Rocket goes to slaughter

The boys and I had an early start this morning as it was time to take Rocket to Scotch Premier in Inverurie for slaughter.

Ideally, we’d have waited for another fortnight or so to get her up to 60kg liveweight but I thought it best to get her in and the meat back just in case we get another foot-and-mouth outbreak with all the restrictions that involves.

Rocket went into the trailer with ease, but unloading her proved somewhat challenging.

The Big Lad was helping me as the culmination of his having fed, watered and cared for her over the past few months, so we both opened the trailer up together  to find a snoring pig lying in the straw.

Rocket opened one eye when we started urging her to get up, then closed it again and hunkered deeper into the straw. Well, it was 6.45am!

While the Big Lad lightly slapped her shoulders, I did the same on her rump but to no effect.

Next, I tried lifting her forequarters up and she rather reluctantly decided it was okay to sit in the straw.

Then it was back to her rump again, but Rocket was resolute. She was not going to stand, she was going sit.

So, I had to pick her rear end up and push forwards while the Big Lad slapped her shoulders and urged her forward.

After a lot of wheelbarrowing, we finally got Rocket onto the ramp where she attempted to lie down again only to find that it wasn’t very comfortable and finally decided it was better to stand.

Then, after one long and rather disdainful stretch she decided to amble slowly into the chute leading into the abattoir pens.

Job done.

The Big Lad was rightly pleased with his efforts - despite falling in the muck twice - so after closing and disinfecting the trailer, then disinfecting the Big Lad and my boots, we drove down the road to buy ourselves a chocolate before heading for home and breakfast.