[deleted]

Comments: 3588 • Responses: 38  • Date: 

NeverKneel614 karma

Do you use that thing from “No country for old men”? Lol just curious.

EmDawgrzz669 karma

If you're talking about the captive bolt gun, then yes, that's what we use prior to slaughtering!

SmugDrunk561 karma

When you say “small”; how many livestock do you process in a day, how many does the slaughterhouse process?

EmDawgrzz786 karma

We actually only do killings on Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays, we kill beef, and we usually only do about 20 to 25 at most which is nothing compared to some of the big slaughterhouses. on Thursdays we kill pigs and goats, and even then we only do about 20 or less. All of the other days it just consist of cutting the beef, pigs, etc. for customers and preparing their orders!

reddiliciously187 karma

1)What are the things you had to adjust yourself to and what are other things you were already comfortable doing?

2)Do you take the skin off too?

3)How often do you work with your hands and how often do you use a knife? And what for?

Thank you!

Edit: words

EmDawgrzz211 karma

I used to work in a grocery store as a meat clerk, so using knives and slicers were already something I was accustomed to!

Yes, we skin the animals and the hides are used by the customer (if they want them).

We're always using knives! It's a very hands on job, constantly cutting, trimming, etc. As well as wrapping, which is actually my main job.

AncientWyvernShield168 karma

How tall are you? Because that thing in your picture looks massive

EmDawgrzz154 karma

5'2!

MatsGry117 karma

What’s the strangest parasite you’ve found in an animal?

EmDawgrzz140 karma

Since I've been working there I haven't found any, but worms and maggots are common. You're more likely to find a nasty big abscess.

CanSerozan104 karma

Did you get more comfortable over time?

EmDawgrzz189 karma

For sure. When I came into this job I was really worried that I'd end up quitting due to not getting comfortable. even though I've always had a strong stomach and I'm very desensitized to gore, it's different when you see it in real life. But I wouldn't be where I am now had I not gotten used to it and understood there was a reason we do what we do.

Ck1ngK1LLER82 karma

What’s your favorite and least favorite part?

Do you get to pick special cuts to keep for yourself?

Is there anything that you’ve butchered and were like, ah hell naw I will never eat that again?

Do you primarily eat veggies?

EmDawgrzz160 karma

and yes, we are allowed to take whatever we want and we get a nice discount on it. We also get to try free samples of all our meats, and we do get some special things for ourselves such as smoked pig ears for our dogs, or specially made sausages ;)

Personally there's nothing I've tried that I wouldn't eat again, however my coworkers told me that one time they found a bear that had maggots in it, and that made them never want to eat bear again.

I actually do eat really healthy and not just meat. I honestly eat more fruits and vegetables and more vegetarian-based foods rather than meat, but that's just a personal preference and nothing that's based off of my job at a slaughterhouse. I've always tried to eat more plant-based foods just because I'm not a big meat lover in general!

DeSanti21 karma

Personally there's nothing I've tried that I wouldn't eat again

Would you try a sheep's head served with goat testicles?

'cause we can make that happen.

EmDawgrzz27 karma

welp, haven't tried that one, so can't say!

Unique_Plankton21 karma

Hold up. Where did your coworkers get a DEAD BEAR

EmDawgrzz23 karma

LOL customers will go up north to hunt them and bring them back to us to cut up!

EmDawgrzz91 karma

Like answered before to a previous comment, the worst part is the smell during kill, as well as the blood. Due to getting so dirty, we literally have to shower every single day or bring baby wipes to work to clean ourselves, LMAO. but my favourite part is definitely my coworkers, I probably wouldn't even be working here if it wasn't for them, and if I was, it wouldn't be nearly as fun as it is. Every month we have dinner together at a designated restaurant, we have parties, work trips, and overall they're just family to me!

ElJamoquio85 karma

we literally have to shower every single day

And here I just choose to shower EVERY SINGLE DAY for no reason whatsoever

EmDawgrzz45 karma

My dry ass hair hates when I do that

ElJamoquio6 karma

Try using some ass conditioner?

EmDawgrzz5 karma

I can't tell if you mean shitty conditioner or actual conditioner for your ass

lerriuqsgniylf18 karma

we literally have to shower every single day

Wait... what?

EmDawgrzz31 karma

Listen, I normally shower every other day :P

JamesRockf0rd48 karma

How did you get started off in that line of work?

EmDawgrzz83 karma

I got let go of a job for breaking my wrist. My friend was working at this place at the time, and someone had just been fired, so she asked me if I needed a job. Due to meeting the money, even though I had absolutely no experience, I agreed and began working full-time! Luckily, as weird as it may sound, training was pretty straightforward and it's not something you need a certificate or schooling to get the job unless you want to run your own business yourself.

Danbruh45 karma

What steps do you take to ensure the animals feel little to no pain? Or are their deaths pretty painful?

EmDawgrzz65 karma

We use what is called a captive bolt gun. From my knowledge, it basically stuns animal in a way that they feel no pain as they are completely unconscious. It also preserves the brain and head for use later on when cutting and preparing cuts of meat!

I can't say whether their death is completely painless, but we do what we can to limit that pain to nearly anything. We do not beat any of the animals prior to being stunned, which is a common misconception.

SophieJiffy37 karma

I heard that people in this job suffer more from mental health problems - particularly PTSD. Maybe it is too soon for you, but do any of your colleagues have experience of this?

EmDawgrzz42 karma

Absolutely. I myself struggle with a lot of mental issues, but fortunately none have stemmed from this job. Not to say that I'll never be affected in the long run, but I'm hoping I don't.

One of our inspectors actually did go kind of, well, of the walls due to dealing with all the killing. He said that it was getting to him, he didn't think he could do it anymore, and he was scared he was going to snap. Luckily he is no longer an inspector and I'm hoping he's getting the help he needs considering after we heard this we told his job headquarters about it.

SAFE-OPINION26 karma

What is your favorite and least favorite part of the job? What duties do you have specifically?

EmDawgrzz47 karma

My least favourite is definitely the smell. It can get pretty disgusting in the kill room, and in the garbage bins that we keep all the unused meat and bones in since the smell lingers. It's something you get used to though. You definitely have to have a strong stomach as well.

My favourite part would definitely have to be making our locally famous shish kabobs. Super easy, we get to taste the delicious seasoning, and we get to listen to music or Netflix as we do so!

pigfail24 karma

Is it true that often butchers dislike eating meat? Heard from a friend that they lose appetite for any meat due to the whole process.

EmDawgrzz23 karma

Most of us love meat, but I don't eat a ton in general, even before working here. But after looking at meat all day, it definitely can cause appetite loss.

bearforcongress20 karma

I’ve always been told that wild hogs (especially boars), that are the size of the one pictured, have very strong and smelly meat. Have I been told wrong?

EmDawgrzz11 karma

Nope, that is correct!

ilovezezima11 karma

Would you/your employer be willing to film what goes on and share the video online? Just to prove that slaughterhouses are totally humane?

EmDawgrzz8 karma

Of course!

stupidsexyflanders-4 karma

Does doing this for a living effect your mental health? I wouldn’t last a minute in a slaughterhouse.

EmDawgrzz3 karma

It definitely can have a strong impact and influence on mental health issues. So far working here has not made my already existing mental health any worse, but it all depends on the person. Not to say that I'll never be affected, but in the current time I am not, and none of my coworkers, who have been working there for years and years are affected either. The only person at my job who was ever affected to the point where they quit was an inspector, but his only job was to go to slaughter houses and watch them kill. At least at our job we don't just kill, and we do other things every other day when we are not.

NeuroApathy4 karma

How do you feel emotionally when you kill a sentient life?

EmDawgrzz3 karma

it's not fun by any means, and I'm not trying to make it out like it is fun to kill an animal. It's just how the food chain works and how we provide food for the people around us. Overall it is your own choice whether you want to eat meat or not. I have no judgement towards those who are vegan or vegetarian, I actually praise them for it.

AnotherDrunkCanadian4 karma

Do you or other family members "smell bad" after a day of slaughtering? I've heard that blood smell just doesn't escape your pores no matter how many showers you take.

Not sure what to believe, but I remember having a car insurance client who worked at an abattoir and he always smelled god-awful

EmDawgrzz22 karma

Oh for sure we stink, but some animals smell worse than others. But there are some days we absolutely REEK, and others were barely.

I'm not sure how true it is that the smell never goes away, but after I shower my boyfriend always says I smell like roses <3

unless he's lying

owntheh3at183 karma

I am curious how your job was impacted by COVID. Did you have to shut down completely at any point?

EmDawgrzz8 karma

Nope! Since we are considered an essential business due to being food, we never shut down, however we do have rules in place, no one except employees or close friends that we have already been around are allowed inside the building, whereas before Covid anyone was allowed to come inside

1320Fastback3 karma

We feed our dogs raw food. Ever get any dog food orders?

EmDawgrzz2 karma

Yep! We make dog food every Thursday with beef trimmings and/or chicken that we buy from another shop in case the dog is allergic to one or the other

FromMyFingers3 karma

Have you caught any shit from friends and family for doing what you do?

EmDawgrzz2 karma

My family and friends are actually very supportive of what I do for work. They understand that this is how I make money and what I choose to do. Most of the people I've met and told about my job think it's kind of cool, which is odd but whatever, at least they're supportive!

BFeely13 karma

Is that a wild boar/feral pig in your picture? My understanding is that domestic pigs don't usually grow tusks.

EmDawgrzz5 karma

It's a wild boar!