Abstract: The invention relates to a method of thawing one or more frozen blocks of meat, said blocks of meat being composed of units of meat frozen together. This object is achieved in that the frozen blocks of meat are placed in a drum of a massage system, said drum comprising carriers, and a liquid having a temperature higher than that of the frozen blocks of meat is supplied in the interior of the massage wings, and that brine having a temperature higher than that of the frozen blocks of meat is supplied to the drum. The drum rotates/revolves, and the blocks of meat are continuously broken up into smaller units of meat. Preferably, a negative pressure is established in the drum during thawing.

Abstract: An apparatus for the processing/handling of the anus/rectum of slaughtered animals, comprising a cutting arrangement mounted in a housing for the cutting-over of the connection between the anus/rectum and surrounding tissue, the cutting arrangement comprising a cavity defined by a cylindrical blade with cutting edge and an extension. Displaced in the cavity, substantially parallel with the axis of the cylindrical blade, there is a mandrel/hollow profile connected to a source of a second under-pressure on the inside of the mandrel/hollow profile and for emptying of a part of the intestine/rectum. A pump is provided for handling/removal/sucking-out of a disinfection substance supplied to the cavity, the pump being separated from the source of the second under-pressure and comprising an arrangement for establishing a first under-pressure in the cavity.