buying meat from local farmers to avoid animal cruelty? opinions??

First off, hi, I'm new. 

 I'm not overweight, but was recently shown the video 'meet your meat' by a friend, and was horrified (what decent human being wouldn't be?)... anyway, I'm debating about giving up meat, possibly also milk and eggs...

 My question for you guys is this : what do you think about buying meat from local farmers, where you can see, and judge the slaughter methods, therefore know if the animals are slaughtered humanely?  Does anyone here do this, or know about it?  

 I do plan to cut back on my meat consumption considerably, but I'm not sure if I would be able to cut it out all together... this seems like a reasonable way to still eat some meat feeling so guilty.

 Thoughts?

Most farmers do not kill their own animals.  When I lived on the farm the butcher would bring his truck, do what he had to, and bring back packages of meat for us and sell what we would not use.
Maybe it is different with small animals.  Chickens and rabbits and such.  We never sold them to the public.  They were for personal use.
Around here, even if a farmer sell eggs, the hens have to be looked at by a vet and vaccinated.

Original Post by cassy101:

First off, hi, I'm new. 

 I'm not overweight, but was recently shown the video 'meet your meat' by a friend, and was horrified (what decent human being wouldn't be?)... anyway, I'm debating about giving up meat, possibly also milk and eggs...

 My question for you guys is this : what do you think about buying meat from local farmers, where you can see, and judge the slaughter methods, therefore know if the animals are slaughtered humanely?  Does anyone here do this, or know about it?  

 I do plan to cut back on my meat consumption considerably, but I'm not sure if I would be able to cut it out all together... this seems like a reasonable way to still eat some meat feeling so guilty.

 Thoughts?

 

Hello Cassy. 

This is the Vegetarian forum, and many of the people who post here are either vegetarians or vegans (with a few pescatarians thrown in) -- and probably aren't purchasing meat from ANY source.... so this may limit the responses that you receive.

I am an omnivore, and when I do purchase meat, I usually purchase organic, free-range meat from Whole Foods. Stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, health food stores and natural ranch markets usually are your best source for organic, free-range options -- as well as a nice selection of vegetarian options.

I do think that it is commendable that you want to make informed decisions about your food choices, and that you want to do your research with local meat producers.

=^..^= MOLLY

 

The problem with stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes is while it is free range, that doesn't automatically mean that it came from a humane source.  Also "Free Range" labeling has come under fire because of the very loose standards of what can be judged free range and sadly there are no laws to protect it.

I was a vegetarian for about half of my life before going vegan two years ago, I have done a lot of research on the topic (you'll find that if you do go vegan and it is brought up in conversation you're going to have to defend yourself quite a bit). I recommend starting to do some research with a more reputable source. Meet Your Meat is a PETA video and they aren't exactly known for being factual.

In Defense of Animals is a great group with a very informative website. Here's a link to their "Why go Vegan?" page... they even offer a "vegan starter kit" for free that you can sign up for. http://www.idausa.org/veganism_campaign.html

Why was this moved to the Lounge? I think it would've been ok in the Vegetarian forum.

 

My father in law raises cattle. Some he kept  some closer to the house. We always got a cow every 2 yrs or so. So one time we are there and he say - that's your cow, Oh my God the cow was bauling (sp? crying) they had just haul the baby off that week (sold it) . It was acouple months later we get the beef. ( it was the worst tasting  beef I ever had) I know it was because we had a new butcher but I still could forget her cry for the calf. we gave away most of it.  Same thing happen with chickens when I went to their house, they were killing them when we pulled in, I pulled right out of the drive and came back hours later. Didn't think any more about it until the next day eating dinner my mom in law says the chickens turned out really good. I put it down and didn't eat chicken for 3 yrs.  I wonder if I could just give up meat all together. Might give it a try.  I never cared for it to begin with and some of the things I've heard about the chickens and infections. Going veg seems confusing but I haven't really reseached it too much. I'll have to check out the veg site didn't know we had on cc. 

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Original Post by gypsierose:

My father in law raises cattle. Some he kept  some closer to the house. We always got a cow every 2 yrs or so. So one time we are there and he say - that's your cow, Oh my God the cow was bauling (sp? crying) they had just haul the baby off that week (sold it) . It was so acouple months later we get the beef. ( it was the worst taste beef I ever had) I know it was because we had a new butcher but I still could forget her cry for the calf. we gave away more of it.  Same thing happen with chickens when I went to their house, they were killing them when we pulled in, I pulled right out of the drive and came back hours later. Didn't think any more about it until the next day eating dinner my mom in law says the chickens turned out really good. I put it down and didn't eat chicken for 3 yrs.  I wonder if I could just give up meat all together. Might give it a try.

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A lot of people don't make the connection between living breathing animal with what's now on their plate! People can walk into the rocery store and buy packaged meat and not even have to think about it. When I first went vegetarian I was 11... my uncle had given me a baby pig (we didn't live on a farm but my parents were sorta hippy), I named her Petunia and every single day I scratched her back with a plastic rake. She'd close her eyes and stick her head up and make the cutest pig grunts, I thought she was so awesome.  Even as she grew to be enormous she was still gentle and friendly. I came home on the school bus one day to her pen empty.  My mom had to sit me down and explain to me that Petunia had been brought to a butcher and we'd have her meat in a few days.  I FLIPPED OUT, because that was the first time I had made the connection of animal to plate.

Your cow story is so sad, I just recently read a study that showed that mother cows raise their babies in a matriarchal society that includes "Aunts" and "Grandmothers"... they love their young very much.

Before someone jumps on me... no, I don't anthropomorphize cows and think that they are capable of our definition of love,  but they do have emotions, and they do have their own form of love.

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!    I am so so so so sorry that, that happened to you're 'Petunia'!!!  That made me sooo sad when I read it.... even teary eyed  :(

hugs for you {{kindoflikesarah}}

Animals intended for use as meat should never be presented to kids as a pet. When I was growing up my parents decided they would have pigs they got 2 of them amos  and andy they named them........I got so attached to them they were like my big buddies. Pigs are so smart and such nice friendly animals its hard not to get attached to them when you feed them everyday and have much contact with them. when it came time for the butchering i was ill over it and really none of us ate any of the meat my dad basically gave it all away to family. So needless to say we never bread pigs for eating again.

I like pork I just dont want to get to know the animals im going to eat.......Im sure that doesnt make sense to any of the vegatarians..............but it does to me..................

There isn't really a "humane" way to kill anything for consumption. At least not that I've seen.

I always find this an interesting topic. We find people who see the face of an animal and can recognize it's condition and end up empathizing animal. I just think it's odd that folks don't make the next logical step:

Killing anything hurts it in a way we either are or are not capable of seeing.  Just because you can't hear it scream, doesn't mean a carrot doesn't feel some form of pain as it dies when you eat it.

Have you every seen how they kill the corn before you eat it?

I'm not unfeeling and have pets, but I don't have a problem eating meat.  I was not raised on a farm, but most of my extended family did, so I understand where my meat comes from.

 I did toy with the idea of giving up meat because of the disgusting farming (and slaughtering) practices of corporate farms, but then I found out more about local organic farms.  I'm in the Midwest, so I'm guessing they're a little easier to find than in some places, but what is awesome about it is that most of them are open to the public.  I went to visit one to see their farming practices and now I feel fine about eating meat produced and slaughtered there.

 If you want to eat meat and have a local farm available to visit, I would highly recommend it!

Oh, yeah!

 Reducing your meat intake is a great adventure in eating!  I've totally enjoyed exploring new foods/proteins such as legumes and tofu.  My diet has really diversified in the last few years.  If I have meat, it's more of an accessory to the meal rather than the starring role.  Also, less meat is easier on the wallet!

My family keeps kosher and I've seen a lot of video of the slaughter procedure on various animals. It seems pretty swift, but at the same time does it really matter? No matter how you look at it, we're killing an animal. 

I think what's more important is the conditions the animals live in while they're alive.

I've milked a cow and sheared sheep. I don't feel a shred of guilt when I eat meat.

Angie, Petunia was never supposed to be a pet, I was 11... of course I treated any animal like a pet. 

There is humane slaughter ignayshus, it's just not practiced a lot.  In general it's electrocution or a blow to the head and the butchering begins while the animal is still alive and feeling pain.

I wish more people were upset over factory farming, you know if the things done to cows and pigs and chickens were done to say puppies and kittens people would be freaking out over it.

I feel sick now. I'm very happy with my veganism, that's all I can say really.

...kosher slaughter is extremely inhumane.

i think in general, people don't make the connection of 'animal to plate' because of all the propaganda around it. as early as they can possibly get to kids, the USDA shows us cute little pictures of meat in a big ol' pyramid, and we're bred to believe that hamburgers grow in hamburger patches.  now of course we don't believe this as we grow up, but we're also not given much oppurtunity to wonder about it.  the conditioning continues 'till the day we die.  and most of us just don't make that connection.  that's how powerful the industry is.  to have us believe that slaughtering a puppy is horrible, but that slaughtering a calf is of no concern... really, that's a neat trick.

if you want to go as humanely as possible without becomming veg, then definately find out about local farmers... any  farmers' markets in your area?

i've really lost my way :(

Original Post by dagicat:

...kosher slaughter is extremely inhumane.

i think in general, people don't make the connection of 'animal to plate' because of all the propaganda around it. as early as they can possibly get to kids, the USDA shows us cute little pictures of meat in a big ol' pyramid, and we're bred to believe that hamburgers grow in hamburger patches.  now of course we don't believe this as we grow up, but we're also not given much oppurtunity to wonder about it.  the conditioning continues 'till the day we die.  and most of us just don't make that connection.  that's how powerful the industry is.  to have us believe that slaughtering a puppy is horrible, but that slaughtering a calf is of no concern... really, that's a neat trick.

if you want to go as humanely as possible without becomming veg, then definately find out about local farmers... any  farmers' markets in your area?

i've really lost my way :(

 Kosher slaughter isn't any more inhumane than a bullet or nail to the brain.

There's no humane way to kill something. 

So promote technology. If one can make kidneys for transplant, than one can make steak. there will really be meat factories then.  Only sad thing about it is that animals, wildlife will get further displaced. Thats very sad. Buchering animals makes one aware of "humanity" - Is it as evil to kill humans because they have different beliefs as it is evil to kill animals for their meat?  At least in killing animals, one uses them, killed humans at best is carrion for carrion eaters. (some religions may differ- Muslims thing they will gain the highest pleasures of heaven if they kill unbelievers in the name of their religion, other like some Hindus think any kind of deliberate unintentional killing is evil)  If going by some exterme Hindu beliefs,can a cell be awarded the status of life?

oh, come on.

do you really think a bullet is just as traumatic as hanging up side down as someone slits yer throat and lets you bleed to death?

the humanity is in the extent of the suffering, not the suffering itself... grasshopper.

Original Post by dagicat:

oh, come on.

do you really think a bullet is just as traumatic as hanging up side down as someone slits yer throat and lets you bleed to death?

the humanity is in the extent of the suffering, not the suffering itself... grasshopper.

Actually studies have been performed that show if done properly, kosher and halal slaughter is virtually immediate

(http://www.grandin.com/ritual/kosher.slaugh.h tml)

what are the chances it's done properly more than once in a while?  you know, the hustle and bustle of today's factory farms doesn't usually promote doing things properly.

Original Post by dagicat:

what are the chances it's done properly more than once in a while?  you know, the hustle and bustle of today's factory farms doesn't usually promote doing things properly.

 Kosher slaughter is a pretty involved process, and there are rabbis who perform and oversee the whole thing. Now I'm not saying there is a 100% success rate (stunning has a very high rate of failure in conventional slaughter too), but if the procedure is botched, the meat is not kosher, so there is serious incentive (religious and financial) to not screw up.