Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for the mechanical removal of whole-tissue meat from the region of the vertebrae of an animal carcass including a support for support at least a part of the carcass. A cutting mechanism makes a longitudinal cut in the meat along the line of the vertical dorsal protrusions of the vertebrae. There is also provided a substantially rigid clearing mechanism having a substantially fixed shape and causing relative movement between the support and the clearing mechanisms such that the clearing mechanism is able to move longitudinally along at least part of the carcass to force the meat away from the vertical and lateral protrusions of the vertebrae and, if present, at least part of the length of the ribs extending from the vertebrae.

Abstract: A rendering process in which fats and oils are rendered from fat and oil bearing raw materials. The process comprises reducing the particle size of the raw material, heating the reduced raw material in a rendering vessel to a rendering temperature without the introduction of any process water and/or steam while establishing fluidization of the raw material within tallow resident in the rendering vessel and moving a flow of the heated material to a separator.