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The Forum > Article Comments > Meat and other animals > Comments

Meat and other animals : Comments

By Monika Merkes, published 7/12/2011

What makes one animal a pet and the other prey?

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Grim, I certainly did not dodge the mulesing question. Given post
limits, I simply did not respond to your every complaint, but I will do it now.

Yes, mulesing is not pleasant, farmers who run merinos don't do it
for fun. I remind you however that most baby boys were circumcised
and lived to tell he tale. No, they wern't given pain relief either.

The fact remains that flystrike remains the number 1 killer of sheep
in Australia and its a slow and painfull death. I recently read
that in the East, with last year's wet summer, chemicals simply
stopped working and something like 5% of the merino flock died of
flystrike.

So whilst those who don't mules might have good intentions, they could
in fact land up causing their livetock a great deal of suffering.
Today most switched on farmers use Trisolfen when they mules their
lambs.

Some of us are far more advanced then all this. I stopped growing
wool years ago. I developed a composite meat breed that nees no
shearing, crutching etc and is largely unaffected by blowflies.

This year I did not even tail them, there was no reason to. Not
even a ring, as ram lambs grow much faster then wether lambs. They
got an eartag and a vaccine. I was compelled to earmark them, but
with any luck the WA Govt is about to change the compulsory legislation on that.

If you learn the basics of low stress stock handling, then sheep
are certainly not stressed by going to a meatworks. Stress affects
glycogen levels and with today's nutrition we ensure that muscle
glycogen is high, at the time of trucking. Add carcass electrical
stimulation to avoid cold shortening and every carcass is as tender
as the next. Clearly you are commenting from the cheap seats and
don't really know much about what is happening in today's livestock
industry.
Posted by Yabby, Wednesday, 14 December 2011 4:31:56 PM
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“Clearly you are commenting from the cheap seats and
don't really know much about what is happening in today's livestock
industry.”
It's interesting that you introduced Goleman to the conversation, Yabby.
Would you describe your posts as “negotiating for a win-win” or confrontational and patronising?
“Emotionally intelligent”, Yabby?
I'm gratified to note that where you were defending your entire industry in your earlier posts, you are now reduced to just defending yourself.
I'd call that a win.
But then, I'm not a devotee of Goleman.
November 2011:
http://www.flyboss.org.au/more-information/recent-news/nonmulesing-network-newsletter-28-11-2011.php

This is cute; October 2011:
http://newmerino.com.au/wp/news-and-opinions/supply-issues/wool-declaration-mistakes-innocent/

“If you learn the basics of low stress stock handling, then sheep
are certainly not stressed by going to a meatworks. Stress affects
glycogen levels and with today's nutrition we ensure that muscle
glycogen is high, at the time of trucking.”

So basically, you're arguing that the only way to guage stress is by checking glycogen levels, which you artificially boost prior to the stressful event through “nutrition”.
Yes, very empathic. I'm sure the sheep actually loved going for an afternoon drive.
Probably thought they were going to a picnic.
Posted by Grim, Wednesday, 14 December 2011 8:35:15 PM
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Grim, I'd say that my posts are educational. All that we have
seen so far from you, is somebody who wears his heart on his sleeve
and calls it "being human" and somebody who frankly does not know
much about modern livestock production but criticises it.

I certainly don't defend my whole industry. There are switched on
farmers and less switched on farmers, just like in every other
occupation. You OTOH seem to want to condem the whole industry.
I merely point out your many mistakes.

We certainly don't boost glycogen levels by artificial means, but
by very natural means. We feed them appropriately, with natural
food like oats.

If you knew anything at all about the modern composite breeds, you'd
know that they are alot smarter then merinos and if they don't want to
get on a truck, they won't, no matter how many dogs or threats you
make. With low stress stock handling, we let the animal itself decide to
get on the truck, when it decides that it wants to. All
very different to what you understand by stock handling.
Posted by Yabby, Wednesday, 14 December 2011 9:46:10 PM
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