• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Farm and Countryside

As an animal lover, how on earth will you send your animals to the abattoir?

The Red Shepherdess says being a farmer is all part of the circle of life

by CWH
16 January 2024
in Farm and Countryside, Latest
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Hannah Jackson, the Red Shepherdess, with her sheepdog Fraser.

Here’s a question I get asked all the time about my journey into farming and I don’t think people ever get the response they initially thought.

The question is: “What were the biggest concerns of your friends and families about you forging a career in agriculture?”

Now I can tell you point blank that no one was ever under the impression that I wouldn’t make it in the industry – anybody that knows me well enough will know that when I set my mind to something, you can bet I see that through and make these little sparks and dreams a full on reality.

It’s part of my determination and stubbornness that my parents have probably both nurtured and at times despised!

The biggest question I was and am still asked all the time is as an animal lover, how on earth will you send your animals to the abattoir?”

To be honest, it isn’t a silly question. Every single day, thousands of people see how much love and care I give to every individual animal on my farm, so of course it raises this ultimate question of why.

As a farmer, I breed animals for food, and I understand that, no matter what, the death of an animal for human consumption can be upsetting for some.

I would be lying if I said I don’t feel a sense of sadness when my animals leave the farm.

However, I also believe that if I – or any farmer – was to ever lose this compassion, then it’s time to leave this career behind. Your animals should never be anything but your priority.

From the minute my animals enter this world or come into my care right through to the moment they leave my farm they are treated with all the care in the world, not because I’m thinking of their price tags, or their cost to my business, and not even because I think the meat will taste nicer.

I do it because I love my animals, and they deserve all the respect and dignity that I can possibly give them.

I have always had a very strong sense of the circle of life and I strongly believe we all live in a delicate balance.

As cheesy as it sounds, I genuinely have Disney’s The Lion King to thank for instilling this in me from such a young age.

I see our existence in a very matter-of-fact way – we are part of the animal kingdom whereby animals eat other animals.

I passionately believe that meat is a central part of a healthy and balanced diet.

I know that by giving my animals the best possible life I can (and by that I mean letting a sheep be a sheep and live in the most natural way and in the most stress free environment possible), then I can produce nutritious, healthy and top quality food that I am incredibly proud of.

It is also why I ensure any meat I eat that isn’t born on this farm is reared and raised in the same way – ethically, sustainably and naturally, even if that means paying more, travelling further than the local supermarket, or just eating less of it in general.

This I believe is a shift that we need to make as a society.

We must stop shopping on price and efficiency, and start being more values-led, where engagement can be had with the individuals who grow our food, so we can understand the life that animal has had.

To answer the question, I firmly believe I can love my job, adore my animals and love the meat they produce.

I believe you can have all three without contradiction – we all can.

Related Posts

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history
Latest

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty
Latest

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

5 June 2025
Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth
Latest

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

30 May 2025
Sheep showing season begins
Farm and Countryside

Sheep showing season begins

30 May 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

5 June 2025
Looking back through the archives

Looking back through the archives

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald