Abstract: A process and apparatus for the removal of ribs (15) from a carcass section (10) which contains a spine portion (11) and a number of ribs (15), comprises grasping a section of tissues (14) in the vicinity of the ventral extremities (17) of the ribs (15), pulling the grasped section of tissues (14) in a direction (A) transverse to the ribs and away from the ventral extremities (17) so that end regions (19) of the ribs (15) near the ventral extremities (17) are exposed, and restraining the exposed end regions (19) and further separating tissues attached to the ribs (15) so as to progressively expose the ribs along a major proportion of their lengths. Tissue attachments between the grasped section of tissues (41) and the ribs (15) at the ventral extremities (17) of the ribs where initial exposure of the ribs (15) is desired are first weakened by forming a cut (23) between the cartilage (18) attached at the ventral extremity (17) of each rib (15) and the respective ventral extremity (17) of the rib.