28 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | January 2025 BHL EQUIPMENT INC. Sarsfield • 613-835-2623 BONNEAU FARM SUPPLY Chatham • 519-354-5100 G.J.’S HARVEST CENTRE INC. Burgessville • 519-424-9374 G.J.’S HARVEST CENTRE INC. Milverton • 519-603-8374 HAWLEY’S GARAGE Belleville • 613-969-5525 J&H SALES & SERVICE Chesley • 519-363-3510 J&J EQUIPMENT REPAIR INC. Powassan • 705-724-6565 M&P FARM EQUIPMENT Almonte • 613-253-4957 MCCABE TRACTOR SALES Lindsay • 705-799-2868 YURKE SALES & SERVICE Comber • 519-687-2209 MOBILE BUTCHER PROFILES “It’s also challenging to try to travel and reach the animal at an appropriate time. That also goes with temperature. I have only one trailer, and if an animal goes down or if there’s more than one, it’s difficult to get to all those animals, and it is quite upsetting to tell people no.” As an on-farm butcher, Cole cannot move meat or carcasses off the farm. In warmer weather, when keeping carcasses cool is critical, this means he may only get to one animal in a day. “This time of year is usually my busy season. I also thought that summer wouldn’t be as busy, but I was wrong. And with the rules in Ontario regarding meat staying on-farm, I can only do one animal at a time,” explains Cole, stating that as his business grows over the next few years, he would like to have a second refrigerated trailer. “I don’t plan on hiring employees for the business. I would like to have more than one trailer, maybe when the time comes, but I can only do so much at one time.” When thinking about the challenges he’s encountered in his work, Cole would also like to see better tools used by farmers to help get injured animals up. This is one reason why education is an important aspect of his business. He enjoys including this educational aspect on his Facebook page, ‘Cole the Butcher,’ and appreciates time to chat with farmers about the benefits of on-farm slaughter and butchering for livestock. He recently also taught a course about how to butcher a pig. “I love the education part of my job. I believe everyone should be able to do this in case something happens in life. It’s a skill that everyone should learn,” says Cole. He would also like to dispel the misconception that butchers are grouchy. “I like to be social and educate my clients, and I ask them if they want to watch the slaughter so they can someday learn to do it themselves. “It’s all about being low-stress. The only thing needed by the farmer is a loader and a hose. I always tell people you can feed the animals and make them as comfortable as possible. It’s over in an instant, and I think it’s the most humane way of slaughtering an animal.” He also shares his passion for education with his son and daughter, who he hopes will choose to work with him in his business in future. “My kids are young – two and four – and they are very educated. They have seen my videos and know what Daddy does,” says Cole. “In my spare time, my kids and my family are my everything. My goal in life is that my son or daughter would come work with me someday.” Mobile butchering certainly brought Cole a renewed sense of purpose. “Butchery as a whole has changed my life. I never thought I’d be doing this, and it’s changed my life for the better.” BF
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