyDelete