Easing The Suffering

The truth of the matter is that if we want to eat beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or any other kind of meat then we have to farm it. The population we are trying to support means a subsistence economy, where we grow what we eat or require, is not viable. As long as we require meat for our vast population we will continue to farm, that is the simple truth. While we as farmers give 110% every single day to ensure the animals we care for have the best life possible, it's not always within our realm of influence. Sometimes a lamb dies because it wasn't sheltered in a storm. Sometimes a ewe dies giving birth. Sometimes fly blown sheep are struck before we can get to them. The key word here is sometimes. It's not a constant, the bulk of the time our mobs are fit and healthy, sheltered and well monitored for anything detrimental to them. So forgive us if we put a lamb down at marking time because it has a deformity and wouldn't be able to evade a hungry fox in the paddock. Forgive us if we put an animal out of its misery in the paddock instead of getting a vet to do it. Forgive us for having the courage to say I must be slightly cruel to be the kindest I possibly can to this animal. We will not knowingly let an animal suffer but if by chance a 'sometimes' occurs then we will ease their suffering in the quickest and least painful way available to us. We care for our animals, and every single one that we have to help through the cycle of life before it's time is a weight on our heart, mind and soul. So forgive us for having the courage to bear the pain so that humans can partake in a balanced diet. A diet that I believe is necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Please, before you jump on a farmers back for practices that you think are potentially cruel, take a look at why we do it and how we do it. Instead of condemning us for cruelty, help us find a more humane way to do things. We may not have the means to provide for every animal as a pet but DO NOT, for a second, believe that we do not care for them in exactly the same way. A wounded lamb holds the same pain for us as a dog hit by a car. The only way to implement positive change in this world is to work together, not to bring each other down.