I Can't Do It...........

[lynda66]

Oh Gawd, I feel like a twit, but it's just that pigs are so darned clever. Maybe I'll just see with the lambkins to start with and just go from there.

nope not a twit at all, i'm still GLAD buttercup and coco have a home, cos i can't imagine having to kill either of them

[Hilary B]

When I was first married I had a book on self sufficiency (the Good Life was very popular on TV ...). The author raised pigs and when he had to slaughter one, he would give it a really good meal in a steep sided bowl (so he couldn't see its eyes?) and then shoot it in the back of the head whilst it was eating.

One very happy pig - but probably incredibly illegal today.

Not sure how much the rules have been changed, but 20 years ago, you COULD get meat animals slaughtered at home, but none of the meat could leave the premises. It didn't (at that time, and again I don't know whether the rules have changed) say anything about feeding it to guests, but it would have been illegal to offer a roasting joint to a neighbour. Out on our island, we took such rules with a large pinch of salt (quite apart from what we used for curing the bacon). BTW, shooting in the back of the head is all well and good if it is actually into the top of the spine. Our neighbour on the island used that technique on sheep and goats. For pigs the preferred method was to shoot it from in front. Since he used a .22 rifle (at range about 6 inches), and the pig was eating happily, it didn't usually move. One time he missed the exact spot, because the pig DID move a little. Piggy simply shook its head, and went back to the food. Second shot was on target.....

[bluemoon]

The main problem is that they always seem to use Tamworth's on these programmes. A more happy looking pig I can't imagine, - they always seem to be smiling somehow, if they were dogs they'd be wagging their tails.

[Polly Fouracre]

It is legal to kill stock at home as long as it is done humanely. However, you must not sell or even give it away to anyone other than members of your family.

[bobleponge]

I had no problems killing the lamb a couple of years ago. A pig was too big for me to be sure I could do it humanely so I entrusted its last earthly moments to someone more experienced than myself.
I dont actually eat roast pork, I dont like the taste, but my home raised pigs were the happiest critters in town, plenty of space and great food, so I knew that when they were finally killed, they had had a great life beforehand. Much happier pig = much better meat as far as I'm concerned.
I'm sure there are plenty of others like you Hayley B, who couldnt do the deed, but they are bred to be eaten. If you raise them well and give them a happy life, and cant face the final moment, then hand over that task to someone else.

[Hilary B]

The main problem is that they always seem to use Tamworth's on these programmes. A more happy looking pig I can't imagine, - they always seem to be smiling somehow, if they were dogs they'd be wagging their tails.

Tammies also have so much more 'personality' than most pigs (and all pigs are more... human... than other livestock) Lovely beasties.