This invention relates generally to a system and method of detecting woody breast using image analysis of carcass features, and more particularly to a real-time system and method of detecting woody breast in broilers using non-destructive and/or non-contact image analysis of carcass features. The system and method assess woody breast in broilers at the fillet level using image analysis of the angle or area associated with the tip of the keel bone and surrounding breast meat of broiler carcasses. The method is configured be incorporated into and utilized by vision grading system.

A method for detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass comprises the processing steps of: releasing the outer end of the rectum; pulling the released outer end of the rectum out of the carcass; placing the pulled out outer end of the rectum onto a sheet of covering material; and positioning the sheet of covering material around the pulled out outer end of the rectum such that the sheet of covering material encloses the outer end of the rectum. A device is provided for detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass.

An instruction kit for field dressing is disclosed. The instruction kit relates to a field dressing model, to be used for learning field dressing of any animal. The instruction kit consists of a life size animal model with furs as epidermis and the body of the animal is wrapped with Velcro and magnets to provide a real feel of cutting the animal and the pressure to be applied. The kit is provided with a plastic molded knife for serving as a knife to cut the animal model. The anus and genital are attached with the body with magnets and removed using the knife. The field dressing of the animal is required to remove the internal sacks and organs to get untainted meat. The instruction kit is reusable. The instruction kit contains good quality and durable materials to avoid wear and tear in frequent practicing.

A method of sorting beef carcasses comprises determining the hot carcass weight and the Torso Section Thickness of a plurality of beef carcasses at a Standardized Location on the carcass torso; determining the ratio of hot carcass weight to Torso Section Thickness of individual carcasses of the plurality of beef carcasses and, prior to processing of the carcasses into smaller portions, sorting the carcasses into a groups based on the ratio of hot carcass weight to Torso Section Thickness. In another aspect, the sorting is carried out based on the lean point of the Torso Section of individual carcasses at a Standardized Location on the carcass torso of the plurality of beef carcasses.

A system for recovery of animal byproducts and providing water reuse from an animal processing plant waste stream. In one embodiment of the invention there is an equalization tank forming part of an animal processing plant that is mechanically filtered to recover animal byproducts from a water mixture in the equalization tank. In another aspect of the invention there is a skimmer tank that contains a skimmer mixture with water and animal byproducts. The system mechanically separates the animal byproducts from the skimmer mixture in a manner that is suitable for human consumption. The system also allows the separated water to be reused in the animal processing plant.

A handheld teeth skinning tool is provided with a head assembly having at toothed roller with interchangeable teeth rings, with the rings having different tooth configurations. The teeth rings are securely mounted on the insert arbor using male and female connections. The teeth rings may include pointed teeth for aggressively gripping the skin for direction into the blade of the head assembly, while square teeth allow for easy manual maneuverability of the head assembly on the meat carcass or head. The roller provides increase life expectancy and improved handling for lower costs and higher productivity.

A carcass cleaning system. Specifically, a system for cleaning an animal carcass using potable water passed through an offline treatment system and the application of this treated water to the surface of the carcass, for example, by running through a bath or by spraying or nebulisation at or onto the surface of the carcass. The invention finds utility in the fields of butchery and slaughtering o animals in the preparation for

The invention relates to an apparatus (10), designed and configured to acquire and analyse product-specific data for products (12) of the food processing industry, comprising a conveyor (11), which is gap-free in the transport plane, for transporting separated products (12) in transport direction T from an intake end to a discharge end, an X-ray unit (13) having at least one X-ray source (14) and at least one X-ray camera (15) for acquiring product-specific data, wherein X-ray source (14) and X-ray camera (15) are assigned to the conveyor (11) in such a manner that the products (12) can be guided along between the X-ray source (14) and the X-ray camera (15), as well as a control unit (16) which is connected to the X-ray unit (13) and is designed and configured to receive and analyse the product-specific data, forming a first data set, acquired by said X-ray unit (13), which is characterised in that at least one optical camera (17) is assigned to the same conveyor (11) between its intake end and discharge end, by means of which, in addition to the X-ray unit (13), product-specific data of the products (12) transported on said conveyor (11) can be acquired, wherein the optical camera (17) is connected to a control unit (18) which is designed and configured to receive and analyse the product-specific data, forming a second data set, acquired by the optical camera (17). The invention also relates to a system (29) comprising such an apparatus (10) as well as a method for processing products (12) of the food processing industry.

Embodiments of the invention relates to an antimicrobial composition comprising an alkyl pyrazine compound or mixture of compounds selected from the group consisting of 2-isobutyl-3-methylpyrazine, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2-isopropylpyrazine, 2-isobutylpyrazine and mixtures of methylpyrazines having one, two and three isopropyl or isobutyl substituents. Further embodiments of the invention relate to uses of alkyl pyrazine compounds, in particular for controlling microbial growth.

A system for recovery of animal byproducts and providing water reuse from an animal processing plant waste stream. In one embodiment of the invention there is an equalization tank forming part of an animal processing plant that is mechanically filtered to recover animal byproducts from a water mixture in the equalization tank. In another aspect of the invention there is a skimmer tank that contains a skimmer mixture with water and animal byproducts. The system mechanically separates the animal byproducts from the skimmer mixture in a manner that is suitable for human consumption. The system also allows the separated water to be reused in the animal processing plant.