Method and device for processing a slaughter animal

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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a continuation application of PCT / NL00 / 00024 filed 14 Jan. 2000. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to methods and devices for processing a slaughter animal, such as a fowl. [0003] This processing relates firstly to the mechanical opening of at least one blood vessel in the neck of a slaughter animal, in particular a fowl, comprising the steps of: positioning the neck of the slaughter animal; and opening the at least one blood vessel. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] When slaughtering animals, such as cattle, small livestock and poultry, it is customary, after the animal has been stunned or killed, to open one or more important blood vessels and to allow the blood to run out of the animal. The blood vessel which is to be opened is usually the carotid artery. In order to ensure that the blood runs out of the animal as fully as possible, it is moved into a position which is such that the sticking location is loc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] An object of the method according to the invention is to reduce or eliminate the abovementioned drawbacks.

[0013] To reach this object, in the method according to the invention a blood vessel is opened by moving at least one cutting means into the neck from one side of the neck towards the opposite side of the neck, the at least one blood vessel to be opened being located in the path of the cutting means. The cutting means may be a blade or, for example, a water jet. In particular, the cutting means is a substantially elongate blade which is provided with a sharp, inclined front side, the blade is moved substantially in its longitudinal direction, the at least one blood vessel which is to be opened being located in the path of the inclined side of the blade. Preferably, the blade is moved to and fro substantially along a line. The method according to the invention thus provides the possibility of opening, i.e. cutting into or severing, both the (major) jugular veins (V. jugularis) and the deeper carotid arteries (A. carotis) by a single movement of the blade.

[0014] To prevent the equipment which is used to open a blood vessel in the neck of the slaughter animal from being excessively contaminated with blood, the slaughter animal is preferably killed, in particular in a gas atmosphere, before the blood vessel is opened, and the slaughter animal is expediently positioned in such a manner that the head is located at a higher level than the area of the opening and the body is located at a lower level than the area of the opening. Due to the absence of the heart beat, muscle reactions and pump action in the blood vessels of the dead slaughter animal, the pressure of the blood in the blood vessel at the location of the opening is low, partly due to the position of the slaughter animal. Consequently, only a small quantity of blood emerges from the body of the slaughter animal at the location of the opening.

Problems solved by technology

A problem which arises in particular when dead animals are being exsanguinated with the aid of the force of gravity is presented by the inaccessibility of the arteries in the neck when using the conventional methods of opening blood vessels with the aid of a rotating blade.

However, with the conventional means this is impossible without also cutting into or severing the oesophagus and / or the trachea.

Another problem in the prior art is the fact that opening a blood vessel in the neck of a slaughter animal which is hung by a (hind) leg immediately causes a large amount of blood to emerge from the neck, which blood contaminates the device used for opening to a considerable extent.

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