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 device for measuring a slaughter animal body object includes an image camera having an image-camera recording region, a depth camera having a depth-camera recording region, and an evaluation unit. The cameras are positioned in relation to one another by a positioning device in such a manner that the camera recording regions of the image camera and of the depth camera overlap in a common camera recording region at least in certain sections. The evaluation unit identifies measurement points in the common camera recording region and determines the distances thereof from one another.

A scribe saw assembly is provided for a loin puller and has substantially reduced wear and increased life of the assembly components. A pinion assembly includes a double keyway and opposing cutouts on the pinion shaft, with dual needle bearings. A bevel gear assembly includes pins for holding the scribe saw blade and dual bearings on the bevel gear shaft to eliminate shaft flex and blade wear. The standard is mounted to the motor housing with load bearing pins to prevent loosening of the mounting bolts. An adjustable ski is provided on the standard to control the cutting depth of the scribe saw blade.

A method of sanitizing a surface is described that includes: (a) providing a pH control composition that includes at least one pH control agent (such as sodium bisulfate); (b) contacting a first feed aqueous stream with the pH control composition, thereby forming a first treated aqueous stream; (c) combining at least a portion of the first treated aqueous stream with a feed sanitizing aqueous stream that includes free available halogen, thereby forming a treated sanitizing aqueous stream that includes free available halogen (such as free available chlorine). The surface sanitizing method further includes, (d) elevating the temperature of the treated sanitizing aqueous stream, thereby forming a heated treated sanitizing aqueous stream having an elevated temperature that includes free available halogen. The heated treated sanitizing aqueous stream is applied to a surface to be sanitized (such as a poultry carcass surface).

Provided is a method and a system for automatically tracing food items transported by a transporting mechanism such as a conveyor, where data attribute is acquired for the food items at at least one first position. The acquired data attribute is associated to the food items. A second data attribute of the same type(s) as the first data attribute is acquired at a second position and associated to the food items. A correlation is performed between the first data attribute and the second data attribute to determine if the data attributes match to determine if food items match. The correlation is performed within a pre-defined correlation window around an estimated arrival point at said second position.

The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife.

A device for removing the windpipe of a harvested big game animal such as the windpipe of a deer. The device includes: (a) a line having a first end and a second end; and (b) a tapered member having an apex and a base. In use, the neck of a field dressed big game animal is cut open to reveal the windpipe of the animal. The first end of the line of the device is then passed into and through the windpipe so that the first end of the line is positioned in the body cavity of the animal. Then the first end of the line is pulled so that the tapered member engages the windpipe to remove the windpipe from the neck of the animal.

An apparatus for assessing compliance with animal welfare on an animal for slaughter. The apparatus has an image capture unit with a capture region in which a section of a surface of the animal is optically captured and in which pixels are captured. The capture unit provides pixel data in a transmittable manner. The apparatus has an evaluation unit connected to the capture unit to capture the pixel data. A normative model of the animal is stored in the evaluation unit and represents a formation of animal-related features conforming to animal welfare. The evaluation unit relates the pixel data to the model and determines a deviation of the pixel data from the model and provides the deviation as a deviation of the animal from the model in a form that can be output. A method for assessing compliance with animal welfare is carried out on the apparatus.

An apparatus for assessing compliance with animal welfare on an animal for slaughter. The apparatus has an image capture unit with a capture region in which a section of a surface of the animal is optically captured and in which pixels are captured. The capture unit provides pixel data in a transmittable manner. The apparatus has an evaluation unit connected to the capture unit to capture the pixel data. A normative model of the animal is stored in the evaluation unit and represents a formation of animal-related features conforming to animal welfare. The evaluation unit relates the pixel data to the model and determines a deviation of the pixel data from the model and provides the deviation as a deviation of the animal from the model in a form that can be output. A method for assessing compliance with animal welfare is carried out on the apparatus.

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.