Abstract: A dedagging implement including a body (2), a rotor (4) supported on the body (2) for rotation about an axis and having radially outwardly projecting lobes (6) for removing dag from a carcass, a liquid supply means located on the body (2), said liquid supply means being configured to direct a flow of liquid at the lobes (6) and an air supply means located on the body (2), said air supply means being configured to direct air flow at, or in close proximity to, the lobes (6). The present invention also provides a dedagging system having a dedagging implement and a vacuum waste collection system. The dedagging implement and/or dedagging system is useful for removing dag from an animal carcass.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for automatically splitting carcass (10) of a slaughtered animal. The apparatus includes saw assembly (17) mounted on carriage (22) and ultrasonic scanner (30). Assembly (17) is moved by carriage (22) along support (16) so that saw blade (18) commences cutting at the base of the spine and progressively advances downwardly following the line of the spine. Scanner (30) scans carcass (10) and the data signals are processed to locate the spine and/or determine its conformation immediately ahead of the point where blade (18) is splitting carcass (10). The processed signals are used to control the degrees of movement of blade (18) including lateral movement, rolling movement, vertical movement, tilting movement and yawing movement. The apparatus can also follow a desired line of cut in other medical, veterinary or forensic applications, or for cutting manufactured products, artefacts or achaeological articles having an internal structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and anal seal for sealing the anus of the carcass (10) of a slaughtered animal. The anal seal includes a plug (15) for insertion through the anus so that tissues (11) contract behind the plug, a clamp (20) movable towards the plug to clamp the tissues behind, and retaining means (40) to hold the clamp in its clamping position. The plug (15) is conical and has a back end (17) so that the clamp which is in the shape of a clamping disc (22) clamps against periphery (18) of the back end of the plug. The clamp (15) can slide on a stem (32) extending from the back end of the plug. The retaining means (40) can comprise biasing means (48) or a latch (41) to hold the clamp in its clamping position. An applicator tool (60) can mount the anal seal during insertion of the plug into the rectum and move the clamp from a retracted position to its operative clamping position.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering meat from the head of a slaughtered animal. A jaw support clamps and supports the head by clamping the jaw. Cheek pullers having clamps engage with and hold the cheeks of the animal head in the vicinity of the mouth. A drive arrangement has a lateral drive for moving the cheek pullers outwardly away from each other and has a posterior drive for moving the cheek pullers in the posterior direction so as to pull tissues from both the jaw and the skull. A jaw separation means comprises a snout ring to be fitted to the snout of the skull and a drive moves the snout ring so as to move the skull relative to the jaw with an at least partially arcuate path of movement so as to continue to open the mouth wider as or after the cheek meat is removed from the animal head.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for separating and closing the rectum (13) of a slaughtered animal carcass (10). A gripping apparatus (20) is first located inside a closure bag (15). The gripping apparatus (20) comprises a bung member (21) which is inserted into the rectum (13) past the anus (11) and a clamp (25) which is advanced to clamp the constricted sphincter muscle tissues (19) against the bung member without perforating the bag. The gripping apparatus (20) is retracted to tension and straighten the rectum (13) while surround tissues are cut. Then bagging means (30) advances the closure bag (15) so as to surround the rectum and the bag (15) is constricted by a ring (31) around the rectum (13) at a location spaced inwardly of the anus (11).