Slaughterhouse visit to JBS

Walking out of the slaughterhouse I could not even begin to process everything I saw behind those high security walls. I was expecting it to be much worse than it actually was, but even still it was a hard sight to process. I will never forget everything I saw inside as the images of the plant are permanently embedded in my brain.

I am still disturbed from the experience. I still can’t get the setting of walking through the moving meat hanging from a ceiling conveyor belt. I couldn’t get the mixed look of shock and disgust off my face, and all the workers did was smirk and laugh. I guess if they work there every day their job can get a little monotonous, making me their entertainment for the day; however, I didn’t like their smirks at my distaste for the surroundings.

When actually watching the cows get knocked, my heart broke for these poor things literally walking to their death. Then after they got knocked, they would hang and twitch from the ceiling. Even though they were brain dead, they still have leftover energy so that is why they twitched. It was so freaky. I couldn’t bear to watch for too long.

Even though I hate what is done to these animals, I am so glad I can say I think JBS has one of the better plants in the slaughterhouse business. They have officials all over the plant and follow the rules more than one would expect. Even with us they were strict in making us follow all their rules and dress code policies. Although possibly annoying at the time, it definitely makes me feel better about the precautions taken when processing the meat. I am also more at ease knowing that cows are now classified as a food animal. That does not justify killing them completely, but it makes it a little easier to process.

Even though it was tough to see everything in the plant, I am definitely glad I went. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.