“Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding and the raising of livestock. … Modern animal husbandry relies on production systems adapted to the type of land available.”
I have been ruminating on this above topic. I watch the world spin and am perplexed that many people either have no real idea of what Animal Husbandry entails, or ignores what they know for that which they hear purveyed about… for instance: It is cruel to keep animals penned up. It is cruel and inhumane to seperate offspring from sires and dames. It is cruel to neuter some animals, and equally cruel to produce some animals solely for breeding. Even dumber is the idea that an appreciable amount of food-for-humans is being fed to animals for meat, milk, etc.
If we just became vegivores, all of us, everyone of us, world wide… if we simply turned away from meat, milk, eggs, cheese… of all kinds… no wild duck or deer, no bacon and eggs, no turkey for thanksgiving, no cheese melt on your imitation meat burger…
The best discussion on this topic comes from my old compadre, W.E. I copy it here, without expressed permission, but I think W.E. will be ok with it all:
I am considering this topic for a couple reasons: 1) I came close to losing a new born calf these past few days. It was touch n go, but I think I managed to win the battle with only minor damage. 2) There is a continuing vocal movement in this land that would have us believe farmers, the practitioners of animal husbandry, are bad people. On a par with old-day slave owners…
There are “activists” that tamper with, fuck with farmers and their livestock. Its considered noble, for the cause, to release animals, open gates, upset the animal husbandry code of ethics. Its always the animals that end up injured or dead. The saintly activists don’t see the damage they do.
As a farmer, as a practitioner of the Animal Husbandry Code of Ethics, I care for my animals. Its my job to care for them. To understand them, to watch and listen and protect. I don’t like branding, I don’t use shock-prods. I foolishly talk to my animals, all of them. The four dogs, the two chickens and the small herd of 20 cattle. And I learn stuff all the time.
For instance, my herd would rather be shown than to be driven. If I get behind them and try to push them in a direction they rebel. If I walk in front, and open the gates ahead, and talk and sing to them, they follow quite cooperatively. Ive been asked how I get them to cooperate so well and my answer is simply, “say please and thank you”.
I consider all my animals to be sentient beings. Of course not all animals are created equal, and my chickens are kinda dumb. They cant be trusted much. They lie a lot. But then all birds lie. My cattle are my friends. We interact and talk and play together. The big arsed bull, Hank, is gentle giant that enjoys making me nervous. He can walk up behind me and nudge me, make me jump, which makes him smile. A couple of the cows are favourites. A couple are untrustworthy trouble makers. Of course, my dogs are my overall favourites. I have exceptional dogs…
This morning I saved the couple-day-old calf.
A nice little bone-red bull-calf. His mamma is good but getting old and her teats is quite large. The little bugger couldn’t a suck going. Couldn’t figure it out. So one day, two days, onto three… mamma’s udder is swollen. Full of milk, and getting sore. Every time the little-guy tries she kicks. He is going to die if he cant get a drink.
So last eve I pushed mamma into the stock-crush. I tried to get the calf to suckle but failed. I got kicked for my effort. Damn near broke my arm. Was lucky really.
So I left mamma and baby in the crush last eve. This morn, armed with a decent rope and extra determination, I really don’t get more than this shot. If I cant get him suckling he will expire. So its either get him on the teat, or put him down…
I know it don’t look like much but my forearm above the wrist is beaten and swollen. My hand really hurts. I have rope burns across my fingers where I lost the tug of war.
What I ended up doing was getting a rope on mama’s leg and hold is up, so she couldn’t kick, and the lil-bugger could get a feed…
In the process of getting the calf to suck, I was kicked and abused by mamma, I got splattered head to toe with shit.
And I feel pretty darn good.
Being a farmer, a practitioner of the noble art of Animals Husbandry….
The Native Iowan 
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