(no subject)
I was just thinking about my grandfather. He had terrible arthritis/old injuries in his knees in his old age...but nearly every summer day he would carry heavy buckets of water across the road to a "pasture" where a neighboring "farmer" kept some badly neglected cattle. The cattle had no water for most of the summer (when the creek would dry up) and barely any grass to eat. They would bellow and cry nearly continuously. My grandfather would stagger across the road (cursing in pain) and carrying water for those poor cattle...day after day.
The only other time I have heard cattle make those kinds of agitated/distressed sounds was at a "holding" center where old/unwanted dairy cattle were processed before making the Final Train Trip to the slaughter house, now that their milking days were over. I would pass this place on my way to and from my first University job, and I would cry when I heard the disoriented, frightened and hungry animals there.
I don't think I could ever care for, and then slaughter and eat an animal. But in many ways, that is probably kinder than relying on cattle processing centers, slaughter houses, and meat processing plants to do the "dirty work" for you. At least you would know that your animal was well cared for, did not suffer in its life, and died as quickly and painlessly as possible.
The only other time I have heard cattle make those kinds of agitated/distressed sounds was at a "holding" center where old/unwanted dairy cattle were processed before making the Final Train Trip to the slaughter house, now that their milking days were over. I would pass this place on my way to and from my first University job, and I would cry when I heard the disoriented, frightened and hungry animals there.
I don't think I could ever care for, and then slaughter and eat an animal. But in many ways, that is probably kinder than relying on cattle processing centers, slaughter houses, and meat processing plants to do the "dirty work" for you. At least you would know that your animal was well cared for, did not suffer in its life, and died as quickly and painlessly as possible.