I hate this part...

[gryndlgoat]

Well the evil deed is done. Two bucklings are now in the freezer (they were both about 50 lbs live weight- about as much as I can lift- and were also making lovesick advances on their sisters, so it was time). We did the butchering ourselves, here at home, and although it was quick and stress-free for the goats, it was hell for us. I am going to feel bad for weeks.

The other options would have been- to take the babies to a processor and have them do it. This would have meant catching, crating, a trip in the car then who knows what at the processors. Or- sell at auction to who knows for what end?

At least this way the babies had loving treatment, familiar surroundings, good treats to eat, and a comforting voice and hands right until the last minute.

I'll tell you, I really have a much greater respect for meat now.

[via media]

Hey Gryndl,

I recently asked a question about how people feel when it comes to butchering animals and their words made a lot of sense to me. You gave them a good life, a safe and loving home and they are now rewarding your care.

I hope your mind will be able to rest easy.

/VM

[GOATDADDY]

I've got a few goats. Bought some the other day that included a young castrated male. Might sell him, keep him, or eat him. Could someone tell me how you actually should kill this young goat in the most humane way? I guess a person could shoot him but that seems dangerous.

[Laura Workman]

Yes, gryndlgoat. You said it was quick and stress-free for the goats. I have my first kid-butchering coming up soon and would really very much appreciate knowing how to give him a quick and stress-free death. If it doesn't hurt too much, would you please be kind enough to share in the necessary detail how you managed it? I (and my kids) will be forever grateful if I can manage to pull off a quick and stress free death for them.

[starjj]

I would be interested in knowing how people do this also. We did it once on the farm (actually some other people came and did it) I made myself vanish that day. They hosted him up and cut his throat (but there must be a better way). We only did it once because these people wanted him for meat (I never ate goat). I did sell the castrated males for meat usually at farmers markets.

[mpillow]

thru ear or base of head neck area....
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X6909E/x6909e1g.jpg

[starjj]

Originally Posted by mpillow

thru ear or base of head neck area....
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X6909E/x6909e1g.jpg

Is that with a gun?

[mpillow]

Either a gun or one of those bolt guns that they use at the slaughter houses....

We used a .44(pistol) on our 6 month calf....2 shots. I think you would want something a little bigger than a .22 to be sure the deed was done.

And remember that even after a perfect shot their are instances where it takes more....I've heard stories of 5 and 6 shots for cows and pigs...sometimes they just wont succumb...

Its not a fun job.....

[gryndlgoat]

Originally Posted by Laura Jensen

Yes, gryndlgoat. You said it was quick and stress-free for the goats. I have my first kid-butchering coming up soon and would really very much appreciate knowing how to give him a quick and stress-free death. If it doesn't hurt too much, would you please be kind enough to share in the necessary detail how you managed it? I (and my kids) will be forever grateful if I can manage to pull off a quick and stress free death for them.

OK...here goes. Warning: Graphic .....

This was my first attempt at butchering something bigger than a bunny. I also can't stand the sight of blood, so I am amazed that I was able to do this. I do think a gun would be a much better option, but I don't have one and I've only fired one, a shotgun, twice in my lifetime and wouldn't trust my aim (missed the tin cans both times).

First off- these were small kids (3.5 months, 40-50 lbs tops), and have been handled alot, fed treats, brushed, talked to, since birth so they trusted me. I think that made all the difference. I put the other goats up in the barn with grain and hay cubes to keep them busy and coaxed a baby out with a pail of bunny pellets (they LOVE these!). I had set out some hay bedding on the ground where "the deed" was going to be done. While his head was in the pail of pellets I looped a nylon dog lead around his back hoof, then tied the other back foot to it. While talking to him and handfeeding pellets, I slowly pushed him down on his side and tied his two front feet to the back feet. Still feeding him pellets and talking to him and petting him and he stayed completely relaxed. The next part was the hardest. I tilted his head back slowly, (he had horns, which gave a good handle) still talking to him and petting him, and then using an EXTREMELY sharp butcher knife, slit the throat at the soft part where the head joins the neck. (If you feel around on your goats throats you can feel there is a space there where there is a gap in the muscle). A quick slice and his windpipe and jugular were severed. He did bleat in surprise when I made the cut, which broke my heart, but bled out and was unconscious within a minute and dead certainly within three (I check by no breathing and no blink reflex if you touch the eyeball). He did kick a bit, and gurgled, before he lost consciousness but I don't think he was suffering and it was over quickly. I then removed the head with a hatchet, hung the body by the back legs from some rafters until all the blood stopped dripping (there wasn't as much blood as I thought there would be and the hay absorbed most of it after the cut). Then gutted, skinned and washed the carcass (old nylon feed bags are great for laying the carcass on for these steps). Brought it into the house, cut up into somewhat recognizable "cuts" and put into freezer bags.

Deja vu for baby #2. Made a wonderful curry for last nights dinner...and yes, I was able to eat it. Had a bit of a cry later. :waa:

[debitaber]

I love goat meat. but couldn't kill or eat my own, I just couldn't .
but I really do like goas=t meat. might raise me a couple of meat goats.

[sheep tamer]

We have been unable to butcher our extra
bucklings <yet>...though I have no problem
doing this with extra ram lambs...there's
something about goats to me?! Anyway,
I admire those who get past it because the
meat is meant for food (according to the
Word).

I guess we will cross this hurdle before long,
should there be a shortage on good homes
for our extra kids...I've done stock sales and
feel pretty cruddy after leaving them there.
Much better knowing they've gone to a good
farm home.

[Gailann Schrader]

I've seen my goats held down and their throats slit. Works pretty well, pretty quick too. They try to yell and that just bleeds them out quicker = quicker demise. Can be a bit stressful for them though if they don't know you.

I prefer to shoot behind the head while they are eating a bit of grain, at the base, in the groove of muscle into the brain. They drop quick and are almost immediately senseless if you do it right, they never see it coming, and then you slit the throat to bleed them out.

It's uncomfortable for the shooter and unnerving, but that's what they are FOR. That's what you do with them.

It's not a fun job, but it's nice to have the freezer full of home grown meat for the table. Gyros are the best! I have a goat right now that's about ready. Make sure you chill the meat in the fridge or in ice for a day or two to get the body heat out. Good luck!

Oh, a .22 rifle works well. As does a .357 magnum. Good luck!

Someone I know uses the 'head down in the feed' method. Only uses a machete to the back of the head... Don't know. Haven't tried it...

[BamaSuzy]

I stopped eating meat entirely when I got my Y2K chickens before 2000....when i found out that even chickens each have a disctinct personality....

My buck baby will be castrated and live on this farm as a wether, keeping the other goats company (such as the buck) when they have to be moved to seperate pens....He will also help in keeping the pastures clean....

I have my laying hens for eggs (but never eat the chickens); raise my Angora rabbits for fiber (but never eat any of the bunnies); and now have the goats....

I am not a "rabid" fanatic about all this and husband still eats meat but this was just a personal choice in my life....I had thought about it a great deal when I was younger as well....

Everybody always comes back to me with the thought that God put the animals here on earth for us to eat.....but that was not their original intent....the animals existed with Adam and Eve in the Garden as companions, not food....can you imagine how shocked and devastated Adam and Eve were when God killed one of the animals for their clothing? God's original intent was not for animals to be food or clothing, it was only our sin that made it so.....and it is just my personal choice now to no longer eat meat...

[Patt]

We just butchered our first wether 2 months ago. We used the same method as Gailann Schrader. A quick shot to the back of the head with a .22 followed by slitting the throat. He never knew what happened. He was also a pet and that makes it hard but to me it's important that all our animals have the best possible life until it's their time to provide food for us. I think it should be hard because it makes us respect our animals and more grateful for them.

[TexCountryWoman]

My meat animals have a happy life on the farm and then have as painless and fear-free death as possible. That is more than many, many humans on this planet can hope for.