Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Who Stays and Who Goes





Today I am going to spend the afternoon sorting through the sheep. The yearling flock has been separated from the ewes and the rams all Winter and I have been fattening them up. The only problem is my Mother insists on keeping her "special" ones mixed in with the yearling lambs and will scream murder if I try and take one to slaughter or to market. There is actually a yearling lamb she calls "Ittybit" I am going to try and get into the slaughter group but I doubt she stays there. The little lamb might make a sandwich when cut up so it isn't like we need the meat but she will eat tons of grain and fodder as a pet and in a grid down situation that could mean life or death for more than just one useless lamb.

This is another little luxury I tolerate for the time being as it eliminates a bit of strife but the truth is it is something that is going to become more rare as things continue to decline. Sentimentality and turning food animals into pets is a modern day practice that there simply will be no resources for if things take a dive.

My guess is that once readily available pork roasts and other cuts of meat are not just a handy trip to the grocery store away this problem will work itself out. Of course one could say my loading up 10 or 11 yearling lambs to have them conveniently dispatched and returned in wrapped packages is a luxury I won't have either. This is probably true and although a distasteful (at first) job I know between myself and my Step Father we can do it ourselves. We have done so a few times over the years and we have the equipment. Dealing with the pet issue I am hoping will come down to nature making the argument for me and saving me from having to be the big bad guy ogre. 

The Mrs. almost completely ignores the yearlings because she knows what is going to happen.

I know the old saying that on a farm everything has a use or it is gone kinda thing. I also know several large scale farmers that live a stones throw away will tell ya that's how they manage things and yet they got an old steer standing out in their pasture that has been there for six years and acts like a dog named Spike. Believe me I know of a few cases like that. We are all guilty of sentimentality when resources are abundant and easy.

I am only saying it is important to be honest with yourself and realize what may have to be done and the changes that may have to be made as the decline continues.

My guess is that a couple of meatless nights combined with her not having to do the dirty work would put in end to the "Ittybit" problems pretty fast.

Keep Prepping Everyone!!!


10 comments:

  1. Yeah, a food crisis will sort things out fairly quickly.

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    1. RP - Yep that's my take on the issue. It will hard for her to be mad at mother nature and her own hunger like she would be at me :)

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  2. Guilty as heck here. Pet wether goat, two other dairy goats I really don't need, mule and mini-horse that are worthless (well, until I finally get to ride them, but even then....). But as you said, a crisis will make the decisions easier.

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    1. Carolyn - Don't even get me started on the horses LOL.

      And that ancient donkey :)

      Ya a real shtf scenario will make things a bit more immediate at any rate.

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  3. Have you considered "finding a home" for one or more of the special ones? Perhaps a trade of animals with someone in the same situation - it's a lot easier to slaughter someone else's "pet".

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    1. Marivene - Sure have. Hey you want a little ewe :)

      Seriously though ya if I had someone available I would however for the special ones my Mother usually wants to hand pick the adoptees and she has about tapped the market dry.

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  4. We ended up having a bunch of pet chickens I guess though I really don't have a craving for old hens. Careful, our leader may issue an executive order saying you can't butcher your own animals as it will melt the ice caps or some other such nonsense. Sunny, warm and windy here, the snow is leaving quickly!

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    1. Sf - I already had to deal with leadership obstacles this afternoon and am now covered in blood because of it. My own and the some sheep blood.

      Stupid regulations.

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  5. We need to take some bucks to the slaughter house. Since fencing in a lot of the woods, they have a lot to browse on and don't really eat a lot of grain and hay. I hesitate to get rid of them because I don't know what is coming. We could cut the feed bill down some if they weren't here.

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    1. MB - Well meat int he freezer is only bad when the power goes out :)

      Might wait though I think prices are going to go up and you might be able to sale barn em.

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