The Times sticks the boot in to farm animal welfare

[DeeGee]

The law of nature is inherently cruel, predators and prey. That’s why I avoid wildlife documentaries: it ain’t nice to watch.

I love cats, they are my favourite animal and we have always had them. I love them but they also are cruel creatures that I sometimes despise when they leave a swallow on our doormat, or rescue a mouse that is squealing with fear as our cat approaches for another ‘game’ of cat and mouse.

The famous author and naturalist Gerald Durrell spoke about monkeys being kept in captivity and how well cared for they were. He also described the unbearable pain felt by such creatures in the wild when afflicted by ‘jiggers’ which was a condition caused by a parasite burrowing into the fingers and toes of monkeys and causing them unimaginable pain in the wild, but was quickly and easily treated by keepers of monkeys in captivity.

So whereas we all want to see wildlife thrive, too many people often forget how cruel and unforgiving nature can be.

 

[tepapa]

Life is cruel. The problem is that 99.9% of the general public are wrapped in cotton wool and have no idea how nature works. Life and death is a daily occurrence. But to most they are shocked that it happens.

 

[Forkdriver]

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www.hsa.org.uk

I think that this covers it. A hammer or swinging against the wall in extreme cases but there are better ways for routine cases.

 

[SteveHants]

What on earth is their reasoning their?

I guess it's like using lethal injection on horses. A bullet is much swifter and more certain, but looks bloodier. So the injection is considered more humane, but in reality it is for the benefit of the human, not the animal.

I did my work experience at 14 in a vet and as a result of that I cannot stand the lethal injection, it's a hideous way to die - much rather blunt force trauma/free bullet.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Seems people would rather have farmland rewilded cos death in the wild is obviously far more humane

People don't realise that nothing in the wild dies of old age or that most things are eaten alive!

 

[Doc]

Yes. The PR trumps welfare.
It’s not just farming.
Did you know that the BHA ( British horse racing authority) would very much rather all race track casualties are given lethal injection rather than free bullet euthanasia because the latter ‘looks bad‘ to the public.
It is well known in the Veterinary profession that injectable euthanasia, with the almost universally used drug, Somulose, has reported complication ( adverse event) rates of around 20%. Shooting has reported complication rates of, er, zero.
The lunatics are very much running the asylum in these times of appearance over reality.

 

[unlacedgecko]

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www.hsa.org.uk

I think that this covers it. A hammer or swinging against the wall in extreme cases but there are better ways for routine cases.

I'll be honest, i don't know of anyone who routinely despatches lambs or piglets. All such cases are emergencies.

 

[Ashtree]

Saw the house cat this morning, torturing a mouse for almost ten minutes, before finally doing the decent thing.
I reported the incident with incriminating photos and video, to the Cat Chronicle.
The general woke type cats, and members of the cat tree hugging society, will be utterly dismayed over their Sunday morning breakfast, when they read of such cruelty being inflicted by one of their own.
Meanwhile, mouse influencers on Mousebook, are trending with #mouselivesmatter

 

[primmiemoo]

Yet when that sort of thing is posted, umbrage is took, because suddenly that's anthropomorphism ~ and animals don't have the reasoning to have moral codes (cont. p.94)...

 

[Stuart J]

Red Tractor wants to replace blunt trauma with the use of a turkey stunners. Doubtless the stunner would have to be kept under lock and key in a safe place.
A typical scenario sometimes found on an outdoor unit such as mine is finding a freshly born litter where the sow has accidentally trod on one of her piglets (much less likely to happen with a farrowing crate, but they are "bad" apparently) and the poor little thing has its intestines hanging out.
What is a compassionate stockman to do? Go and get the stunner from its safe place, which might involve a ten minute journey to fetch the implement? during which time the squealing piglet has caused the sow distress and she might well have stood up and been circling in her hut, standing on more piglets.
Or should he pick up the piglet, grasp it by its hindlegs and quickly and efficiently swing the piglet against a hard surface, killing it in one blow?
Of course nowadays before that operation has to be preceded by a quick look around to ensure that nobody is filming/that there are no hidden cameras.

Or remove the piglet and take it to the stunner rather than fetching the stunner to the piglet?

Not saying blunt force isnt the sensible option, just pointing out a slight flaw in your argument!

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Or remove the piglet and take it to the stunner rather than fetching the stunner to the piglet?

Not saying blunt force isnt the sensible option, just pointing out a slight flaw in your argument!

Okay, so the stunner is kept under lock and key elsewhere, perhaps a ten minute bumpy tractor journey away on an outdoor unit. I defy any truly compassionate stockman to put the suffering piglet in the example through all of that stress when a perfectly viable, very swift and humane alternative is readily available in blunt trauma.

 

[Bald Rick]

To be fair to the Times, they published a strong letter from Minette who, whilst agreeing that animal cruelty has no place on farms and that the cases highlighted were “unacceptable and should be dealt with robustly”, did point out that “there are many tens of thousands of hardworking, caring farmers (&, if I may add, farm workers) throughout Britain who care passionately about their livestock and champion high welfare. These farms are the norm and are the bedrock of high quality British livestock farming.”

It may be trite but as if I don’t look after my cows, they won’t look after me so nothing is too much trouble.

Times did, though, also publish a letter in support of their argument from a Ms Rachel Watson of Bearwood, W Midlands blithely stated that “Only when people start to realise the misery that farm animals suffer and think about where their cheap meat comes from, can we begin to be recognised as a civilised and compassionate society”

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

To be fair to the Times, they published a strong letter from Minette who, whilst agreeing that animal cruelty has no place on farms and that the cases highlighted were “unacceptable and should be dealt with robustly”, did point out that “there are many tens of thousands of hardworking, caring farmers (&, if I may add, farm workers) throughout Britain who care passionately about their livestock and champion high welfare. These farms are the norm and are the bedrock of high quality British livestock farming.”

It may be trite but as if I don’t look after my cows, they won’t look after me so nothing is too much trouble.

Times did, though, also publish a letter in support of their argument from a Ms Rachel Watson of Bearwood, W Midlands blithely stated that “Only when people start to realise the misery that farm animals suffer and think about where their cheap meat comes from, can we begin to be recognised as a civilised and compassionate society”

Animal welfare indeed matters but we should get our own house in order (how we treat our elderly, mentally ill and kids in care) before demonizing the majority for the actions of the minority in animal care.

Most livestock keepers I know care deeply about their animal's welfare.

 

[Ashtree]

When I went to my vets other day, to pay my bill in through the window in these Covid times, I sat outside for a while waiting for my turn. As I did so, I looked around at the queue of people and small animals for one treatment or the other. I thought to myself, those bloody small animals don’t seem to be taking proper care of their human pets. The animals all polished and groomed, shiny coats on them, embellished with fancy collars, and the occasional ribbon to boot. The poor misfortune humans, invariably looked tired and stressed, many with long scraggy hair, and a general appearance of lack of care. Dogs and cats, in my opinion have a lot to answer for....

 

[Extreme Optimist]

I do find it rather ironic that mostly people who know nothing about animal euthanasia bleat on about it, yet humans are kept alive against their wishes when quality of life is below negligible. A friend of mine dropped in for a coffee and a chat. His mother was dying and had dementia. He said that as much as he loved his mother, keeping her alive was beyond cruel and that if we kept livestock like that, we would be prosecuted. Says it all really!

 

[Woolless]

To be fair to the Times, they published a strong letter from Minette who, whilst agreeing that animal cruelty has no place on farms and that the cases highlighted were “unacceptable and should be dealt with robustly”, did point out that “there are many tens of thousands of hardworking, caring farmers (&, if I may add, farm workers) throughout Britain who care passionately about their livestock and champion high welfare. These farms are the norm and are the bedrock of high quality British livestock farming.”

It may be trite but as if I don’t look after my cows, they won’t look after me so nothing is too much trouble.

Times did, though, also publish a letter in support of their argument from a Ms Rachel Watson of Bearwood, W Midlands blithely stated that “Only when people start to realise the misery that farm animals suffer and think about where their cheap meat comes from, can we begin to be recognised as a civilised and compassionate society”

Ms Watson is right to point out the link between low food prices and the potential for cutting corners. I would say that the cheapest meat of all, chicken, has the biggest welfare issue in its standard production systems.

 

[Nick Adams]

Ms Watson is right to point out the link between low food prices and the potential for cutting corners. I would say that the cheapest meat of all, chicken, has the biggest welfare issue in its standard production systems.

But grazing ruminants get so much grief.

 

[Doc]

But grazing ruminants get so much grief.

That is pretty much a chicken combine/header. I’m both appalled and impressed at the same time.
It is the very essence of industrial farming.

 

[delilah]

Interesting discussion. A question, then, for those of you who use social media to promote your business. Do you just stick to the success stories, pictures of cuddly lambs etc ? Or do you put the occasional 'where there's livestock there's deadstock' type post up, so that people understand the realities ? Would it be more honest to do the latter, or is it just asking for trouble ?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Interesting discussion. A question, then, for those of you who use social media to promote your business. Do you just stick to the success stories, pictures of cuddly lambs etc ? Or do you put the occasional 'where there's livestock there's deadstock' type post up, so that people understand the realities ? Would it be more honest to do the latter, or is it just asking for trouble ?

Yes, I've posted about dead calves and having to cull cows.

Our following is very small, basically folk we know personally, so it was well received. We don't market anything via social media either so lower risk anyway.