** Disclaimer: The following link contains graphic images, please take caution when opening the link and viewing. The process of slaughter I understand is not for everyone. However we feel it is important to realize that this is where meat comes from. And this is one process of how it gets from the pasture to your plate. **
For the rest of you, enjoy this visual tour through a Cargill plant in Dodge City, Kansas. It is absolutely fascinating to me to watch this process. I have never had the opportunity to visit a Cargill plant, however, I’ve toured through many slaughterhouse facilities including Harris Ranch. I am always amazed at the perfection of production as well as the how CLEAN it really is even though they are doing a somewhat “dirty” job.
Cargill is what is called a federally inspected slaughter and processing facility. What this means in simple terms is that while slaughter operations and processing operations are going on, there are USDA or (FSIS) inspectors ON SITE. What this also means is that meat processed here can be re-sold in a retail market as well as sold wholesale. These are just two examples of what this classification means and essentially it is the highest standard for inspection. This differs from our operation which is classified as custom exempt in that we don’t have an inspector in site at all times during slaughter activities. We also are limited in who we can sell our meat to. Meat slaughtered and processed by us cannot be re-sold in our retail store, it is for the use of the customer, his immediate family, or friends. We also cannot sell wholesale.
It is also interesting to note how many women works there are! Meat industry is not all made up of men, plants like this are probably some of the largest employers of women in the meat industry. As well as some of the largest employers in a rural area.
I love that this company regardless of its size and stature is still able to be transparent. I applaud them for putting these images out there and trying to open up communication with consumers. This is a step in the right direction for showing consumers that we have nothing to hide. When in fact, we aren’t hiding anything from them, we are just ensuring that we remain safe from news media and other outlets who (as we have seen) have the ability to shut facilities like this down with just one story and put these 131,000 people out of work.
So here it is, a look inside Cargill: http://www.kansas.com/2011/03/30/1785584/processing-beef-at-cargill.html
Happy Friday everyone! And we hope everyone has a wonderful Easter with their families, friends, and loved ones!
Somethings I can handle, but this I find really upsetting and disturbing and I have to speak my mind about this.
On Picture 11, you’ll notice that he’s viewing a video feed and a large wide screen Vizio TV. The Aspect Ratio is WAY off. This is due to the fact that most camera systems are still being made for a 4:3 aspect ratio monitor system. Yet the wide screen TV’s they are using are set up for a 16:9 aspect ratio. Thus “streching” of the picture is occuring.
Plus by using a “Full Screen View” as he is doing… well he’s not doing himself any favors there either. It’s more than likely the camera only has a 580 line, or maybe 700 line resolution. Viewing that type of resolution on such a big screen can actually lead to eye strain.
To finish it all off, he’s got three keyboards and two (visible) mice. He could easily replace them with one keyboard and mouse and use a switcher unit. This would allow him to free up some desk space.
It really does upset me to see people not realizing there’s simple and easy solutions to clear up such cabling clutter and free up his desk from all those keyboards.
Cool plant though!
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