Homesteading Middles: Animal Husbandry

I have noticed myself more and more putting my own thoughts, ideas, sensations, desires, onto the animals that feed us with their bodies - to anthropomorphize the animals. To assign human traits to animals has historically been deemed unscientific - but I would contend that not assigning emotions, agency, or recognizable sensations to animals is a way to separate humans from animals, to make us better, and in turn to provide excuses for the mistreatment of such. Just ask Jane Goodall.

The first time I visited a milching* parlor I was in awe of the placid agreeability of these huge animals waiting patiently for their turn at the machines, the diligence and attention of the farmers cleaning teats and checking each animal. That was before I was a breastfeeding momma.

Now when I enter a milching parlor I can feel the gratitude of the large beasts. I know what a full udder feels like. I know the flood of hormones accompanying milk letdown. Pumping is not the same as holding a small warm hand, but it still relaxing. There is pleasure in releasing tight heavy mammary glands. I remember pressing full milk ducts in the warm shower and the feeling of relief that accompanied the stream of white milk shooting forth - almost like peeing.

All we need to do to call the alpacas to dinner is to walk towards that corner of their pasture. A small stampede careens over the grass - everyone jostling for position. Once the feeders are in place each nose descends into its depths. Chewing commences with a level of attention and focus to rival the first 5 minutes of Thanksgiving Dinner.

Recently I was checking for eggs with Dragon and noticed the water trough was empty. The girls were all outside in their run, meticulously avoiding these gangling humans with their rapid movements. Yet the moment I grabbed the water trough all heads perked up, all eyes on me. I took it outside and filled it with the hose. Then I did the awkward heavy container water two step to replace it inside the coop.

The moment we stepped away, the chickens streamed inside. All eyes were on the cool fresh water. Beaks dipped in and tipped back. I could feel their parched throats. I could feel water trickling down into tight muscles and hot skin. I could feel the coolness reach their bellies and radiate outward.

According to Wikipedia, animal husbandry comes to us from “the verb to husband, meaning "to manage carefully.”

I am not sure that is accurate - it is almost like saying parenting is about carefully managing children. Or that my partner is carefully managing me. I would say the better descriptor of what we do with our animals is to keep them safe and fed.

The managing they are perfectly capable of doing on their own.

*No, this is not a typo. See the comment when I wrote about my visit to Calder Dairy in Michigan from a very attentive reader re: milk vs milch.