The high reported rates of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) and accidents among butchers and deboners in Sweden have resulted in several initiatives to reduce these. In this study, eight deboners working every second week at a pace line and every second week at single tables, were examined concerning physical work load (heart rate) and feelings of stress and energy (stress-energy formula and interviews). The results show that the physical work load was highest at single tables but that feelings of stress and musculoskeletal strain were highest at the pace line. The reasons for this are discussed.