Abstract: An apparatus including a main body, a grabber assembly, and a killing assembly. The grabber assembly includes a grabber head sized to hold a leg and/or neck of poultry. The killing assembly includes a housing removably attached to the main body, a blade removably located within the housing, a rod, at least one tensioning device for placing the rod under tension, a holder device for holding the rod under tension and a killing-trigger for releasing the holder means. Once released, the rod is forcefully sprung in a forward direction, moving the blade over the grabber head thereby decapitating the poultry being grasped at the neck by the grabber head. The apparatus aids a user in handling poultry and quickly, easily, and humanely decapitating poultry.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for humanely dispatching wounded game in the field comprises a shank with a connecting end, a curved region, and a pointed end connected to a grip formed at the connecting end of the shank. The grip includes a front surface, a rear surface and a lip formed along the forward edge of the grip. The apparatus, and specifically the curved region in the shank, is configured to allow the pointed end of the shank to penetrate a target below the target's skull and, upon continued insertion, penetrate the brain/brain stem of the target thereby humanely dispatching the target.

Abstract: A captive bolt tool system includes a tool housing with a working end and a moveable bolt having an end effector. Interchangeable subject adapters may be connected to the tool housing to alter the characteristics of the tool system. A two-stage end effector allows non-penetrating dispatch of livestock.

Abstract: A captive bolt tool system includes a tool housing with a working end and a moveable bolt having an end effector. Interchangeable subject adapters may be connected to the tool housing to alter the characteristics of the tool system. A two-stage end effector allows non-penetrating dispatch of livestock.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for meat processing. One such method embodiment includes obtaining animal data for an animal selected to have a solution introduced into its circulatory system in a rinsing process and determining an insertion location based on the animal data. This method embodiment also includes establishing a fluid conduit from a reservoir through the insertion location into the circulatory system of the selected animal by inserting a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir through the insertion location. The method further includes activating flow of a solution from the reservoir through the fluid conduit to introduce the solution into the circulatory system of the animal.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for meat processing. One such method embodiment includes obtaining animal data for an animal selected to have a solution introduced into its circulatory system in a rinsing process and determining an insertion location based on the animal data. This method embodiment also includes establishing a fluid conduit from a reservoir through the insertion location into the circulatory system of the selected animal by inserting a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir through the insertion location. The method further includes activating flow of a solution from the reservoir through the fluid conduit to introduce the solution into the circulatory system of the animal.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for meat processing. One such method embodiment includes obtaining animal data for an animal selected to have a solution introduced into its circulatory system in a rinsing process and determining an insertion location based on the animal data. This method embodiment also includes establishing a fluid conduit from a reservoir through the insertion location into the circulatory system of the selected animal by inserting a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir through the insertion location. The method further includes activating flow of a solution from the reservoir through the fluid conduit to introduce the solution into the circulatory system of the animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixation device (1) and a method for fixating a carcass, e.g. during processing the carcass at a slaughterhouse, such as a carcass hanging head-down from a gambrel, wherein the device (1) comprises mouth-engaging fixation means.

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: Fish, such as salmon, are caused to move along a predetermined path until the leading part of the fish hits a lever to initiate a cycle of operations comprising: a) holding the fish by releasable holding means, b) stunning the fish, c) killing the fish in such manner as to effect exsanguination thereof, and d) releasing the killed fish.

Abstract: A fish harvester for the automatic and humane slaughter of fish comprises a fish accommodating space having an entrance for insertion of a fish and an exit for removal of a fish. The harvester includes means for positioning and retaining a fish, a slaughtering member for slaughtering a fish by contact with some portion of a fish; and driving means for driving said slaughtering member. The slaughter member preferably includes spikes for insertion into the brain of the fish. The harvester preferably automatically severs a major blood vessel in order to allow bleeding of said fish. The harvester preferably automatically gauges the size of the fish and positions the fish and the slaughtering member relative to each other, with reference to the size of the fish, in order to allow effective operation. A method of automatically slaughtering fish is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a secured sanitary catheter for administration of treatment solution into animals comprising a catheter body with a longitudinal bore and a sanitary vascular securing device attached to the catheter body. The catheter body has a proximal end and a distal end, with the longitudinal bore terminating in an opening at the distal end of the catheter body, for delivery of treatment solution into a vessel of an animal. The sanitary vascular securing device contains a plurality of slots for mechanically and frictionally engaging the vessel at two or more points. The present invention further relates to a method for using the secured sanitary catheter of the present invention.

Abstract: A holder usable to hold various food items, such as ham, chicken, etc., but particularly efficacious as a combined catfish killer and holder for skinning. The device includes a longitudinally extended, base platform (1); an upwardly extended, fish positioning, holding plate (2) at one end of the platform having a "V" shaped opening into which the fish's head is positioned; a killing spike (4) carried by a sleeve (5), which is carried by a laterally extending, "floating" top bar (6) slidingly mounted on the exterior sides of the diverging "V" legs (21); a laterally extended, stop railing (7) provided at the other end of the platform extending below its bottom (11); and a lateral trough (8) across the top (12) of the platform.

Abstract: A sticking knife arrangement for withdrawing blood from slaughter animals is provided for a sticking knife which has a hollow handle. One of the end hollow handle is connectible to a hose. The other end has a blade. The arrangement includes a knife retainer for engaging the body of the animal, when the sticking knife has been stuck into the animal, and an operator connected to the knife retainer to move it between a sticking position and an engaging position. The knife retainer includes at least one arm which is pivotably mounted adjacent the handle and is formed with a hook-shaped end for engagement with the body of the animal, the arm extending, in the sticking position, substantially in parallel with the geometric axis of the sticking knife.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing blood from slaughter animals transported on a conveyor serially past a sticking station has a debleeding carousel (1) disposed at the sticking station and consisting of a body (2), a lower frame member (3) and an upper member frame (4), which frame members are synchronously rotatable on a vertical shaft (5) of the body, a number of collecting vessels (6) mounted on the lower frame member around the vertical shaft, a number of hollow knives (7) corresponding to the number of collecting vessels and suspendible around the vertical shaft each in a holder (9) on the upper frame member, and a hose (8) extending between each hollow knife and the associated collecting vessel for conducting blood from the hollow knife to the collecting vessel. The debleeding carousel is rotatable in such steps that the holders are displaced between a number of stopping positions around the vertical shaft, the distance between the stopping positions being equal to the distance between the holders.

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: A device for severing the carotid artery of a slaughter animal, in particular a pig, with a pointed object or a knife, comprising a knife guide carried by a movable support, wherein the support to be moved along the breast side of the slaughter animal bears a scanning element for detecting a part of the body which is in a known spatial relationship with the place where the carotid artery must be severed. Said part of the body is preferably formed by the transition from the breast bone to the neck. Advantageously, the support comprises a plate with two sliding ribs. The scanning element may be formed by a spring-supported running wheel which can be moved at right angles to the plane through the sliding ribs.