Isnt It A Sad Refection On Today Economy That I Can Buy Pork Cheaper In Tesco Than Rearing My Own Pig And Killing And Butchering It Myself.

[RATTER15]

I have been doing some research on the cost of rearing our own meat for our own consumption, I will kill and joint the pig myself but I can still buy it cheaper at Tesco.
Clearly the meat will be tastier and better quality and we will know its history but we should still be able to save some money on it!

I will lose even more money providing my own lamb as if I slaughter it, I am the only person permitted to eat it, so I will need to get the lamb slaughtered and butchered at the slaughter house for my family to be able to eat it.

This country is bloody mad!!!

[MadMen]

I agree, it's ludicrous!

But.... if you can do it, then I definitely would. As you say, you know exactly where it's come from, what it's been fed on (unlike supermarket meat!!) and it will taste so much better.
I am always extremely jealous of anyone who has the ability to be self-sufficient.

[jake-the-peg]

Why on Earth should that surprise you?

I'll bet you can't make a car cheaper than Ford can either or bake cakes cheaper than Mr. Kipling

It's economies of scale and the entire industrialised world is based on the notion

[vakayu]

Unfortunately ratter it seems so,have you only discovered that now,mad indeed.

[douglas9401]

It's not just the price either, try cuddling a tray of Tesco pork chops on a cold and stormy night.

[hc4361]

I'd do it if I had the space. I grow my own veg but I'd be surprised if it saves me money - it is just so much nicer :)

[RATTER15]

I haven't just discovered this and we will still be rearing our own pork and lamb, its just the economics of it that winds me up. No wonder farming is in such a poor state and only often surviving on subsidies!

[RATTER15]

^^^ Oh and chickens, maybe turkeys as well who knows lol.

[hc4361]

How much does the abattoir charge?
If you home slaughter, how do dispose of the waste?

[nannybooby]

omg reminds me of being a kid and taking all our veg pealings along the road to the welsh lady who kept chickens (then a luxury meat only for Christmas !) so that we could have a share of the eggs and the older birds that no longer were laying.

[vakayu]

You are fortunate indeed ratter to be able to do this yourself,not only are you assured of quality and taste but it must give you great satisfaction as well. Reading your post the rules are obviously different for pigs and lambs why is this?

[RATTER15]

hc4361. Charges for slaughter and butchery vary, but as a guide expect to pay around £15 per pig for slaughter and around 65p per kg for cutting. Sausages will cost more – around 85p per kg.

I was told that the only part of a pig that is not edible is the Oink!

I will bury any waste that the hounds wont eat, so not a lot, maybe just the lungs, the hounds don't like lung.

[RATTER15]

vakayu, Im not sure of the reasons why, but if I kill a pig, only my household can eat it, if I kill a lamb, only myself can eat it, crazy really, im sure there are reasons though.

[vakayu]

Thank-you first of all ratter for your reply which has just aroused my curiosity now,I just thought you would know the answer,also why are your household not allowed to eat the lamb,I am sure you would not do anything in the butchering or preparation which would harm them.

[ChuckFickens]

The regulations are here....
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/privatekillguidance2006.pdf

[ChuckFickens]

that was for vakayu's benefit, BTW, I'm sure Ratter knows the regulations :)

[Quoi]

Not quite true what you are saying ratter...

the pork you raise yourself should be much higher quality and you will have the satisfaction that its welfare has been considered.
That alone would cost more if you could even buy that from the supermarket

[vakayu]

Thanks for that chuckfickens I will certainly have a read,I find it unbelievable and fascinating at the same time,I won't ever be in a position to worry about it but interesting nevertheless,thanks again.

[Svejk]

I'm amazed, I agree with Jake the Peg.

[RATTER15]

Quoi, the facts haven't changed, it is still cheaper to buy it at Tesco.

I am aware of the quality and traceability issues etc.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe it's just cheaper to raise and slaughter many animals on a production line type system ?

Are folk allowed to slaughter their own animals ? Doesn't that need training and certificates in doing it without undue cruelty ?