Agriculture, like any other sector of the business world, has its highs and lows. Regardless if you’re a cash cropper or involved with livestock, you’re going to have days that are great, and you’re inevitably going to have days that are pure shit.
Sometimes I can’t help but speculate as to whether or not the general public is familiar with the lows of farming, and just how low they can be.
We all have bad days, and oftentimes, these bad days can be attributed to the sort of work we do. A lot of the emotions and stress we carry with us stems from what we do for an occupation, and while this is a universal occurrence, I think a lot of people would benefit from having a more comprehensive understanding of how emotional farming can be, especially in the context of animals.
There are, unfortunately, enough people out there who are under the guise that farmers don’t care about their animals, and that they only see them as a business component. This couldn’t be further from the truth in my own experiences and observations; farmers will literally sacrifice their own health and happiness to benefit their animals and livestock, sometimes allowing their own condition to worsen just to benefit the animal in their care.
I yearn for a more concise perception of farmers from the general public in all regards, but specifically when it comes to the treatment of animals. Yes, they’re an element of business, but they’re also living, breathing creatures that deserve the best quality of life possible. Without ensuring livestock is taken care of to the best possible extent, farmers potentially jeopardize their own livelihood; why would they intentionally mistreat their animals in any case or situation, but specifically when you consider the logistical components?
Farmers love their animals passionately. Don’t let animal activist groups tell you otherwise.
Photo by Stijn te Strake on Unsplash
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