Why We Raise Livestock for Our Fridge
There’s something honest about raising the animals that feed you. It’s not for everyone, but for us, it just makes sense. We’re not running a big commercial farm — just a few sheep, enough to stock our own freezer. The goal isn’t to cut out the butcher entirely, but to have a say in what we eat, how it’s raised and where it comes from.
1. Food Security in Your Own Backyard
Raising livestock gives you a buffer. Meat in the freezer means fewer last-minute trips to the shop and more control over what’s on your plate. You know exactly what the animals have eaten, how they’ve lived and that they were treated well — right up to the end.
2. No Preservatives, No Additives
The meat we raise and send to the butcher is just that — meat. No preservatives, no added water, no artificial anything. Just clean, real food. It’s a noticeable difference when you cook and eat it.
3. Ethical, Low-Stress Lives
It matters to us how animals are raised. Ours are rotated on pasture, treated calmly and live low-stress lives. We don’t push them for production. They get to just be animals. When it’s time, we use a butcher we trust to handle things legally and respectfully.
4. We’d Love to Do It Ourselves One Day
Long term, we’d like to be able to slaughter and butcher on-farm. But the upfront costs are high — you need a proper freezer space to hang the carcass, plus all the butchering gear. For now, we rely on the pros, but we’re working toward more independence in the future.
5. Less Waste, More Respect
When you’ve raised it yourself, nothing gets taken for granted. We use every part we can — roasts, mince, bones for broth. You think differently when you’ve seen the full process and you eat more consciously.
6. It’s Not All or Nothing
You don’t need a huge setup to raise your own meat. Even a couple of sheep or a batch of meat birds can make a difference. We started small, and we still keep it small — just enough for our needs, and that suits us fine.
Want to learn more about raising your own food?
Browse our other blogs on feeding livestock, choosing breeds for small farms, and rotational grazing tips.