pigs slaughter - not for the squeamish. Be warned!

[the-gnole]

Slaughtermans Poleaxe.

[scoobie]

I would have thought that the home slaughter of animals is a good prepping skill to learn. I don't think the op stated he didn't have the skills, but was just asking for advice on what to expect as it was his first pig

There are plenty of topics about what we will do if the oil, electricity, gas etc stop, surely knowing how to humanely slaughter an animal using older methods is as relevant as learning how to cook etc without those resources

I just noticed gnoley has said much the same.....must learn to type quicker

Yes, exactly what CC said

[Triple_sod]

And why not? in a world without oil etc things will be a very different place will they not.

As "preppers" we may need to know these things one day, and learning the skills then will be too late, we need to prepare now for future life styles, and if that includes how to slaughter and butcher our own animals (if we are lucky enough to have them) then that is something we need to take "head on" rather than shy away from because modern society says we must do these things in the way we are told to do them by TPTB.

So by the same token, next time you need any dental work, are you up for downing half a bottle of whisky then letting the local barber have a go at it with a rusty pair of pliers? It’s what they did back in the day....

Don't get me wrong I totally agree with you that we need to learn such skills now, but isn't having the correct equipment and knowing how to use it what prepping is all about?

[Technik]

http://thislittlepiggiestayedathome.org/

Tom Hodgkinson writes: I set up this site in order to draw attention to the confusion around keeping and killing pigs at home. It’s my intention to clarify the law on this matter so people have a clear guide.

Last November, we killed two pigs at home and shared out the meat in our household. But one morning, following my description of the killing in a Sunday Times article, we were visited by a man from the local environmental health department, who told us that we should have had the pigs killed at the slaughterhouse.

We argued that it is more humane to kill them at home: one moment they are happily snuffling, the next they are dead. There are none of the inevitable stresses of the slaughterhouse. No one doubts to that the taste of the meat is better from home-killed pigs.

I was sent a pile of material from the Food Standards Agency, accompanied by a stern letter ticking me off.

However, Three Counties radio contacted DEFRA who say that it is in fact lawful to kill your own pigs at home. You can eat the meat and share it out with your household, but you would not be allowed to sell it on the market.

This is perhaps where the confusion lies, as Food Standards consider giving food to your family to be a version of putting on the market, even though no money changes hands.

Thats all good and well. IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
There are too many 'River Cottage' experts with a book in one hand and a knife in the other. When it SHOULD be an electric stunner and humane killer.
Bloody amateurs.

Thank you for that comment Jansman - I had the same thought.

If you really have to kill for food than do it humanely and think about the animal that you're about to kill and then eat. It's not sacrificing it's own life and flesh for you, it's you that is killing it because you need it's body, it's life is in your hands. So my advice is to treat it with respect, just like the Indians would do (I'm not saying that you won't, this is just an advice from a vegetarian "buddhist").

[the-gnole]

If you really have to kill for food than do it humanely and think about the animal that you're about to kill and then eat. It's not sacrificing it's own life and flesh for you, it's you that is killing it because you need it's body, it's life is in your hands. So my advice is to treat it with respect, just like the Indians would do (I'm not saying that you won't, this is just an advice from a vegetarian "buddhist").

EXACTLY.

I don't think anyone is saying it should be inhumane, but there are Traditional methods and there are modern methods. And of course stressing the meat is not good for the flavour

[Triple_sod]

So what would a traditional humane slaughter method be?

John Seymour The Complete Guide to Self Sufficiency;

The traditional way to kill a pig is to stickit in the throat, but I
don't recommend this. Although I see nothing wrong with
killing animals for meat, I see everything wrong with making
them suffer in any way If we kill an animal we should do' so
instantaneously, and the animal should have no inkling that
anything nasty is about to happen to it.

Lure your pig into the killing room, put a little food on the
floor, and shoot the pig in the brain with a .22 rifle. You can
use an humane killer (captive bolt pistol), but then you must
b e very quick and skilful, b ecause the killer must be in contact
with the pig's head when you fire it, and the pig may, and
probably will, move away. With a rifle you can stand well
back, aim at the pig's brain, and the animal has no idea that
anything is going to happen before it is stone dead.

Immediately the pig has dropped stick it. Squat squarely in
front of the recumbent pig while someone else holds it on its
back, stick the knife just in front of the breastbone, and when
you feel the bone let the knife slip forward to go under it.
Then push the knife in a couple of inches and slice forwards
with the point of the knife towards the head. This severs the
artery. Now look out: a nervous reaction takes place. The pig
appears to come to life and thrashes about, so take care not to
be cut by its hooves.

[scoobie]

This is really crucial info for preppers to learn, but as some people might be offended by the content in this thread I put a warning in the subject title.

Carry on

[Technik]

In my opinion the ONLY way to learn it is to go to a certified butcher that would do it in front of you and explain everything eye to eye, step by step. Then if he decides that you are ready, you can do it in front of him. I know there are a couple people on here that hunt and a couple that actually slaughtered before but people who didn't do any of that will most likely drop the knife at the last moment and back off. Killing isn't easy and you shouldn't try and learn it on a forum, it's not a "how to mend a flat tyre". I have witnessed animals being slaughtered in front of me, before I changed my views on many things and even then I had second thoughts and DEFINITELY wouldn't do it myself. That's my opinion.

[the-gnole]

I started small, I wanted to learn how to kill and dress a chicken, a frind had been fattening up his chickens and when they were ready I went along, he showed me once, then it was my turn.

Rabbits are shot, and field dressed, Birds (pigeon and road-kill pheasant) the same.

Have been to a slaughter house through work and had the opportunity to watch what was happening to Sheep, Pigs and Beef cattle from "Pen to chiller", certainly not for the squimish.

Also have a few photos I was sent a few years back of home slaughtered sheep, but, unless requested will stay on file.

[scoobie]

If anyone is interested in the legalities of home slaughter, check out this link

http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/gui ... kguidance/