Abstract: Described are animal stunning apparatus and methods for inducing rapid unconsciousness and insensibility. The apparatus includes a stunning station in which a live subject animal is located in a confined position and an applicator contacts an application point on the live subject animal's head immediately overlying a frontal portion of the animal's brain and couples microwave radiation to the head. A microwave generator generates microwave energy of a suitable power level and frequency, and a waveguide directs the microwave radiation to the applicator. A switch discontinues the application of microwave radiation effecting heating of the frontal portion of the brain after a period of time sufficient to have raised the temperature of the frontal portion of the brain of the subject animal to thereby induce the unconsciousness and insensibility.

Abstract: Described are animal stunning apparatus and methods for inducing rapid unconsciousness and insensibility. The apparatus includes a stunning station in which a live subject animal is located in a confined position and an applicator contacts an application point on the live subject animal's head immediately overlying a frontal portion of the animal's brain and couples microwave radiation to the head. A microwave generator generates microwave energy of a suitable power level and frequency, and a waveguide directs the microwave radiation to the applicator. A switch discontinues the application of microwave radiation effecting heating of the frontal portion of the brain after a period of time sufficient to have raised the temperature of the frontal portion of the brain of the subject animal to thereby induce the unconsciousness and insensibility.

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.