'I Couldn't Look Them In The Eye': Farmer Who Couldn't Slaughter His Cows Turns His Farm Vegan

March 3, 2018

An English man who inherited a farm from his late father has decided to turn the farm vegan.

farmer refused to slaughter cows good news
Jay and Katja. Photo credit: Andrew Fox / iNews

Jay Wilde, 60, spent his whole life raising cattle on a 172-acre farm in Derbyshire, England. Wilde continued to the family business after inheriting the land a few years back, but as a vegetarian, he found the process of raising animals for slaughter very difficult.

"We did [our] best to look after them, but you knew you were going to betray them," he told iNews. "You really couldn't look them in the eye."

"People choose to fool themselves by saying, 'they're only animals, they don't know what's happening.' But I'm sure they do."

So, Jay and his wife Katja sent the majority of their 70 cattle to an animal sanctuary to live out their lives in peace.

farmer refused to slaughter cows good news
Photo credit: Andrew Fox / iNews

The couple kept a dozen of their favorite cows to keep as pets to roam the land with their 11 cats and two dogs.

As for the farm business, Wilde plans to transform the estate into a vegetable farm that will include a restaurant and cookery school. The Wildes have launched a crowdfunding page to raise funds for the transformation.

While their plan is a financial risk, Wilde says knowing he never has to send another cow to the abattoir is a huge weight off his shoulders.

They've also received many heartwarming letters from people applauding their decision to give the cows away and go vegan. Some have come from as far away as Canada.

farmer goes vegan good news

Wilde says that while he does miss the cows, he has no regrets in the decision to give them away.

"I miss the cows, however it's nice to think of them living a nice life in a sanctuary now," Wilde told Metro. "It just became more and more difficult taking them to slaughter. You know they have thoughts, dreams, and personalities, so being taken to be killed was a horrible experience for them too. I'm glad to have saved them from that. Giving them away was definitely the right option."


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoCouple Rescues Prairie Dog From Their Dog's Mouth, Then Decides To Adopt It

feel good storiesOhio Man Makes Waves With His Fully Functioning Hot Dog Boat

feel good storiesThese Are The Movie Scenes People Say Are Absolutely Flawless

feel good storiesWhy Hope Is The Key To A Meaningful Life, Backed By New Research

feel good storiesJudge Waives Parking Fines So Dad Can Keep Supporting Son’s Space Dreams

feel good storiesHungry Elephant Casually Walks Into Grocery Store For Snacks In Thailand

feel good videoWoman Tries To Help Bird, Then This Happened... And We Can't Stop Laughing

feel good videoSassy Pig Throws Hilarious Tantrum, Slams Door And Gives Mom Silent Treatment

feel good videoConcerned Momma Moose Wanders Into Alaska Firehouse

feel good videoArtist Creates Mesmerizing Optical Illusion Using Just A Marker And A Spinning Wheel

feel good videoUPS Driver Joins Teenagers On Graduation Slip ’N Slide

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me