While all farmers are important to feeding the world, livestock producers and ranchers are some of the most dedicated people in the agriculture industry. They make sacrifices every day that go unnoticed by outsiders just so consumers can have a safe and wholesome protein source on their plates. Not only do they have to keep themselves alive, but also dozens, hundreds, even thousands of other beings! These are just a few of those sacrifices.
1. They can't have just 1 Animal- Livestock are addicting, just like potato chips. You start with just 1 and that quickly turns into 2+. Hey that 1 animal could get lonely or die so you always need a back up or 2...hundred.
2. They can't sleep too soundly at night- No matter how great your fencing system may be, there will come a time that your livestock get out, which almost always happens between the hours of 11pm and 3 am.
3. They can't take sick days- Your animals do not care if you are puking your guts out from food poisoning or in bed with the flu. They are hungry and need fed everyday and they can't feed themselves.
4. They can't go on long vacations- To those producers with great hired hands that can takeover for a week, I'm envy you. Our family vacations either A) excluded my dad or B) were at a stock show. No island getaways for us.
5. They can't stand animal rights activists- When someone outside of the livestock industry starts demoralizing and lying about all the hard work and care that goes into what we do, you can bet damn well we take it personally.
6. They can't stay inside when it's below freezing- You know why they call it freezing? Because that's when water freezes. Unless you have an automatic heating system, snow days will include breaking up water tanks.
7. They can't control the markets- As much as we'd like to, the laws of supply and demand just aren't always in our favor. You're mad that ground beef is $6/lb? Yeah we have little control over that and actually aren't getting that much profit from it either.
8. They can't prevent animals from stinking- Humans poop and it stinks. Animals poop too so why wouldn't it stink? We CAN try to control the odor or divert it, but we can't prevent it. Blame Mother Nature.
9. They can't help but put their animals first- They are our livelihoods. They are what we rely on for food and fiber for our families. They depend on us to live and thrive. We have a moral obligation to put their needs first.
10. They can't imagine their lives without livestock- Why do livestock producers make all these sacrifices? Because they simply love the livestock. Through the good times and bad we still push on because we know we are a big part in feeding the world.
The next time you hear a vegan activist group try to say how evil livestock producers are, remember the sacrifices that these farmers make every single day. It's not an easy or glamorous lifestyle but someone has to do it, and livestock producers are proud to have been given the challenge.
1. They can't have just 1 Animal- Livestock are addicting, just like potato chips. You start with just 1 and that quickly turns into 2+. Hey that 1 animal could get lonely or die so you always need a back up or 2...hundred.
2. They can't sleep too soundly at night- No matter how great your fencing system may be, there will come a time that your livestock get out, which almost always happens between the hours of 11pm and 3 am.
3. They can't take sick days- Your animals do not care if you are puking your guts out from food poisoning or in bed with the flu. They are hungry and need fed everyday and they can't feed themselves.
4. They can't go on long vacations- To those producers with great hired hands that can takeover for a week, I'm envy you. Our family vacations either A) excluded my dad or B) were at a stock show. No island getaways for us.
5. They can't stand animal rights activists- When someone outside of the livestock industry starts demoralizing and lying about all the hard work and care that goes into what we do, you can bet damn well we take it personally.
6. They can't stay inside when it's below freezing- You know why they call it freezing? Because that's when water freezes. Unless you have an automatic heating system, snow days will include breaking up water tanks.
7. They can't control the markets- As much as we'd like to, the laws of supply and demand just aren't always in our favor. You're mad that ground beef is $6/lb? Yeah we have little control over that and actually aren't getting that much profit from it either.
8. They can't prevent animals from stinking- Humans poop and it stinks. Animals poop too so why wouldn't it stink? We CAN try to control the odor or divert it, but we can't prevent it. Blame Mother Nature.
9. They can't help but put their animals first- They are our livelihoods. They are what we rely on for food and fiber for our families. They depend on us to live and thrive. We have a moral obligation to put their needs first.
10. They can't imagine their lives without livestock- Why do livestock producers make all these sacrifices? Because they simply love the livestock. Through the good times and bad we still push on because we know we are a big part in feeding the world.
The next time you hear a vegan activist group try to say how evil livestock producers are, remember the sacrifices that these farmers make every single day. It's not an easy or glamorous lifestyle but someone has to do it, and livestock producers are proud to have been given the challenge.