Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to die ejection system including a heated element configured to heat an adhesive layer on a bottom side of the adhesive layer, wherein a die is placed on the top side of the adhesive layer, and the die is removed from the adhesive layer by heat-assisted means. A conventional needle-based die ejector system may also be converted into the present die ejection system using a retrofit process.

Abstract: Described is a method of detaching a muscle from a beef cattle carcass, the method comprising the steps of: locating the muscle comprising at least one attachment point to the beef cattle carcass; and detaching the attachment point of the muscle from the beef cattle carcass prior to the onset of rigor mortis. An assembly line method is also described. Also, described are muscles comprising a substantially symmetrical and cylindrical-shape. In addition, described are muscle beef products that are produced by the methods described herein.

Abstract: A method of increasing the moisture content of a meat product by infusing a basic amino acid pH modifying substance into the meat product. The basic amino acid pH modifying substance can be the amino acid arginine which has been treated to adjust the pH of the arginine within a selected range. The treated arginine is then infused into meat product in order to neutralize lactic acid present in the meat as a result of glycolysis, to thereby maintain the pH at levels closer to a physiological state. The addition of the specially treated arginine to the meat product acts to adjust the pH of the meat product upwardly with a consequent rise in the pH of the meat product being treated from a pH of around 5.6 to a pH of about 6.0 or greater.