As a city dweller, the closest I can get to live stock is keeping a few chickens in the garden , and I did until I got tired of subsidising the local fox populations meat intake. I noticed something on a BBQ facebook group that really piqued my interest.
A small holding in Devon sells "shares" in a little of pigs , which they raise with the highest levels of welfare to a given weight. When their time comes , they are butchered locally and your share ( 1/4 of said pig ) is then shipped to you. I've just managed to secure a share on their next batch, which I'm quite chuffed with. It going to be a few months before they are ready, but I believe they provide many updates on how they are getting along ( you can even visit them! ). Its the first time I've seen the concept and I think it works well for those of use who would view themselves as a "responsible carnivore" If I am going to eat meat of a known provenance , I want it to have lead a stress free life and will make sure I use as much of it as possible ( not sure what I'm going to do with the trotter yet )
I know there are a few foodies that would be equally interested, hence the post - I don't know if there are any shares left in the upcoming batch, but it might be worth watching out for the next one!
http://www.pigyourown.co.uk/