Abstract: Waste removal from raceways for raising aquatic animals is improved by providing a waste removal section at the downstream end of the raceways whereby the waste removal section is separated from the rest of the raceway by a vertical or near vertical screen. The mesh size of the screen is sufficient for the waste to pass through but not allow the aquatic animals to pass through. The natural flow of water through the raceway carries the waste material downstream within the raceway. A perforated pipe in the bottom of the waste removal section provides the outlet for the waste removal. A waste control valve connected to the perforated pipe controls the flow of the waste out of the waste removal section. Optional freeze protection for the waste control valve is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a pet leash that permits a pet handler to bring his/her pet under control urgently in a steady and reliable manner. Embodiments include a handle, a lead mechanism, an elongate portion extending therebetween, and multiple grip points on the elongate portion. A pet handler can grip the handle or one of the grip points with one hand and grip another of the grip-points with the other hand.

Abstract: To shorten a long aging time required for meat processing and reducing the viable cell count of a carcass before being cooked, an electric stimulus is imparted by applying an AC voltage via from electrode needles to at least the neck and legs of the meat carcass. The AC voltage is turned on for a time Ton and then turned off for a time Toff, and the application of the voltage is repeated a predetermined number of cycles. The Ton period is not longer than the Toff period, although the first Ton period can be longer than the Toff period. The voltage is not higher than 100V, and the frequency is not higher than the commercial frequency (maximum, 60 Hz). The aging effect is improved by stimulating the entire meat carcass electrically from at most three points.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for cutting a meat or food product passing along a path of travel and comprising a blade roller having a plurality of blades transversely connected thereto in aligned relation to the path of travel. A mate roller, an in-feed roller and an out-feed roller interact with the plurality of blades to assure removal of meat portions from the blade and mate rollers during the cutting procedure. The mate roller comprises a plurality of mate roller sections each separated from one another by a first predetermined space and variably or adjustably positioned along the length of the mate roller by interaction with a stabilizing assembly to accommodate receipt of the blades within the first predetermined spaces during concurrent rotation of the blade and mate rollers. The cutting assembly may include a modular construction disposable within and removable from an operative position along a processing line associated with the path of travel.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system are described for tracking and managing animals and/or food products. These embodiments can include entering into a computer system identification data for animals and location data for locations occupied by the animals. This data can be collected, for example, by a data service provider and transmitted to a data trustee. The data trustee may filter the data into official data and non-official data. The official data may be sent to an official database. When a public health issue arises, such as an occurrence of mad cow disease, the government may use an identifier for a diseased animal or a location identifier to request a trace report from the data trustee. The data trustee may then use the official data to provide a report showing, for example, which animals have commingled with the diseased animal. Based on this report, other sick or potentially sick animals can be treated, quarantined, or slaughtered.

Abstract: A vane pump for delivering pasty masses, in particular sausage meat, with a pump case 6 and a rotatably held rotor 3 comprising vanes 2 held so as to be radially movable which form delivery cells 4 together with the wall 5 of the pump case 6, with a suction area, a pressure area and a sealing area separating the pressure area from the suction area. For a better sealing between the suction area and the sealing area, in particular in case of high pressures in the pressure area, and for increasing the service life of the vane pump, in the sealing area at least one sealing element is provided for sealing a gap between the rotor and the wall of the pump case.

Abstract: An electrically operated knife includes a handle and a first set of dual cutting blades connected together for reciprocal side-to-side linear motion. A first stationary motor connected to a power source and a first reciprocating assembly is removably connected to the first set of dual cutting blades and coupled to an output shaft of the first motor for reciprocally moving the first set of dual cutting blades. There is a second set of dual cutting blades mounted in spaced relationship to the first set of dual cutting blades. A second motor and a second reciprocating assembly are provided for reciprocally moving the second set of dual cutting blades. A mounting member and a pivotable lever are provided for selectively adjusting a spaced relationship between the first set of dual cutting blades and the second set of dual cutting blades and a switch which operates both motors.

Abstract: An edible pet chew 114 has a first casing 10 of plant base material and a second protein 12 of flavored material for example jerky that is wrapped with the first sheet to form alternating layers in the edible pet chew.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tenderizing meat by electrical stimulation is characterized by a portable device supplying an electrical current through an electrode or electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for spitting whole poultry mid-wing sections into a first radius portion that includes the radius bone of the mid-wing and its surrounding muscle, tissue, and skin and a second ulna portion that includes the ulna bone of the mid-wing and its surrounding muscle, tissue, and skin. The apparatus is provided with a rotatably driven carrier wheel having a plurality of product carrier slots formed therein for accepting mid-wings and moving them along a predetermined arcuate path. A splitting blade is mounted in the arcuate path for engaging and splitting the mid-wings into the desired portions. The apparatus is additionally provided with a retention fender for preventing mid-wings from exiting the carrier slots while the mid-wings are being split, and an ejector comb for forcing the mid-wings out of the carrier slots after they have been split.

Abstract: The gambrel includes a center bar, a left hook bar and a right hook bar. The center bar is a flat metal plate with a pivot pin bore, a support line bore and a stop pin bore. The left and right hook bars are elongated flat bars each of which has a hook pivot bore a pivot end, and a hook end. A pivot bolt passes through the left hook bar, through the center bar and through the right hook bar. A pivot bolt nut holds the center bar between the left and right hook bars. A stop bolt passes through the stop pin bore between the hook pivot pin bore and the center bar lower end. The left hook bar rests on the stop bolt and the right hook bar rests on the stop bolt nut when the hook bars are in a carcass support position.

Abstract: A board for opening an oyster has a cradle consisting of a support wall and a cradle portion sloping upwardly therefrom. The outer wall supports and anchors first end portions of the oyster which rest in abutment against, while the second end portions are disposed and elevated slightly on the cradle portion for opening of the oyster at the second end portions.

Abstract: A method for trimming an undesirable portion of a metatarsal pad of a chicken paw using a power operated rotary knife. The steps of the method include: a) providing a power operated rotary knife including an annular knife blade rotatable about a central axis and defining a central open area; moving one of the rotary knife and the chicken paw with respect to the other to position the rotary knife with respect to a bottom of the chicken paw such that the undesirable portion of the metatarsal pad is within the central open area of the blade and the cutting edge of the blade is proximate to a periphery of the undesirable portion; and moving one of the rotary knife and the chicken paw such that the cutting edge of the blade slices a layer of the metatarsal pad thereby removing at least part of the undesirable portion.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the production history of consumable animal primal cuts. Data collected from animal breeders and animal feeders is provided to a centralized data management system. An independent auditor also collects data on the operations of animal feeders. The data is analyzed to identify trends or relationships between aspects of the production lifecycle. Quality data on the quality of the primal cuts is also provided to the data management system. Feedback on procedures to be adjusted to improve primal cut quality can be provided to feeders.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for meat processing. One such method embodiment includes obtaining animal data for an animal selected to have a solution introduced into its circulatory system in a rinsing process and determining an insertion location based on the animal data. This method embodiment also includes establishing a fluid conduit from a reservoir through the insertion location into the circulatory system of the selected animal by inserting a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir through the insertion location. The method further includes activating flow of a solution from the reservoir through the fluid conduit to introduce the solution into the circulatory system of the animal.

Abstract: A closure clip for products in bag or sausage form, the packaging cover material of which is formed from at least one packaging film, wherein the closure clip has a clip bottom and two straight clip legs which adjoin the clip bottom in the same direction and which diverge away from each other away from the clip bottom and the central longitudinal axes of which and the central longitudinal axis of the clip bottom lie in a common plane. It is further provided that the clip bottom has a rounding in the form of part of a circular arc.

Abstract: A laminate comprising a compressible, cushioning layer and an open layer comprised of a tough, reinforcing woven or non-woven mesh, net, webbing, scrim or sheet material having openings therein and attached to the compressible, air permeable, cushioning layer is particularly useful for producing horn wraps that permit ventilation for the parts of the horns and head in contact with a horn wrap product. Permeable or air ventilating laminates of various materials and configurations are disclosed along with methods of making horn wraps using the laminates.

Abstract: A cooked and de-boned substantially intact slab of rib meat is provided. A process for preparing a de-boned rib meat product from a pork or beef rib cut is also provided. The process for preparing the rib meat product involves cooking a length of rib meat having rib bones embedded therein at a temperature and for a time sufficient to enable the removal of the rib bones from the length of rib meat, while maintaining a substantially intact length of rib meat.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing chains of linked food products such as sausages with twisted portions and having a plurality of stuffing tubes, includes a plurality of stuffing tubes 2 provided at equal intervals about a rotational axis Xo; a stuffing tube moving body 4 which rotates through predetermined angles about the rotational axis Xo so that the respective stuffing tubes 2 sequentially move to a filling position III; and a stuffed casing conveying means 50 which conveys in a suspended state a stuffed casing C formed by the stuffing tube 2 positioned at the filling position III.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for tightening a tubular casing filled with a product by means of several pairs of displacers, wherein the mutually overlapping displacers of each pair encompass an opening, both displacers adjoining to the encompassed opening in two overlapping points per pair. The displacers are configured for a linear tightening movement depending on the varying size of the openings, the openings being located one behind the other in the axial direction of the tubular casing encompassing a passage. The openings are not congruent with the passage, the overlapping points being at a distance from the passage during the predominant part of the tightening movement. The invention allows the subdivision of the filled tubular casing into packaging units, thereby preventing or reducing the risk of damages to the tubular casing.