Comments on: 10 Masters in Pork Industry

by: Kamatu

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:43:27 +0000

I just chatted with my cousin who has been raising Limosin cattle for a few decades. They have a docility factor along with the various birth weight, weaning weight, etc. included in their genetic ratings. The problem they have with “docility” is that it is both a more subjective rating and influenced by environment. I could give examples I’ve seen at his place of both a “mean” animal being gentle and a “gentle” animal being mean, almost always from some environmental factor. For example, the gentle cow who accidently spent a half hour in a head catcher really, really didn’t want to go back down the chute again. Ever. Otherwise, she was still a nice gentle cow.

However, the breeders’ and their association don’t throw up their hands in surrender like Mr. Miller has. They are working on both making it a more objective measure and defining its limits. Which means even though you can find exceptions to the rule, in general the docility factor has become a good indicator of temperment in general and culling will sort out the “mean” ones. I wonder if Mr. Miller has any idea how difficult it was (and is) to sort out some of the “objective” factors in genetic lines….

by: Barbara

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 01:20:14 +0000

“I’m sure temperament is heritable to some degree, however, I have yet to find a geneticist willing to profess the degree of heritability of the trait.”

Among horse breeders, good temperament is always considered when breeding pleasure horses, and I’ll bet Anheuser Busch also breeds their Clydesdales for temperament. Race horse breeders don’t concern themselves with it. Their concern is speed. Some bloodlines are known to be nasty.

by: Podchef

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:09:29 +0000

I love how they refer to the Danish System of pork production as if it is some icon–the reality is it is just as bad, if not worse than the American system and has been greatly criticized for cruelly producing poor quality, flavorless meat.

Of all those “masters” it is interesting to note that Temple was the only one who did anything for the pork industry for the animals’ sake. Every one of the other white collar “farmers” sitting in offices, hog collared with ties, was only after growing larger, improving their bottom line and defending their big-scale corporate, environmental disaster sprawl.

In marked contrast, Walter, your letter shines as an example of everything the hog industry should be doing for the environment, the animals and the quality of the final product. The pork industry might have 10 Masters (who are really just slaves), but there are some hogs in VT who are lucky enough to have a Farmer, Animal Husband and Bacon lover, as their companion.

Interesting update (happened while I was writing the above). Dale has obviously never bred or been part of the dog world where genetics, breed characteristic and temperament are all seen as closely tied together in breeding–breed a mean sire and dam together and end up with a litter of dangerous, off the scale unpredictable pups no matter who trains them. Temperament is certainly a case of the “whole being greater than the parts”. Positivism is a dangerous path to follow in any field, but especially farming where close observation , familiarity, and handling in a natural setting serve far better.

Still it is nice, if a bit non-committal, that he replied.

by: kathy

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:03:47 +0000

Yes, Walter. Great article on Temple. Though I’ve been to several of her speaking engagements & knew of her autism
There was so much in that article I did not know. She is a truly amazing human. Kabu

by: Mary Beth Westcott

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:14:00 +0000

Great article on Temple Grandin and well worth the read. Thank you for sharing!

by: James Basinski

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:57:34 +0000

Walter:
It puzzles the hell out of me to think that some people can actually say they believe its good for lifeforms to live in a cage. Did not the CREATOR put all lifeforms on an unbounded surface with the potential to move even from planet to planet, (at least some of us)? Do you suppose he had any idea of what he was doing? Your words and example are a beautiful example of harmony by effort.
Again; Thank you.

James