BeeCharmer’s Buzz

OK, no I don’t believe cows are humans, but cows are living, breathing, feeling creatures. Cows may not have the capacity to contemplate their own mortality, but cows know when they are in danger of physical pain. I’m not a cow guru, I am not a strict vegetarian, I am not Hindu, I am regular ol’ human being trying to do the best for those around me in this this life. Guess what? Cows are a part of my life, I bet they are a part of 95% (or more) of Americans lives in one way or another.

 This has been an ongoing thing in my life. Justifying my and my families pleasure in eating meat, while I study Agriculture (which by the way includes animals as well as the green stuff). This newest round in my education of the treatment of food animals is not even the worst I have heard about. I have had many contacts within the beef/chicken feedlots and processing industries in our area for years. It’s an ugly industry from birth to the grocery shelves. Sickening really, more than any person should have to know about their food, but it’s the world we live in right?

If you have not already heard about this latest recall of beef due to injuries to the animals intestines sustained by forklifts, pleas please please read this. This is your food! which you eat to nourish your mind, your body, your soul. This is not an isolated case. Maybe the forklift is a new twist in the story, but the story is the same everywhere, and it gets worse. Much worse, if you want to look into the subject. The conventional industrial beef/chicken and egg/pork/lamb growing and processing operations are horrific, even the good ones are iffy.

 I don’t  think you want to read all the stories I could tell from my research over the passed 20 years. They would give you nightmares, and if they didn’t, I would question your character.

I’ve struggled with my carnivore tendencies for years, my children too. This is what we have came up with, at home we only eat happy animals. Animals who lived their lives as nature intended. Animals who eat only what nature intended them to eat. Animals who not only have access to the open range (whatever size is appropriate for that animal), but actually uses (wander, saunter or whatever that animal does) the area available to them.  They are treated with medicine and drugs ONLY when they are ill and or injured. Animals who are not force fed in order to marble their flesh. Organic is not as important to me as the way the animals are cared for. We now buy our meat and eggs from local farms and ranches who are happy to allow me to visit their place and see for myself how the animals are cared for, and slaughtered for that matter. Nothing is hidden from me the consumer, it is a completely transparent operation.

Please take these things into account the next time you are at the supermarket buying meat for supper. It only takes a little Internet research to find a local happy animal operation. Most offer some sort of delivery and allow for farm visits. The cost may be a little more than you pay at Wallyworld, but there are other places to save some money, like maybe boycotting fast food all together, which is what we did.  Now when the kids see the golden arches they say in unison “ewwwwwwwwwwwww”.  I’ve got great kids.