A difficult profession called a meat deboner

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Meat deboner is a very specific profession that not many people can master. The reason for this is that not everyone is able to butcher an animal carcass and not experience discomfort. And besides, to become a good deboner, you need to develop knife skills at the level of a high-quality surgeon, and also have the body of a real athlete.

And yet, every year across the country, more than one hundred young professionals are hired for this position. So what is a meat deboner? What are the features of this profession? And how relevant is it?

Profession meat deboner

Before meat reaches the stores, it goes through a long process of processing and cutting. Part of this chain is the deboner, whose job is to trim the meat from the bones and sometimes from the tendons (then this position is called a deboner-veiner).

In his work, the meat deboner uses a special knife, which, like a scalpel, removes the flesh from the bones. The complexity of the process lies in the fact that all this must be done with the utmost precision so that no pulp remains on their surface. In addition, at large enterprises, this work must also be done quickly, because it depends on what salary will be given this month.

In some organizations, the work of this specialist can be slightly simplified due to partial mechanization. For example, installing a conveyor belt, circular saws or an automated lift.

Where can I learn this profession?

Before you can get this position, you need to go through special training. Meat deboning is a technological profession, therefore, you can learn it at a college or technical school. And it is not necessary to choose this particular profile, the main thing is to get the necessary knowledge about the anatomy of animals and the norms of meat processing.

Practical skills are more important, because in order to get a job in a large production, you need to have decent speed, as well as cutting accuracy. And without experience this cannot be achieved, so at the first stages you will have to be an apprentice with a more experienced meat deboner.

By the way, many meat processing plants and factories have special vacancies for trainees. To get a job there, it is not necessary to have a diploma from a specialized technical school or college. It is enough to have a zeal for work, as well as a desire to learn a new profession. But, it is true, the salary for the duration of the internship will be reduced.

What qualities should a deboner have?

A person applying for this position, first of all, must be very hardy and strong. Indeed, throughout the entire shift, you will have to stand on your feet and at the same time wield a knife that has a decent weight. If the deboner is engaged in butchering the whole carcass, and not its individual parts, then you should prepare for the fact that it will be necessary to drag heavy pieces of meat.

But more importantly, such a specialist must calmly endure the sight of blood and the smell of dead flesh. If at first it seems not too difficult, then after a few weeks, many can not stand it.

Well, an important quality is the desire to develop, because in this position there is an opportunity to grow professionally. To be more precise, deboners are divided into six categories, each of which indicates a level of skill. For example, the sixth is the highest and gives access to work at any meat processing plant.

Advantages and disadvantages of the profession

Let's start with the positives. In the first place is the fact that this profession is in great demand in the labor market, moreover, in large regional centers there are always announcements: “Meat deboner required”. Kyiv, Moscow, Minsk - in fact, in any city or country, this specialist will always be in business. At the same time, their salary is very impressive, at least for middle-level workers.

As for the cons, the increased risk to life dominates here. Not only do you have to work with dangerous knives andblades, so also the bodies of animals can be carriers of many diseases. However, all legal supplies are checked by veterinarians, and this reduces the risk of meat contamination.

Where to look for a job?

The best place to work for a meat deboner is a large plant or slaughterhouse. There are more salaries and less manual work, because most of the processes are automated.

But both small businesses and butcher shops can be a good shelter for a deboner. In particular, for those who want to gain experience and develop skills for further work in this difficult area.