A method of enhancing the growth of an animal is provided. The method includes causing the animal to ingest or absorb an effective amount of one or more Fe III complex compounds, including but not limited to Fe III complexes comprising ligands bound to the iron centre selected from amino acids or -hydroxy acids, o-hydroxy benzoic acids or pyridine-2-carboxylic acids, such as ferric quinate, ferric tyrosine, ferric DOPA and ferric phenylalanine. Compounds which are structural and/or functional variants, derivatives and/or analogs of the foregoing compounds, as further described herein are also disclosed. Methods for inhibiting, reducing, or preventing biofilm formation or buildup on a surface; the treatment of, inhibition of growth of, and inhibition of colonization by, bacteria, both in biological and non-biological environments; disinfecting surfaces, potentiating the effects of antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents, and increasing the sensitivity of bacteria and other microorganisms, to anti-microbial agents are also provided.

A method of enhancing the growth of an animal is provided. The method includes causing the animal to ingest or absorb an effective amount of one or more Fe III complex compounds, including but not limited to Fe III complexes comprising ligands bound to the iron centre selected from amino acids or -hydroxy acids, o-hydroxy benzoic acids or pyridine-2-carboxylic acids, such as ferric quinate, ferric tyrosine, ferric DOPA and ferric phenylalanine. Compounds which are structural and/or functional variants, derivatives and/or analogs of the foregoing compounds, as further described herein are also disclosed. Methods for inhibiting, reducing, or preventing biofilm formation or buildup on a surface; the treatment of, inhibition of growth of, and inhibition of colonization by, bacteria, both in biological and non-biological environments; disinfecting surfaces, potentiating the effects of antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents, and increasing the sensitivity of bacteria and other microorganisms, to anti-microbial agents are also provided.

The invention relates to a plant and method for the treatment of whole muscle meat, wherein the proposed plant includes a brine injection apparatus (1) with a conveyor device (10); three successive injector heads (20), each provided with a plurality of injector needles (21) connected to pressurized brine supply devices (30); one of said injector heads being connected to a first pressurized brine supply device (31), being independent from the remaining injector heads (20); and said plant also including at least one massage application apparatus (2) including a rotary drum (40) of between 140 cm and 210 cm for loading the whole muscle meat after injection thereof, operated at between 14 and 20 revolutions per minute, obtaining an increase in weight of the whole muscle meat greater than 220%.

The invention relates to a plant and method for the treatment of whole muscle meat, wherein the proposed plant includes a brine injection apparatus (1) with a conveyor device (10); three successive injector heads (20), each provided with a plurality of injector needles (21) connected to pressurized brine supply devices (30); one of said injector heads being connected to a first pressurized brine supply device (31), being independent from the remaining injector heads (20); and said plant also including at least one massage application apparatus (2) including a rotary drum (40) of between 140 cm and 210 cm for loading the whole muscle meat after injection thereof, operated at between 14 and 20 revolutions per minute, obtaining an increase in weight of the whole muscle meat greater than 220%.

Some food pathogens are not well controlled by lethality treatments followed by refrigeration. A food processing facility according to this invention reduces the likelihood that food pathogens will be able to enter the food processing facility, or spread should they be able to enter. The food processing facility is divided into a plurality of area, with different areas having different allowed actions that can be taken on the food product, different rules and/or procedures for persons who are allowed entry, and/or different levels of cleanliness. The food processing facility includes a plurality of separate rooms for processing the food product, each including separate food processing machines, air handling systems, drain systems and/or often-used supplies and tools. Different air pressures within different areas limit the possible movement of airborne food pathogens. Sanitizing stations are placed between various ones of the different areas.

A slaughtered pig part processing plant including a plurality of pig part processing stations and a conveyor supporting via respective couplings a plurality of spaced apart clamp structures, the conveyor advancing the couplings with a respective clamp structure in a machine direction (T) from a first station for introducing a pig part between jaws of a clamp structure, towards a last station for removing the bone of the processed pig part from the clamp structure, wherein in the said clamp structures being connected to the conveyor so as to allow for a turning movement of the clamp structures about a vertical axis (D), the processing plant including elongated guiding elements engaging the clamp structures or the couplings as they are advanced in the machine direction (T), for bringing about the turning movement about the vertical axis (D).

A slaughtered pig part processing plant including a plurality of pig part processing stations and a conveyor supporting via respective couplings a plurality of spaced apart clamp structures, the conveyor advancing the couplings with a respective clamp structure in a machine direction (T) from a first station for introducing a pig part between jaws of a clamp structure, towards a last station for removing the bone of the processed pig part from the clamp structure, wherein in the said clamp structures being connected to the conveyor so as to allow for a turning movement of the clamp structures about a vertical axis (D), the processing plant including elongated guiding elements engaging the clamp structures or the couplings as they are advanced in the machine direction (T), for bringing about the turning movement about the vertical axis (D).

A carcass cutting system including a belt positioned below a conveyor such as to stabilise a carcass during imaging and/or cutting operations. An offset section of conveyor track in the region of the belt may be utilized to urge the carcass against the belt. Imagining may use an optical imaging system, an X-ray imaging system, a laser scanning camera, a time of flight camera or a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry system. Imaging information may be used to calculate cutting paths and/or weight distribution of carcass portions. Cutting may be performed by a robotic cutter using a circular saw or a circular knife.

A pre-rendering system and method includes grinding limed cattle hide fleshings. The ground, limed cattle hide fleshings may then be de-limed using one or more acids or acidic solutions and then may be neutralized using one or more acids. Once the cattle hide fleshings have been de-limed and neutralized, they may be washed and then dried to prepare edible meat, such as for pet food or other animal feed, that may be rendered.

A pre-rendering system and method includes grinding limed cattle hide fleshings. The ground, limed cattle hide fleshings may then be de-limed using one or more acids or acidic solutions and then may be neutralized using one or more acids. Once the cattle hide fleshings have been de-limed and neutralized, they may be washed and then dried to prepare edible meat, such as for pet food or other animal feed, that may be rendered.