I admit I don't have a strict rational justification for keeping animals for food. It is more about a feeling - as I've been interested the way my ancestrors lived, I feel I'd like to learn some of those skills. Then several years ago one of my friends asked if I could host her flock of sheep while she is travelling - I agreed. When she returned, we decided that all the ewes go back to her, and I can keep Pekka the Ram and his sons. Then, bit later I was asked to host two ewes - which I could do, since they were not related to Pekka. I gave away one of the young rams, and slaughtered the another. And that way I was left with two ewes and a ram. From that on my options were either to get Pekka the Ram castrated, or let him live his maleness to the fullest... So, in this natural yearly cycle of birth, growth and death I occasionally have to play the role of a predator - as, anyhow, keeping domestic animals means that humans have to take responsibility of simulating some aspects of wild nature. So, I do my best to play my part as gently and smoothly as possible =)