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Project 3A/5DB (Earth)

Re: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PROJECT, AREA 3A (ENGLAND)

I am pleased to report that the animal husbandry experiment is progressing well. Due to the infiltration of agents into key positions, the project has gone unnoticed as yet by the great majority of subjects.

ENVIRONMENT:

These unique two-legged animals thrive and flourish under our factory farming conditions. I can safely say that no allegations of cruelty could possibly be levied against us, because the strange fact is that the creatures choose these conditions voluntarily as their natural habitat. Their confined environment of brick-built farming-units, maintained at a temperature of at least 20 degrees Centigrade, is extremely efficient insofar as it produces fine heavy-meat animals. The lethargy encouraged by these conditions also works to our advantage as the consequent low metabolic rate maintains bulk.

FATTENING:

In line with general policy, this is achieved painlessly. Certain foods create good heavy-meat breeds of both sexes. We simply make available - through our manufacturing/distribution agents in the fodder groups - High Growth Nutrients (HGN's) based on what they call SUGAR and FATS. Although some partisan minorities who suspect us try to warn them against HGN's, thanks to a stream of messages and images transmitted via the mind-Reducer, they eat them in large enough quantities for our needs. Great credit is due to Comrade D4 for his invention of the Static Mid-Frequency Mind Reducer, Audio-Visual Module. By placing it in the Central Letharge-Area where all the creatures in the one unit can see it, it effectively reduces movement to a minimum without any restraints at all having to be used.

STREAMLINING:

By using the audio-only module, we can quickly stimulate the required reactions in the young bacon-beasts who need sweating down. On receiving the audio-rhythm signal X42, speed A10), they automatically exercise non-stop until transmission ceases. This is done more efficiently by summoning large numbers of them to assemble in one place through the papersheet Visual-Only Manipulator Mark 11. They are very co-operative and react most co-operatively.

BREEDING:

Unlike us, they are not bisexual, but are divided into male and female, but this presents no problems. The likelihood is that there is enough production capacity here to feed our planet for the foreseeable future. Breeding is stimulated by visual and audio conditioning of all kinds. We call it 'Advertising'.

The male is very suggestive from an early age and responds well until quite old. They breed better when offered several mates, although occasionally, perhaps due to a failed earlier project of genetic experimentation, they try to mate with another male.. We have no record of this ever producing offspring.

The females do not seem to want to produce litters as often as is technically possible, although the males encourage it., especially the ones who benefit by the distribution of clothing and containers etc for the litters.

NB We expect to soon bypass this tedious method by the cloning process, which we have brought to their attention.

SLAUGHTERING:

These creatures have a very short life-span equal only to approximately =two of our years. Thus enough die naturally to be almost sufficient for our needs. We have speeded things up a little by introducing 'Mortem-Factors'. These are known by the creatures as CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, AND DRUGS. They are medical in nature; they kill the creatures fairly painlessly while inducing a feeling of well-being; thus they co-operate well, and we keep our administrative personnel to a minimum.

There are also mechanical Mortem- Factors used ostensibly to transport the free-range animals. These artifacts known (see also under FLAVOURING ) account for about 20% of all contrived slaughterings.

Occasionally it is necessary to have a cull if there is a glut of male creatures, but this presents no problems either. Via the Audio-Visual Mind Reducers and the Papersheet Manipulators we can induce quite quickly the intense desire in the animals to kill each other. We are helped in this by the Herd Leaders who often stand to gain in many ways from a Cull.

The project can be presented as

1.. RELIGIOUS. The basic tenet of this is the idea of Peace, Love and Fellowship. It is our most successful line as it results in more slaughterings than any other stimulant.
2.. (b) TERRITORIAL. All groups of creatures appear to bitterly resent other groups encroaching on their own 'territory', and will quickly attempt to kill them. As soon as this is achieved, THEY immediately encroach on neighbouring territory and it all starts again. Another very effective method.
NB We are promoting a new idea for the next cull which will result in the carcasses being cooked for 'ready-meals'. See more of this in the general File under " N, NUCLEAR "

FLAVOURINGS.

This presented some initial difficulty as our most popular flavours were not present in this meat. Research showed that the chemicals involved were alien to their normal diet. However, Lead being a firm favourite on our planet, the previously mentioned Mortem-Factor was fuelled with a propellant that resulted in large quantities of lead being absorbed painlessly from the atmosphere by the Earth creatures. Other popular flavours such as nitrates, dioxides, sodium derivatives etc. were introduced into their fodder, and with the help of a little conditioning via the AV Mind-Reducer they began to enjoy these additives and think them beneficial. Other substances given to them by their medicine-men with great frequency also tenderise and flavour quite delightfully.

PRESERVATION:

Essentially the same approach- by feeding them chemicals ostensibly designed to preserve their fodder, we find the carcasses last amazingly well. Some growths may be noted on the offal but these are not detrimental to the flavour of the meat as a whole.

PACKAGING AND DESPATCH:

The creatures do have an ideal that after they die they are transported SOMEWHERE. Of course they do not know of our planet, and thus call their destination 'HEAVEN'. To facilitate this, they very helpfully crate each carcass individually. In some cases they even freeze them for us, although these particular ones have a quaint notion that they will be "awoken" on arrival. Perhaps it could be interesting to do so? We could even allow another one to return and extol the virtues of our planet, now that the effects of the first experiment in that direction have almost worn off?

GENERAL:

It did seem at one time as if the more intelligent of the creatures were beginning to suspect our presence. To forestall this possible source of trouble, we quickly infiltrated their so-called Education System . We are happy to report that as a result of our prompt action the intelligence level has been easily reduced to not more that zero+10 practically across the board.

I will report again if there is any change in the basic conditions detailed above. None are expected.

Otherwise you will hear from me as scheduled, in ten Earth-decades, by which time I hope we shall have solved the only problem so far encountered in our adaptation of the Earth Factory-Farm Colony. I refer to the fact that after a period on a diet of Earth Creatures, one side-effect has become apparent:

To the discerning diner, they can leave a strangely unpleasant aftertaste.

Comments

I wonder if Judith would consider using this piece as the basis for a larger work? It would be interesting to see a longer story, perhaps from two alternating viewpoints : Human dissident / alien harvester.
How would the Harvester react to problems from a human's guerrila tactics, and would a small group of people who realised what was actually going on be able to compete with his/her methods? From what I have read here, I am confident that Judith could tackle the subject in considerably more depth and still hold the reader's attention. She certainly caught mine!
Janis Robertson.

Very inventive. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A good well-written article throughout. I would like to see this writer tackle a story with the conventions of storyline, characterisation and plot - and see how the work shapes up. She clearly possesses considerable talent.
Stig Geiger

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