Abstract: Slaughter devices for poultry and methods thereof, which may include a track having a first guide and a second guide to define a slit for guiding the neck of the poultry. A rotary knife arranged in the first guide for cutting a first vein. A cylinder arranged in the first guide upstream of the rotary knife, which rotates in a first rotational direction to allow twisting of the neck in a second rotational direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a device used to euthanize poultry. The device restrains the animal via a head restraint which is placed to pull the head down while the legs are held upwardly in leg shackles. The head restraint is offset in order to contact the head at an angle that is not in line with the bird's spine which is important for proper cervical dislocation. The head restraint bar floats or moves on guide rods on either side to keep it from twisting. A ramrod runs vertically all the way to the top of the machine and past the legs of a chicken and an impact/stop is welded onto the rod with an approximate five pound slide hammer on top of the stop. With a chicken properly restrained in the device, the slide hammer is used to slam on the impact/stop which then causes complete and perfect cervical dislocation so that the animal is brain dead without any blood.

Abstract: An installation and method for halal killing poultry, such as chicken, turkey, duck and quail, includes the steps of: i) suspending the poultry with the poultry head down; ii) positioning the suspended poultry head via a V-shaped positioning element; and iii) killing the poultry near the suspended and positioned poultry head, optionally the poultry may be prestunned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and installation for halal killing poultry, such as chicken, turkey, duck and quail, comprising the steps of: i) suspending the poultry with the poultry head down; ii) positioning the suspended poultry head; and iii) killing the poultry near the suspended and positioned poultry head, optionally the poultry may be prestunned.

Abstract: A system providing for on-site reclamation and re-use of reclaimed antimicrobial solution includes a dispenser, at least one receptacle, piping, and at least one pump. The dispenser sprays antimicrobial solution toward moving raw food products. Unspent antimicrobial solution that did not contact the moving raw food products and rebound antimicrobial solution that did contact the raw food products combine to form a reclaimed antimicrobial solution. The reclaimed antimicrobial solution is collected in the receptacle and is pumped through the piping to a location for reuse.

Abstract: In a method and device for opening a blood vessel in the neck of a pre-positioned slaughter animal, a blood vessel is opened as a result of at least one cutting device being moved into the neck from one side of the neck towards the opposite side of the neck, the blood vessel being located in the path of the cutting device. The cutting device is an elongate blade which is moved in its longitudinal direction and is provided with a sharp, inclined front side. Before the blood vessel is opened, the distance between the trachea and the blood vessel is increased in an area of the opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for putting gullet ligatures into place on ruminants, and in particular on cattle, said apparatus comprising a ring designed to be engaged around the gullet and a rod enabling the ring to be pushed along the gullet to the vicinity of the rumen of the carcass, the apparatus comprising in combination: an actuator suitable for displacing the rod over a length substantially equal to that of the gullet, a device enabling the actuator to be immobilized relative to the gullet, an open ring secured to the end of the rod, and a control device enabling the actuator to be actuated to move the rod in both directions.

Abstract: Device for removing at least the crop of slaughtered poultry, comprising means for holding a carcass of the poultry, a crop probe assembly with a crop probe holder and an elongated crop probe, which is provided with crop engaging means in an end portion, such as a number of teeth/sprockets, means for moving the crop probe up and down between a non-active position to one or more active positions, means for turning the crop probe about its longitudinal axis, in which the crop probe is provided with a nose on the outer end of the end portion, and in which on the side of the holder means facing away from the crop probe the device is provided with a neck breaker with neck breaking means and with means for activating the neck breaker and with means for moving the neck breaker toward the carcass and away from it, said means for moving the crop probe, the activating means and the means for moving the neck breaker being geared to one another such that during activation of the neck breaker the nose of the crop probe is

Abstract: A cut is made in the neck of slaughtered poultry to permit access to a tool for removing the crop. The cut is made by an apparatus which includes a carousel for moving the poultry, arch-shaped tracks which have sections which are horizontal, upward-sloping and downward-sloping, and running wheels which move in the tracks to effect vertical movement of handling units and bird positioning units. Each handling unit includes a tilting arm which has a blade fitted at its upper end, a centering fork with two centering elements which contact opposite sides of the neck of a bird, and a running wheel at its lower end where the running wheel rides in a track. During movement of the running wheel on its track, the tilting arm is first tilted from its sloping non-operative position to a less sloping vertical position to center the neck of a bird and to bring the blade against the neckskin, and the arm then makes a downward movement to form a cut in the neck.

Abstract: The holding fixture has a narrow neck fork designed to fit entirely inside of and between the shoulder joints of the carcass so as to utilize the inside surfaces of the shoulder joints as a means of centering the carcass and precluding side-to-side movement thereof. Each arm of the fork is narrow enough to fit entirely between the neck and the corresponding shoulder joint. A modified fixture for use with a crop-inclusive eviscerator has a resilient projection on the backrest between the arms of the fork to yieldably push the backbone at the base of the neck out away from the backrest to facilitate snagging of the esophagus by a hook-shaped dislodging tool utilized as part of the eviscerator.

Abstract: Poultry carcasses hanging by their legs from a moving overhead conveying line are presented to corresponding carcass processing fixtures moving in a closed loop of travel around an upright axis. As each carcass is presented to its fixture, a holder on the fixture takes control of the carcass and stabilizes it with the breast facing outwardly and the neck hanging downwardly against a sloped centering channel. Once the carcass is stabilized, an arm carrying a slitting knife swings up toward the front throat area of the neck but before the knife can contact the neck skin, a stretcher device mounted in close proximity to the knife but operable in a stretching motion relative to the knife engages the skin and pulls it downwardly into a taut condition to facilitate penetration and severance by the knife. The stretcher is operated in its stretching motion by camming engagement with the underside of a shoulder yoke on the holder as the arm presents the knife to the carcass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically electrically stimulating poultry carcasses in poultry processing plants in order to tenderize the poultry meat are disclosed. Carcasses suspended by shackles from a moving processing line are transported between two preferably curved electrical conductive bars, which are positioned to apply the electrical stimulation across the breast of the suspended carcass. The carcasses may otherwise be dragged through a charged saline or water solution, or across a charged metal mesh or grill. The carcasses are subjected to almost constant electrical stimulation for 8 to 13 seconds by the application of an intermediate level, 100 percent duty cycle, AC voltage for the period of stimulation.

Abstract: A poultry slaughtering machine includes a shackle conveyor for carrying a series of birds, suspended by their feet in a predetermined orientation with their breast facing to one side, along a first path, and a head capturing device disposed generally below the shackle conveyor and offset away from the breast side. The capturing device includes a flexible carrier constrained to follow an endless second path, a series of pairs of relatively movable jaws affixed to the endless carrier, and a cam rail for closing each pair of jaws about the neck of a bird. A rotary blade incises major blood vessels of tile neck, but is prevented from cutting the trachea or the spinal cord, and the jaws are opened to release the neck as soon as the cut has been made.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the humane slaughter and efficient processing of ostrich. The method envisions transporting ostrich from station to station within a facility via a rail system. First, an ostrich is rendered unconscious by an electrical discharge to the head or neck region. The ostrich is hung in an inverted position on the rail system. The ostrich is then killed by lacerating the arteries in the neck and also the windpipe. The head is removed and useful parts are extracted. Next, the ostrich is de-feathered, and then skinned. The viscera is removed from the ostrich. The gizzard, heart, and liver are extracted for further processing. Finally, the edible meat products are removed from the ostrich and are processed for human use.

Abstract: An animal sticking apparatus for sticking an animal to be slaughtered comprises a sticking tool (10) having two rotary or oscillating cutting blades (16) and support means (21) mounting the sticking tool (10) for insertion and withdrawal movements. The cutting blades (16) perform a cutting operation upon insertion and advancement of the sticking tool (10) into the thoracic entrance of the chest cavity of the animal, the sticking (10) tool cutting tissues as it is advanced and enabling the stick wound to remain open upon withdrawal of the sticking tool to promote rapid exsanguination. The sticking tool (10) after insertion into the animal is pivoted about a remote axis (A) to sever blood vessels near to the animal heart ensuring massive and rapid blood flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically processing an animal carcass (8). Suspension means (122, 123) suspends the carcass (8) in an inverted position with the spine inclined upwardly towards the neck (11) with the spine located beneath the carcass (8) and so that the diaphragm (119) is approximately vertical. A cutting assembly, (130) moves into the abdominal cavity adjacent to the diaphragm (119), and a cutting means (28) cuts the diaphragm (119) around the periphery. A brisket shearing means (21) cuts the brisket (20) with a shearing action along the brisket (20) from the abdomen and towards the neck end of the brisket (20). The reaction member (188) is pivotally movable relative to the brisket (20) about a rear end to generally follow the contours of the brisket (20).