New to agriculture...?

Question

So I'm taking a summer agriculture class. In the class we have the opportunity to raise a lamb and then sell it for slaughter in the fall. I want to do this because I get to learn how to care for a lamb, and I get more time outside of the summer class at the farm. It's also an SAE which you need for the FFA. I'm just... I know that I'm going to get attatched.... and I know with the kind of things I'm planning on doing in my future I need to learn... not to attatch.

What do I need to do to avoid, falling in love with my lamb? Obviously I shouldn't name it something like Bambi. Even if I name it number 1964 (It's tag number) I'll still attach myself.... What else can I do? I need to learn....

Answer 1

You have a lot of other options than eating animals. You might just breed her and show her or you might just keep her as lawn maintenance technician. Meat is way over-rated and a see a trend toward more conscious eating and environmental awareness. Slaughter doen't even make the list where some are concerned. I have 2 dogs in the family and I had no choice in their joining us but if I had the vote I would have taken on a goat, pig or sheep instead of a meat eating animal. Consider a long term relationship.

Answer 2

I raise beef cattle for 4H and it is hard when they die.

But here's how I cope with it:  

I think of all the happy times I had with my calf.

I think of how much I learned during my project.

I think of what a happy life he or she led.

Death's a natural part of life.  Meat animals are raised for food, and that's just how it is.

P.S.  When you sell your lamb, if you really are super-attached to it and love it so much you know you could never let it be killed, perhaps your family/friend(s) could buy it and you could pay them back!