In recent years, there is a growing concern of how animals are treated during processing that has become a movement. Yes, questions around whether the animals antibiotic or hormone-free, and how much pasture they have for foraging are still important. But more and more people want to know about the humane and ethical treatment of their food at slaughter.
Do the animals die peacefully?
The answer to this can actually be quite complicated. Many animal rights activists believe it is impossible to be humane about killing animals for food. While farmers and other organizations believe it is very possible for animals to be slaughtered while keeping pain and stress to a bare minimum.
What’s probably more important is that it is virtually impossible to determine how farmers and other food producers slaughter their livestock. This is never on the labels of meat we buy. Nor is it mandatory to be upfront about it. And if you really think about it, there is risk that public perceptions and consumer spending could change if this was made blatant. In other words, do we really want to know?
Think about the graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and the decline of the tobacco industry. Not that processing animals is anywhere close to smoking, but there is a reason why actual depictions of animals at the point of slaughter are omitted from media, even from facilities with the highest in humane slaughtering standards. If you have ever watched an animal cruelty video you will understand.
How important is this to you?
If understanding how the animals are treated during processing is important to you, we validate and affirm your right to know. At this point, we encourage you to simply ask a farmer about their slaughtering process. Most of them are very open to talking about it. You can even look for any humane certifications the farm may have that determine slaughtering protocols.
Here are a some excerpts from two regenerative and holistically managed farms (all certified in humane and ethical treatment) listed on Freshly Grown about processing:
Sunworks Farm
The cattle are processed at a small government inspected family run butcher facility in Tofield, one-half hour away from our farm. After chilling and dry ageing, the beef is brought back to our Certified Organic and government inspected butcher shop in Camrose. There it is cut by us into choice cuts of beef that are then vacuum packed to ensure the freshest meat.
Trail’s End Beef
The well-being of our cattle is the primary focus at Trail’s End, everyday. We care for our cattle with dignity from the day they are born and through every cycle of their lives. This dignity extends to the day that we personally take them to the processor. A respectful end for our cattle is of great importance to us. We use a small professional butcher who ensures that the cattle are handled quietly and humanely. The cattle go straight from grass pastures, to the butcher, to your freezer.
Sunworks, and Trail’s End are not the only farms that have chosen ethical and humane ways to process food. These are just examples of how open they are about it. Again, we highly encourage you to talk to other farmers.
Have any questions? Leave a comment.