Cattle Show Me What You're Made Of

-Meet Mali, Oliver, Kassia, Michael and Rhianna.

-Hiya!

Five pampered kids with all of the clothes,

gadgets and toys they could ever dream of.

I'm happy that I've got everything.

I'm the brand man.

We've travelled nearly 2,000 miles from the Amazon city

of Manaus to the wilds of the Mato Grosso do Sul

to start work in the Brazilian beef industry.

Can our kids cope on a cattle farm?

You know how hard it is to manoeuvre with a wheelbarrow?

And what will happen

when they're asked to work in a meat processing plant?

People are just flinging meat all over the place.

It's really...overwhelming.

Will anyone have an appetite for the work?

They look really scared but they don't look like

they know what's happening.

This is what our burgers are. That's our burger right there.

Today we are in the middle of nowhere...

It looks like what you would expect in, like, cowboy films.

..in the Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil's agricultural heartland.

-It certainly looks different, doesn't it, to back home?

-Yeah.

Doesn't look very alive. It looks pretty dead.

'But this remote wilderness is where they'll be working.'

Our five kids will be spending some time in a ranch,

alongside cowboys, where they'll be trying to get to grips with

some of the cattle used in Brazil's booming beef industry.

CATTLE MOO

THEY CHEER

'First up, it's time to meet the owner of the farm, Andre.'

OK, guys. The boss is en route. He's on his way.

Here he comes.

THEY CHEER AND LAUGH

Here's your boss.

Hello.

Hello, guys.

-ALL: Hello.

-Andre, how are you?

Welcome to the Nossa Senhora das Gracas farm.

Here, we work to produce the natural...

and best beef to send to Europe.

Now, let's look the cattle, all right?

-All right.

-Come on.

That's the cattle coming out now.

They got funny humps on their neck.

'The cows are a tough breed called Nelore.'

Are the cattle dangerous?

Well...that cattle is...500kg.

Are you think they dangerous?

Yes, they dangerous.

OK, guys, let's go to the first job.

'It's the first opportunity to impress the boss.

'The kids will be working with his prize assets...his cattle.'

Wow, they're waiting for us.

'Brazil is the world's biggest exporter of beef.

'There are around 250 million cows in the country.

'And looking after them is physical and demanding work.

'Will our kids be able to handle the herd?'

OK, your first job in the farm

is to fill up the trough.

So, they have to fill up the entire trough with food for the cattle?

Yes.

'The trough is over 100m long.'

All of it?

Yeah!

-It's a big trough.

-ALL: Yeah...

You can't even see the bottom clearly, like,

-it just goes on forever.

-Yes.

'Feeding the cows is one of the most important jobs on the farm.

'They need to be at maximum weight before they are sold

'and they are worth around £500 each.'

So, no laziness, no moaning, no bickering.

You've got to work together as a team.

Let's begin.

'The group has been split into two teams.

'Olly and Mali are removing the old food from the trough

'and taking it to the sheep.'

Oh, the sheep are in the way. Sheep!

Go, go, go.

It's hard work, this.

Let's go, let's go.

'Kassia, Michael and Rhianna are in charge of fetching the new feed.

'The cows are being fed a special mix that helps them gain weight,

'but the recipe is not impressing Michael.'

It's just sweetcorn and sticks put in with loads of random stuff,

like hay...I saw a peg in there...

'The cows love this food and the kids will have to move quickly

'to fill up the trough for them.'

It's so hard.

We've only done about five to six metres and I'm already shattered.

'It's gruelling work, but competitive Kassia is on a mission.'

Let's go, guys! Who's coming? Rhianna?

I'll come with you.

'Back in the UK, dance champion Kassia is used to being number one.'

If I came home from a competition without any trophies, then

I would feel quite disappointed in myself.

It's not about taking part, it's about winning.

I will be quite competitive when I get out there

and I will want to win, like, most of the challenges.

'And, so far, she has been promoted in every factory in Brazil.'

-Congratulations, you are promoted.

-Yes!

-You're promoted.

-Thank you!

-Promoted.

-Thank you!

'And now she has her sights set on a fourth.'

If I didn't get promoted today, I'd feel really gutted.

Kassia is, like, the top person in the group.

She's, like, the one person that everyone wants to try and beat.

Kassia is way too confident at times.

I think, today, Kassia should be demoted or fired,

just so she knows how it feels.

'It's not just Kassia hoping to make a big impression.

HE YELLS

'So are the boys.'

I think me and Mali are doing quite well.

We're going quite fast...

and we're working as a team.

'Olly is yet to be promoted in Brazil.'

I think I'm going to get promoted and I'm going to focus

and, hopefully, I'll do it.

'And Michael has an even bigger point to prove.'

Right, so, Kassia goes backwards and forwards,

I go down with Kassia now and I'll quickly shovel it in.

-Go, go.

-Just go!

'So far, his work record has been disastrous.'

You look lazy.

I'm sick of it. Absolutely sick of it.

'He has been demoted twice.'

Michael wasn't very good.

-You don't even have to say anything.

-You are demoted.

'And, at the last factory, it got even worse.'

Who's fired?

-Michael.

-THEY LAUGH

'But this seems to be a new Michael.'

You know how hard it is to manoeuvre with a wheelbarrow?

Michael's doing excellent, bless him. He's proper trying.

-Come on, Michael!

-Come on!

He's proper getting into it, running around, so,

I think it's really good.

Our five are working amazingly well

and I'm so proud of how much effort they seem to be putting in,

but this task has only just started and they have got

a long, long way to go.

'And that's not the only problem.

'The cows have started eating the food faster than

'the kids can bring it.'

They're getting closer.

Because they hungry.

'The boss is trying to fatten them up, but the trough is nearly empty.'

Hello, team.

'And now he wants a word with the group.'

You need to start again.

-THEY GASP

-Yes, look here.

You were good, but you were slow.

The cows are used to having the food a lot quicker, so you just have to

go back from where you began and refill everything.

-Why?

-What?

I am not impressed whatsoever, at all.

It's just the reality of working in Brazil on a farm.

Come on, Michael, come on! Show me that enthusiasm.

Come on, Michael. Like you were in the beginning.

How can I be enthusiastic now?

Honestly, it's pathetic.

You don't understand how much my back's hurting.

'It's bad news for the kids, but how will they react to the setback?'

I'm feeling quite angry, but I think we still need to all try

and I think we might be able to do it.

Finish our task.

Never start something if you're not going to finish it.

I'm fuming. Absolutely fuming.

All our hard work has gone to nothing.

Right, come on, positive attitude. Positive attitude.

Positive attitude, Rhianna?

Upwards is the way.

At the moment, it seems like we're going downwards.

Michael, honestly, you just try, otherwise

you're not going to get anywhere.

I've been demoted twice, I've been fired,

I don't see the point of trying any more.

Come on, please, for us. For us. Please, Michael, come on.

If I get demoted, I won't be happy.

'Eventually, Michael is coaxed back to work.'

Come on.

'Everyone has reacted very differently to the challenge.

'But now the boss needs the two best workers to help him

'with another tough job.'

Well. Good job.

Thank you.

He's very happy with all of your work, but two of you have shone.

Who are those two?

Well, Kassia, please,

and Olly.

THEY SQUEAL

Oh! Oh!

All right, all right, all right! Please, please, please!

So, do you two want to follow us?

We'll show you where you're going to be working.

See you guys soon.

'Olly is thrilled he has his first promotion

'and Kassia has bagged her fourth.'

-Come on.

-'But, once again, Michael has missed out.'

I'm really annoyed. I am pleased that I made an effort,

but, to be honest, now, I don't think it was worth it.

Don't worry.

I think you performed so well

and you should be proper proud of yourself,

cos you know I'd tell you if I thought you did rubbish.

-Yeah, you would.

-Exactly.

Yeah, I'll get on with it, then. Carry on.

# We're all gonna do this together. #

'Over in the horses' stables, the boss has another physical task

'for his two hardest workers.'

Come on, please.

Okey-dokey.

OK, boss, so, very simply,

can you tell our two what they need to do next?

Well, guys, your job is clean the horse stable.

Right? Congratulations.

BOTH: Thank you.

So, you've got to get yourself in that box, clean out all the poo,

all the dirt, all the filth, and this has got to be left spotless.

-OK.

-I know it doesn't sound like an obvious promotion,

-but you're now in the stables, which is a step up.

-Yeah.

All right, let's do this. Oh, it stinks in here.

I was expecting driving a tractor or something.

I wasn't really expecting...shovelling up poo.

'It's a mucky task, but, as usual, Kassia gets stuck in.'

This isn't the promotion I expected, but I used to do horse riding

when I was younger and I used to have to do it all the time, anyway.

'And nothing can ruin the moment for Olly.'

So, Olly, how does it feel to be promoted for the first time?

So good.

-Are you glad?

-Yeah.

-Last one?

-Yeah.

-It smells delicious!

-I know!

'As Olly and Kassia finish up at the stables...

'Michael and Rhianna are on their way to meet a family

'who live and work on the farm...'

-Hello.

-Hello.

'..15-year-old Paola...

'her mum, Nena, the farm cook...

'and father Paolo, who is a farmhand.'

SHE SPEAKS PORTUGUESE

'Paola's keen to show the kids her bedroom.'

It's really nice in here.

We have similar bedrooms.

I have loads of pictures of me and my friends on my wall, too.

Ah, sim.

'After school, Paola works for four hours a day on the farm.'

Who pays for your things?

Do your mum and dad buy you everything?

-TRANSLATION:

-No, I pay for it.

I bought the mirror and the wardrobe,

I buy all my stuff.

You had to buy your own wardrobe and carpet?

No way.

Obviously, you work hard to get your stuff in your bedroom.

I've never worked in my life.

-TRANSLATION:

-When I come back from school,

I look after the house,

I wash the dishes, I do everything, and then,

over the weekend, I help my mum cooking lunch.

I won't do any chores. It's for my mum to do.

One day, my mam told me to mow the lawn

and I told her that it was her grass so she had to do it herself.

-TRANSLATION:

-No. I would never talk back to my mum like that

and I never intend to, because I don't want to see her reaction.

'The kids may be laughing,

'but, before Michael and Rhianna leave,

'mum Nena stops them for a word.'

-TRANSLATION:

-Can I be honest?

From the little I heard of you talking, you seem spoiled.

You have things very easy for you. Here, things are very different.

We teach them to work to get what they want.

I feel really, like, lazy, cos my mum does everything for me.

When I go back home, hopefully

I'll do better and I'll help my mam.

-TRANSLATION:

-You can only gain from that.

You have to do it, not just say it.

Keep your word.

You have to keep your word.

'I feel like I've had a proper telling off, though, by her mum.'

I was so speechless at one point.

Nice meeting you.

I didn't know what to say because she was just totally honest.

She definitely got her point across to me, like,

-I understand where she's coming from now.

-Of course.

'Now they have seen all sides to this farm,

'I have some news for them about tomorrow.'

OK, team, first day over. First day at the farm finished.

The day has been perfect on the farm.

It's the first time that we all put, like,

our heart and souls into it and really, really tried.

I'm really glad for Olly and Kassia, again, to be promoted.

I would have liked to have been, but...yeah.

Now, I know you've all had a really enjoyable experience here,

but tomorrow we are not going to be coming back to the farm.

No!

-Why?

-Why not?

Tomorrow, I'm going to be bringing you all to an abattoir.

Isn't that where they kill the animals?

It's a slaughterhouse.

-THEY GASP

-It's horrible! It's cruel.

We all eat burgers, we all love meat.

Maybe it's worth seeing how it gets on your plate.

I was looking forward to coming back here.

'The kids are shocked. Tomorrow, they will be seeing

'a very different side to the beef industry.'

'It's the morning of day two.

'Yesterday, our five got to grips with cows on a cattle farm.

'Today, they will be working in a meat processing factory,

'handling raw meat.'

This place is where they kill and process between 300 and 500 cows

every single day.

This really could be a massive shock to the system.

Every year, 40 million cows are killed and processed

in factories just like this one.

The various cuts of beef end up in restaurants,

shops and supermarkets all around the world.

It's a messy business

and I'm hoping our kids are cut out for the work.

'Before we head into the factory,

'the kids have asked boss Andre to take them to see the cattle.

'It couldn't feel more different from the farm

'and Kassia is already on edge.'

-It's not something you see every day, is it?

-No.

So, it is a bit difficult.

-That one escaped...

-You just...

-KASSIA GROANS

-You OK, Kass?

-Yeah.

You all right?

CATTLE MOO LOUDLY

'And then a worker comes to take the cows inside.'

Move! Down here!

CATTLE MOO LOUDLY

They shout at them.

'The kids are shocked and, for Kassia, it's all become a bit much.'

Well, they look really scared, but they don't look like

they know what's happening.

Is that what's upset you?

-You think they don't know what's about to happen?

-Yeah.

So, you feel sorry for them?

Seeing all the cows and just watching them

go into that corridor thing...

I don't want to cry, though. I don't even know why I'm crying.

Kassia, don't be ridiculous. Listen, you're so brave to be here

to even try and understand how this all works.

I think this is part of our relationship with the animals.

We take care of them, they have a good life.

The way I think about it is like sheep and cows

are there for us to eat, so if we didn't eat them

then they wouldn't, sort of, exist.

All right, Kass, give us a cuddle.

I can guarantee their welfare.

I think this is the biggest shock I've had since coming to Brazil.

This is what our burgers are. That's our burger right there.

I just think, "Oh, you get it from a butcher's..."

Done, on your plate - roast dinner.

I never knew it was like this.

'In this factory, the cows are killed instantly

'and as humanely as possible under the supervision of a vet.

'The kids won't be seeing that, but things are going to get tougher.'

-You going to be all right to go in there?

-ALL: Yeah.

OK. Come on, then.

'They are about to start work in the meat processing plant.'

-ANDRE:

-Let's do this.

THEY GROAN

OK, guys.

Ugh!

Everyone is so bloody on their T-shirts.

-Have you ever seen anything like this in your entire life?

-No.

'Every month, around 10,000 cows are processed here in the factory.

'The room is freezing and the work is mucky.

'How will our kids cope?'

OK, tell me very honestly how we're all feeling.

People are just flinging meat all over the place

and meat's flying about and it's really...overwhelming.

Kassia, tell me how you're feeling.

I feel sick, but I'm still going to try my hardest.

I don't want to waste the meat

otherwise the cow has been killed for no reason.

'All the meat is processed by workers on a production line,

'but, before our kids can join them,

'boss Andre wants to see who is up for the job.'

OK, guys, so in front of you is the meat that you'll be working with

for your first task at the abattoir.

And now I show you the different cuts of meats.

'The kids each have to find six different pieces of steak,

'decide what cuts they are and bag and label them.'

First, the boss shows them what each cut looks like.

Filet mignon.

Filet mignon.

'If they can prove they can handle the meat,

'they will be allowed to join the production line.

'Like other workers in the factory, they must learn to pick up

'the meat with clean, bare hands.'

I don't love it, but you're just going to have to get used to it.

I'm trying to think of it more as meat than an animal.

'First up, thermal jackets,

'and then the task begins.'

So, you're going to get going.

I couldn't imagine being in here every day. It's just disgusting.

'No-one likes it, but Michael and Rhianna aren't even trying.'

I don't really want to touch it...

because we saw them alive and now they're dead.

I actually don't even know which one's which,

so I'll just probably stick any label on any bit of meat.

I couldn't care less.

'Despite Kassia's earlier upset, she is powering on through.'

I think I'm doing really well,

considering how I was this morning. I'm just trying to get on with it.

So, our team have just started and it's a very mixed bag.

Kassia is telling herself this hasn't come from an animal.

Olly seems to be getting stuck in,

Michael and Rhianna don't want to touch the raw meat,

and Mali seems quite calm about the whole thing.

-Go in!

-I'm putting my last meat in my bag.

'20 minutes in, Olly and Kassia have already found their six cuts.'

Andre, I've finished.

Ohh, good.

I tried to do the job as fast as I could,

so I didn't have to keep on touching the meat.

'But Michael and Rhianna are still struggling.'

I haven't even touched any meat yet.

'Rhianna has developed an unusual technique for handling the meat.

'And Michael is only just getting to grips with his first piece.'

I don't like this job at all.

Worst one yet.

'And, after missing out, on a promotion yesterday,

'he isn't in the mood for the job.'

It's any random sticker, hoy it in the bag.

Couldn't care less what meat it is.

One...

I'm done. That's mine. I'm done.

What you up to, Michael?

I don't understand it at all. It's too complex.

I wouldn't bring you in here if I didn't think you were capable.

This is something you can do.

You just need to try a bit harder and have a better attitude.

'If Michael doesn't finish,

'he won't be allowed to join the production line.'

This is a picanha. So, have you got your sticker?

You know, it's frustrating when you say you can't do this, cos you can.

You can do it really well.

'But, with a bit of a helping hand, he manages to wrap up the job.'

I didn't get on very well with the first task.

I had a really bad head so I just tried to get it over and done with.

I thought yesterday he's changed...

but he hasn't.

He gives up on himself and that's what Michael always does,

but he shouldn't, cos if he didn't give up and didn't think,

"Oh, I can't do this," then he'd actually be quite good, I think.

'After a quick scrub-down, it's back inside.

'Michael may have struggled earlier,

'but, by the end, he did complete the job.'

'So, the boss has decided to give them ALL a chance to

'work on the real production line alongside the experienced workers.'

I've got three behind me and they're packing the raw meat.

And then we've got Mali and Olly vacuum-packing.

The most important thing is that they all keep up with

all the other workers here in the abattoir.

'Rhianna, Kassia and Michael

'have to grab the meat from the conveyor belt,

'label it correctly and bag it.'

It's quite fast and you've got to keep up with everyone.

'While Olly and Mali vacuum-pack the bagged-up meat

'using a specialist machine.'

Three, two, one...

Three, two, one...

'It's a fast and furious pace

'and I'm hoping Michael will give it his all.'

This is your last chance to prove yourself in this factory.

Yeah?

-Three, two, one...

-'Olly and Mali are trying,

'but they are finding the vacuum packing machine difficult.'

It's not done. Do it again.

'They are not sealing the bags properly

'and the meat is piling up.'

It's really important that you speed up.

It still needs to be done correctly,

but it needs to be done a lot quicker.

'But, back on the meat conveyor belt,

Kassia and Rhianna are flying.'

I have sort of got used to handling meat now.

It's going good. We are keeping up.

I'm finding it quite easy,

even though, on the production line, we've got to keep up with the speed.

Thank you.

'And soon Olly and Mali have got the hang of the machine.'

YES!

I think me and Mali are getting on quite well

and we're doing it quite fast.

I'm really enjoying the abattoir.

'And, for the first time, Michael is keeping up with the pace.'

Michael got off to a very slow start again, but you see he has improved.

I think he has improved.

'With the whole team finishing on a high...'

Three, two, one...go!

'..the boss calls an end to the shift.'

-Hey!

-Hey!

-OK, guys.

-Finished.

-I've got some good news.

We're heading back to the farm to talk about how you got on

over the last couple of days. Yeah? OK.

'Back at the farm, it's time to find out

'if anyone's done enough to take home a wage.'

OK, so how we all feeling? We're back at the farm...

I'm happy to be back at the farm,

because this is where I got my first promotion.

-Do we all prefer it to the abattoir?

-ALL: Yes! Definitely.

I think you all did amazingly well

and I was very proud.

Andre is going to talk through

how he feels the last couple of days have gone.

Kassia, you are so fast...

but sometimes you are too fast.

-All right?

-Yeah, I definitely agree with that.

I think, sometimes, I go a bit too fast.

You have, Olly, a good attitude and always you are enthusiastic.

It's very good, this.

Michael, yesterday you were fast and strong.

I nearly promoted you, yesterday.

I nearly promoted you.

But, today...

you don't stay in the focus.

Do you understand?

-Yeah.

-I don't know why.

I mean, today, I think I let myself down a bit,

but I was really proud of myself yesterday.

Well, Andre you have seen our five in action

over the last couple of days.

Would you employ Kassia?

Yes.

Thank you.

Mali?

Yes.

THEY LAUGH AND CHEER

Olly?

Yes.

Yay! Woo-hoo!

Rhianna?

Yes.

Yes, Rhianna, yes!

Would you employ Michael?

Yes, Michael.

THEY CHEER

Excellent!

What a surprise!

-So, 40 for you, Michael.

-Thank you.

'At last, Michael has earned a wage.

'And it's a clean sweep for our five.'

-ALL: Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

Before we leave the farm,

Michael and Rhianna want to make one last visit...

ALL: Hello.

..to say goodbye to Paola and her mum, Nena.

We really took into consideration about what you said and what you did.

Yeah, I think it got to us, what you said,

and we really took it on board.

We went to the abattoir today

and we thought about what you said last night

and we worked really well, me and Michael.

We got a wage. We got paid and we thought it through and

we'd like to give it to you to spend some money on yourself,

to treat yourself.

I'll hand it over to you.

Oh, thank you.

-TRANSLATION:

-Thank you. Can I hug you?

-Thank you.

-Tchau.

-Tchau.

-Obrigado.

-Obrigado.

-Obrigado.

Tchau.

Next time on Show Me What You're Made Of...

we are in the baseball-cap capital of the world.

Can they work as a team in one last factory?

You're going to let the whole team down.

-You're not listening to me, are you?

-No.

What happens when they hear from home?

Aww, Olly, I haven't even said anything yet.

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