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I grew up on a farm where beef was the primary commodity in production. We only had 60 head and it did not offer more than a token proportion of the household income, however I am none the less sympathetic to meat producers and their livelyhood. I agree with the notion that our government should stay out of foreign affairs when it comes to the welfare of sheep and in general I think the government should stay out of the farm paddock. However I am sympathetic also to the wellbeing of farm animals. In 1998 my personal views and feeling on the issue of animal welfare and modern intensive farming lead me to give up personal consumption of meat (except fish). Every day in the market for food I vote with my dollars to promote a less cruel world. For the animals involved I do think that the live export trade further compounds the misery of an already pityful end. If people must eat meat then I would encourage them to do their own slaughtering. It would give them a greater connection with the process. I knew a guy once who only ate meat from animals he had killed personally. He was invited to a BBQ one day and so he took his hatched and pet goose. Its interesting to note that an event dedicated to the consumption of meat ended with a few guests leaving less then impressed with the process of meat production.
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