Abstract: There is described a rotary knife for use in a cutting apparatus, comprising a central hub adapted to be mounted with respect to a rotational driveshaft to define an axis of rotation; and a plurality of blades extending outwards from the hub; each blade having respective channels extending across a surface of the blade in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. There is also described a cutting apparatus having a rotary knife comprising a central hub adapted to be mounted with respect to a rotational driveshaft to define an axis of rotation; and a plurality of blades extending outwards from the hub; each blade having respective channels extending across a surface of the blade in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.