The Ethics of Eating Meat

Did you see the SBS Insight show on The Ethics of Eating Meat?  You can WATCH IT HERE if you like.  I have not watched it yet, but I am going to talk about the subject anyway.  I was on the show and I have no desire to see myself on National Television and as such have not watched it yet....

ethic -plural of eth·ics (Noun)

1. Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior.

2. The moral correctness of specified conduct.

Firstly, I should state that I eat meat.  I always have and I can't see myself stopping at any point in the future.  I believe that growing sheep and beef on good grazing land is the most efficient way to convert the protein from the pasture that we cannot eat into a protein that we can.

Given the majority of the population eats meat, and given the above definition of the word 'ethics' I believe there is nothing wrong with enjoying meat in your diet.

Not all meat is created equal, but it all has it's use.

What is culturally acceptable in some countries is not considered normal here, but that does not make it unethical in those cultures. Is it right (or ethical) to discriminate against a whole culture for it's beliefs in regards to what it is ethical to eat? I don't think so.  Make a personal choice, but remember that others may feel differently.

We grow our own meat here, both beef and lamb.  The sheep we have are meat sheep which are a breed that shed their wool (or hair) and as such do not require shearing, mulsing or crutching.

We slaughter, butcher and package here.  What could be more ethical?  No transport, no stress, no carbon footprint.  Not organic, but carefully managed.  I should mention that I  admire anyone who can make a go of organic livestock production, but that it is not for me.  I believe that organic is not always better.  I would give my sick child antibiotics to ease their pain and illness, and I would do the same for my animals when needed.

I wouldn't eat just anything, but can I judge those that would?

The only times I would consider the act of eating meat to be less than ethical would be if the animal was not treated well during it's life or not slaughtered in a humane way.  This also means different things to many people.  Having been inside around 45 Australian Abattoirs I am glad we have high standards here and I am very glad that Australian farmers are great advocates for animal welfare.  Trust me on that, our animals in many cases are our income, or our ability to feed our family.  Also, I would not eat something endangered, I don't want to be part of a species disappearing.

Edit: I should have said a big thank you to SBS Insight for the opportunity to be on the show.  It was  a wonderful experience and we all enjoyed it a lot.  SBS was wonderful in organising the flights, motel, taxi tabs and someone to look after the children while we were on air.  Thank you :)

New Chooks

One of the most interesting things about having added some White Leghorns to the chicken coop is the difference in the egg colours we are now getting.  The warm brown eggs are from the Isa Browns and the white eggs are from the new White Leghorns.

The other interesting this is that one of the new White Leghorns is actually a light brown colour. I just expected them to be all white given the breed name.

See the paper stuck on one egg?  I use shredded paper in the nesting boxes.  When I clean the boxes out the whole lot goes into the compost.  Good recycling!

The Chickens

Last weekend the chicken watch began.  I was lucky enough to have been offered the loan of an incubator and some eggs to try to hatch.  Things were touch and go at one point with a storm and 6 hour blackout but we kept fingers crossed that the eggs would be ok.

The first chick 'peeping'.  Did you know that you can hear the chickens cheeping in the eggs before they have even peeped a hole?  It was an exciting moment!

And the three chickens that hatched!  Two chicks died while hatching which was a shame but I am thankful for these three fluffy babies.  They are living under a warming light in my laundry for the next 5 weeks and then they will be old enough to go outside.

I wonder what sex they are?

The Incubator

After the fox got 7 of my 8 chickens I was pretty upset. The one remaining bantam was pretty upset too so we didn't waste too much time in buying 3 more Isa Brown hens to put back into the hen house.

In the meanwhile, one of the Playgroup Mum's heard of my plight and lent me her incubator and some eggs that should be Silkie Bantams when they hatch. I have to turn the eggs twice a day for 18 days, then leave them for two days and I should have chickens about then.  The incubator is set at 37 degrees and you have to make sure water is always in the bottom.  It is also important to try to sit the eggs with the fatter end slightly elevated.

 

I have labelled the eggs with a 1 on one side, and a 2 on the other to help keep track of which side is which.

The photo below was taken on day 5. You can see spider veins forming which is the start of the chicken growing.  Since day three I have been candling my eggs every night to watch the change in the egg development.  It is all a little bit fun.  I was given 12 eggs and I think 9 are good at this point.

 

Last night was a bit of a worry with a big storm going over and a 6 hour blackout.  I sent the Mr out into the rain to grab the fluffy bantam and I put her in a box with the eggs to try to keep them warm so they would be ok.   Fingers are crossed!

New Arrivals

Today was a big day in town.  In addition to a boy's first haircut we also picked up a few new animals to welcome onto the place.

A new week old poddy calf from the dairy.  Possum has named him Charlie.  

He is being bucket fed and when he is weaned he will join Nellie and Terry out in the paddock. 

And I found some Pekin Bantams!  I have wanted some more chickens for awhile so this was very exciting.  Possum wants to name these all Henny Penny.  I think 2 of them are roosters and if they are I will see if I can find a home for the grey and white rooster on the top left and keep the buff coloured rooster with the 3 hens.  If they are both roosters maybe Mandy might like him to keep her new bantam girls happy?

The orchard is currently home to 2 lambs, 1 poddy, 3 chooks and 5 bantams.

Project 52

Project 52, one photo every week in 2011 following the theme 'Rural Life'

{week three}

10 things I love about chooks

1. Our chooks now live in the orchard in their new cage.

2. We made the cage ourselves.

3. We used only materials that were here.  Recycling at it's best!  Even the nesting boxes, tin feeder and water drum were salvaged here.

4. The chooks will eat the fruit fly from the dropped fruit off the trees.  They will be mostly free range chooks that will be let out every day to roam in the fenced off orchard. 

5. Fresh eggs!

6. The egg shells when crushed go in the compost.  You have to crush them well because they don't break down, but they are an excellent source of new calcium for the soil.

7. House scraps put to good use.  What the chooks don't eat we compost.

8. I use shredded paper in their nesting boxes.  They don't mind and it means when I clean it out the paper (and poo) go straight into the compost pile which is a good balance to the high amount of grass clippings we compost in summer.

9. I am going to plant passionfruit vines on the outside of their cage.  The chooks will gain extra shelter and shade when they get going and we get the fruit.

10. This makes this a project both started and finished during the holiday break :)

I need a couple more big chooks and a rooster now.  I am thinking Australorps to go with the 3 Isa Brown hens we already have.

Permaculture is in progress!

Start as you mean to go on.

Happy New Year!

This morning we were out in the garden while the dew was still wet on the grass.

We harvested carrots and rhubarb, some for the fridge, and some already blanched and in the freezer.  It is a great way to keep yourself in veggies all year and not waste the excess.

I collected the eggs and fed the chooks the scraps from last night too.