'grew up working on small, family farms in Minnesota. I've helped castrate hogs. The hogs recovered quickly.
I think many people want to eat meat but don't like meat production.
I remember taking an Indian friend of mine to the local county fair. He was resistant to tour the live stock barns but
he was amazed to see 4-H kids caring for their animals. Yup, after the fair many of the animals were going to be meat.
This didn't keep the farm kids from lovingly caring for the animals.