WO2001054509A1 - Procede et appareil d'attendrissage de viandes - Google Patents

Procede et appareil d'attendrissage de viandes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001054509A1
WO2001054509A1 PCT/US2001/002599 US0102599W WO0154509A1 WO 2001054509 A1 WO2001054509 A1 WO 2001054509A1 US 0102599 W US0102599 W US 0102599W WO 0154509 A1 WO0154509 A1 WO 0154509A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vertebrae
carcass
separating
meat
separation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/002599
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Howard G. Dolezal, Jr.
Darren Grose
Brian W. Bell
Original Assignee
Excel Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Excel Corporation filed Critical Excel Corporation
Priority to NZ519545A priority Critical patent/NZ519545A/en
Priority to AU33014/01A priority patent/AU768370B2/en
Priority to MXPA02007048A priority patent/MXPA02007048A/es
Priority to EP01905097A priority patent/EP1274312A4/fr
Priority to CA002393768A priority patent/CA2393768C/fr
Priority to MX2010014370A priority patent/MX340022B/es
Priority to BRPI0107469A priority patent/BRPI0107469B1/pt
Publication of WO2001054509A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001054509A1/fr

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
    • A22B5/0017—Apparatus for cutting, dividing or deboning carcasses
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
    • A22C17/00—Other devices for processing meat or bones
    • A22C17/004—Devices for deboning meat

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to food processing, particularly meat processing and improving the tenderness of meat. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatuses for improving meat tenderness through manipulation of an animal carcass or portions thereof prior to rigor mortis, including separation of one or more vertebrae of a carcass.
  • Older animals typically produce tougher, less tender meat than do younger animals. If an animal is in poor health, the meat resulting from that animal may be less tender. If an animal receives a large amount of growth hormones during the animal's life, the meat resulting from that animal may be less tender.
  • Certain types of cattle such as Brahman, generally produce less tender meat than do other cattle Cattle with larger hump heights generally are more likely to be Brahman cattle or have a hereditary link to Brahman cattle, and therefore typically produce less tender meat
  • a variety of methods have been used in an attempt to improve the tenderness of red meat products, including electrical stimulation of pre- ⁇ gor carcasses, chemical injections, maceration, and various feeding techniques
  • Methods involving chemical injections have been devised that may be conducted on animals prior to slaughter and also on carcasses after slaughter
  • Some of these techniques involve injections of brine solutions, such as calcium chloride, in an effort to increase tenderness
  • Other methods involve the injection of enzymes or chemicals into an animal or a carcass to improve meat tenderness
  • Dietary supplements include the administration of Vitamin D or its analogs or derivatives to livestock, as is described in U S Patent 5,968,565 to Owens et al Maceration techniques commonly involve penetration of the meat with needles or the like to increase tenderness
  • Aging increases tenderness because enzymatic degradation of muscle fibers occurs.
  • Aging of meat has disadvantages.
  • Tendercut Process In addition to those methods discussed above for improving the tenderness of meat, another method described by Claus and Marriot, referred to as the "Tendercut Process" and available on the Internet at ⁇ www.fst.vt.edu/files/tendercu.html>, has been proposed to increase the tenderness of beef.
  • the Tendercut Process a beef carcass is manipulated after slaughter and prior to rigor mortis. After the beef carcass has been split in half (by sawing the carcass midway through the spinal column to form a left side and a right side), the Tendercut Process involves making one or two detailed cuts.
  • One cut is made between the fourth and fifth sacral vertebrae of the carcass, and involves a complete cut of the sacral vertebrae and all fat, connective tissue, and minor muscles surrounding the wholesale round muscles of the beef carcass.
  • a second cut is made between the twelfth and thirteenth ribs of the carcass, and involves a complete cut of the vertebral column and the spinal processes, as well as all fat, connective tissue, intercostal muscles, and minor muscles surrounding the longissimus dorsi.
  • the Tendercut Process has a number of disadvantages for the commercial production of meat products.
  • a large number of procedures are required in this process, including sawing the vertebrae with a saw and cutting the minor muscles, fat, and connective tissue with a knife.
  • This method is very time consuming due to the number of knife cuts required, thus requiring a large expenditure for labor if used in a commercial meat production facility.
  • due to the number and complexity of the saws and cuts that are required a significant chance of damage to the primary muscles results (those muscles for which stretching is desired to increase tenderness, e.g., the longissimus dorsi and round muscles of beef carcasses).
  • Stouffer patent discloses tenderizing a muscle in the following manner: "The backbone - which is visible on the split carcass half - is severed (preferably at several spaced locations), whereby the weight of the carcass half is sufficient to extend and maintain tension on the longissimus muscle during the passage of rigor mortis.” Stouffer '716, col. 4, II. 21-25. Stouffer 716 also discloses that additional weights may be added to the carcass for further tensioning. When the application for Stouffer 716 was filed in 1969, commercial meat production faciiities were vastly different than today. Typically, chains were not used to transport animal carcasses in 1969 and slaughter and production rates were significantly slower than today.
  • Stouffer 716 does not disclose a tenderizing method that may be readily used in commercial meat production facilities today.
  • animals for example, cattle for beef production, were not administered growth hormones in 1969 as is common today.
  • the beef resulting from the carcasses in 1969 therefore, differed in many properties, including tenderness, from beef today, and hence treatment of carcasses today differs from treatment of carcasses in 1969.
  • One embodiment of the invention is a method for tenderizing meat.
  • the invention includes manipulating, particularly separating one or more vertebrae of a carcass of a red meat slaughter animal prior to rigor mortis, wherein the act of separating is conducted at a commercial chain speed.
  • the separation of the one or more vertebrae may be conducted without separating the connective tissue, fat, and minor muscles on the portion of the carcass opposite the vertebrae or, in another embodiment, only the connective tissue and fat adjacent the vertebrae are separated during separation of the one or more vertebrae and the separation of this connective tissue and fat is incidental to the vertebrae separation. The separation of the vertebrae results in increased meat tenderness.
  • Another embodiment of the invention is a carcass of a red meat slaughter animal, wherein one or more vertebrae of the carcass have been separated prior to rigor mortis, and wherein the one or more vertebrae have been separated at a commercial chain speed.
  • the present invention also encompasses an apparatus for separating one or more vertebrae of a carcass.
  • the apparatus comprises a carcass contacting plate, an operating member operably coupled to the plate, and a drive mechanism operably coupled to the operating member for driving the operating member into a carcass to manipulate a vertebra or vertebrae.
  • the apparatus includes a plate or plate system comprising two plate members for contacting or mounting to the carcass, a wedge-shaped piercing member movably connected to the plate system, and a drive mechanism system operably coupled to the piercing member for driving it through one or more vertebrae of the carcass to achieve separation of the one or more vertebrae during use of the apparatus.
  • This embodiment of the invention provides for repeatable separations of the one or more vertebrae of a carcass without risking damage to the major muscles of the carcass.
  • this apparatus allows for fast separation of the vertebrae for use during commercial meat production processes.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a beef carcass illustrating the bone structure of the carcass.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of blade chuck steak as cut approximately along line A-A of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of rib steak as cut approximately along line B-B of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a top view of porterhouse steak as cut approximately along line C-C of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of wedge bone sirloin steak as cut approximately along line D-D of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 9 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 10 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 13 in operation prior to entry of the wedge into a beef carcass.
  • FIG. 11 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 13 in operation with the wedge partially entered into a beef carcass.
  • FIG.- 12 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 13 in operation with the wedge fully into a beef carcass.
  • FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second apparatus of the invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 13.
  • FIG. 15 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 13.
  • FIG. 16 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 13.
  • red meat slaughter animal is used to refer to an animal that is slaughtered for red meat consumption, including but not limited to all age classes of bovine, porcine, and ovine animals.
  • bovine animals include, but are not limited to, cattle, steers, heifers, cows, bulls, and also buffalo.
  • Porcine animals include, but are not limited to, sows, gilts, barrows, boars, and feeder pigs.
  • Ovine animals include, but are not limited to, sheep and lamb.
  • the present invention applies to the production of tenderized red meat products from such red meat slaughter animals and possibly to the production of tenderized meat from other animals as well, such as poultry.
  • One embodiment of the present invention is a method for tenderizing meat in which one or more vertebrae of the carcass are separated prior to rigor mortis Such a separation may be performed during commercial beef production, which involves a number of standard steps, and the separation may be performed at a commercial chain speed
  • the cattle are first stunned and then bled Next, the hide is stripped from the beef carcass and the head, extremities, and viscera are removed
  • the beef carcass is then sawed in half, thus producing two sides of beef, with each side containing half of the vertebral column and sternum, and each side being generally symmetric with the other side
  • the term "carcass" will be used to refer to the corpse of a slaughtered animal, and may include a whole corpse of the animal or a side of the animal that results from splitting a whole carcass into two sides
  • each side is washed and then optionally pasteurized, commonly using a steam pasteurization system
  • the carcasses are subjected to electrical stimulation in an effort to tenderize the meat of the carcass
  • electrical stimulation is applied to the carcass at fifty volts for approximately thirty to sixty seconds
  • One embodiment of the invention is a method for tenderizing meat
  • a vertebra of the carcass is separated prior to rigor mortis
  • two vertebrae are separated prior to rigor mortis
  • separation is accomplished by breaking, snapping, sawing, piercing, severing, parting, detaching, shearing, or removing a single vertebra or portions thereof, or it is accomplished by breaking, snapping, sawing, piercing, severing, parting, detaching, shearing, or removing two vertebrae or portions thereof
  • vertebra or vertebrae separation increases meat tenderness is not definitively known, the applicants believe that the separation of the vertebra or vertebrae causes the weight of the portion of the carcass below the separation to pull on the muscle fibers adjacent to the separation, thus causing a stretching of muscle fibers in the carcass and increased meat tenderness as a result
  • This separation of the vertebra or vertebrae and stretching of the muscle fiber is, in one embodiment, done soon after the animal is slaughtered and prior to rigor mortis so that the muscle fiber may be stretched
  • the vertebra or vertebrae of the carcass may be separated in any location, including in the sacral vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, or thoracic vertebrae It should be noted, however, that the location of the separation may determine the muscle that is stretched and hence tenderized by the vertebra or vertebrae separation Throughout this specification, the term "vertebrae" will be used to refer to two or more of the sacral vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, or thoracic vertebra
  • separation is accomplished by breaking, snapping, sawing, piercing, severing, parting, detaching, shearing, or removing a single vertebra or portions thereof, or it is accomplished by breaking, snapping, sawing, piercing, severing, parting, detaching, shearing, or removing two vertebrae or portions thereof.
  • the vertebra or vertebrae of the carcass may be separated in any location, including in the sacral vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, or thoracic vertebrae.
  • the location of the separation may determine the muscle that is stretched and hence tenderized by the vertebra or vertebrae separation.
  • the term “vertebrae” will be used to refer to two or more of the sacral vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, or thoracic vertebrae.
  • the term “vertebra” will be used to refer to a single sacral vertebra, lumbar vertebra, or thoracic vertebra. 1. Separating the Vertebra or Vertebrae
  • any method known to those skilled in the art may be used to separate the vertebra or vertebrae of the carcass, including sawing, chopping, cutting, or possibly crushing, and any tool used in the art may therefore be used to perform the separation.
  • sawing may be performed using any type of saw known to those skilled in the art, including a circular saw, splitting saw, or a hack saw, as commonly used in the meat industry.
  • Cutting or snipping to perform the separation may be done using a clipper or scissors or any other device known to those skilled in the art.
  • Chopping to perform the separation may be done using an ax or chopping device of any sort known to those skilled in the art.
  • Another method to separate the vertebra or vertebrae is through piercing or driving a wedge through the vertebra to break the vertebra into one or more portions, for example an upper portion and a lower portion.
  • a wedge could also be used to pierce or drive between two vertebrae to separate the vertebrae. Separated portions of a vertebra or separated vertebrae may be removed. "Separation" is intended to encompass removal of a vertebra, pieces of vertebra, vertebrae or pieces or sections of vertebrae. Section C of this specification and FIGS.
  • 6-16 detail two embodiments of an apparatus for separating the vertebra or vertebrae of a carcass, which may include driving a linear or rotational wedge into a vertebra or between vertebrae to achieve splitting, separation, or spacing, and also to provide an initial stretch of the muscle fiber.
  • one simple cut, saw, pierce, or slice may be used to separate the vertebra or vertebrae of the carcass.
  • the minor muscles, fat, and connective tissues surrounding the major muscles in the area of the vertebra or vertebrae separation do not need to be separated.
  • only a minimal amount of the minor muscles, connective tissues, and fat are separated.
  • the only separation or the primary separation is the splitting or dividing of a vertebra and the separation or spacing of the pieces of the vertebra, or the splitting or dividing of vertebrae or the separation or further spacing of the vertebrae.
  • a circular saw is used to separate the vertebrae.
  • the first cut is generally horizontal and cut to a depth (limited by the use of a guide, for example) to completely severe the vertebra with minimal invasion into the surrounding musculature.
  • the cut is made from the split side face of the carcass by moving the saw from the stomach side toward the back side of the carcass.
  • a second cut is then made at an angle generally parallel to the angle of the feather bones. This second cut is made generally in the area between the feather bones to effect further structural separation.
  • a separate blade or knife is used to separate the area between the feather bones.
  • the saw does not separate the chine of the lumbar, and the chine is separated by snipping.
  • carcasses typically move along a single chain or line at the rate of 150-600 head of cattle per hour, more particularly 200-400 head of cattle per hour, and even more particularly 250-350 head of cattle per hour, although this rate may vary widely.
  • the vertebra or vertebrae separation is a quick operation so that the separation may be performed on carcasses at speeds that equal the chain speed of the processing line, or at commercial chain speeds Throughout this specification the phrase "commercial chain speed" will be used to refer to the chain speed, such as those detailed above for beef production, at which carcasses typically move along a meat processing line in modern production facilities If detailed cutting of minor muscles, tissue, and fat surrounding major muscles is used, a large amount of labor and time may be required, thus making it costly and/or impractical for use at typical chain speeds in a commercial slaughter facility
  • the Tendercut Process requires at least two steps — first, sawing the vertebrae with a saw, and second, cutting muscle, tissue, and fat with a knife in numerous locations.
  • the increased simplicity of the method of the invention also decreases the chance of damage to major muscles of the carcass, which could result in decreased meat quality and hence lost value.
  • the method of the invention offers the benefits of moving and swinging of the carcass along an automated chain or line during commercial meat production, thus further aiding in stretching the muscle.
  • the Tendercut Process disclosed by Claus and Marriot discloses a hanging beef carcass in a laboratory setting, not in a commercial production process, and hence it is not subjected to swinging and moving of the carcass.
  • the method of the invention differs from the Stouffer patent in that the method of the invention is suitable for use in today's commercial meat production facilities.
  • a portion of the fat, minor muscles, and connective tissue surrounding the major muscle or muscles in the area of the vertebra or vertebrae separation may also be separated or affected during the separation process.
  • the fat, minor muscles, and connective tissue on the portion of the carcass opposite the vertebrae will not be separated or significantly affected. Because fat, minor muscles, and connective tissue surround the entire major muscle, separating such fat, minor muscles, and connective tissue would be a time consuming and therefore expensive procedure, and would be difficult to perform at commercial one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, or thirteenth thoracic vertebra 14.
  • a separation may be performed between any two thoracic vertebrae 14 (for example, between the fifth and sixth thoracic vertebrae 14), or posterior to one of the first or thirteenth vertebra 14. It is to be understood, therefore, that a vertebra or vertebrae separation may be performed at any location on the spinal column.
  • a vertebra or vertebrae separation may be performed.
  • a vertebra or vertebrae separation is made along a portion of the lumbar vertebrae 16 or thoracic vertebrae 14 of the carcass.
  • the longissimus dorsi muscle 40 is the major muscle in the area of such a separation, and also the muscle from which a significant portion of the high quality meat from a beef carcass results.
  • the vertebra or vertebrae separation may be made posterior to the thirteenth rib 22 of the carcass and anterior to the second lumbar vertebra 16, approximately in the area indicated by letter E in FIG. 1.
  • the vertebra or vertebrae separation may be made between the ninth and tenth ribs 22 of the carcass, approximately in the area indicated by line B-B in FIG. 1 (separation of the chine and featherbones).
  • Another possibility is to separate the vertebra or vertebrae between the fifth and sixth ribs 22, which is approximately in the area indicated by letter F in FIG. 1.
  • more than one separation may be made, with each separation being made at a different location along any point of the vertebrae of chain speeds.
  • performing such separations increase the chance of damage to major muscles, which can be costly errors due to damaged meat products.
  • FIG. 1 shows a side view of a beef carcass 10. As illustrated, the skeletal structure includes cervical vertebrae 12, thoracic vertebrae 14, and lumbar vertebrae 16, and sacral vertebrae 18. FIG. 1 further shows the ribs 22.
  • FIGS. 2-5 illustrate various cuts of meat corresponding approximately to cross section lines A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D of FIG. 1.
  • FIGS. 2-5 are cross-sectional views that illustrate the skeletal and muscular structure in various locations of a beef carcass.
  • FIG. 2 for instance, illustrates a blade chuck steak 30, which results from a cut approximately along line A-A of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a rib steak 32, which results from a cut approximately along line B-B of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a porterhouse steak 34, which results from a cut approximately along line C-C of FIG. 1
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a wedge bone sirloin steak 36, which results from a cut approximately along line D-D of FIG. 1.
  • Vertebral separations may be performed at any point along the vertebrae of the carcass. For instance, for a beef carcass, any one of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth sacral vertebra 18 may be separated. Alternatively, a separation may be performed between any two sacral vertebrae 18 (for example, between the third and fourth sacral vertebrae), or posterior to one of the first or fifth sacral vertebra 18. A separation may also be performed on any one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth lumbar vertebra 16. Alternatively, a separation may be performed between any two lumbar vertebrae 16 (for example, between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae 16), or posterior to one of the first or sixth lumbar vertebra 16.
  • a separation may also be performed on any one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, or thirteenth thoracic vertebra 14.
  • a separation may be performed between any two thoracic vertebrae 14 (for example, between the fifth and sixth thoracic vertebrae 14), or posterior to one of the first or thirteenth vertebra 14. It is to be understood, therefore, that a vertebra or vertebrae separation may be performed at any location on the spinal column.
  • a vertebra or vertebrae separation may be performed.
  • a vertebra or vertebrae separation is made along a portion of the lumbar vertebrae 16 or thoracic vertebrae -14 of the carcass.
  • the longissimus dorsi muscle 40 is the major muscle in the area of such a separation, and also the muscle from which a significant portion of the high quality meat from a beef carcass results.
  • the vertebra or vertebrae separation may be made posterior to the thirteenth rib 22 of the carcass and anterior to the second lumbar vertebra 16, approximately in the area indicated by letter E in FIG. 1.
  • the vertebra or vertebrae separation may be made between the ninth and tenth ribs 22 of the carcass, approximately in the area indicated by line B-B in FIG. 1 (separation of the chine and featherbones).
  • Another possibility is to separate the vertebra or vertebrae between the fifth and sixth ribs 22, which is approximately in the area indicated by letter F in FIG. 1.
  • vertebra or vertebrae separations may be made at lower portions of the vertebrae before higher vertebrae separations. It should be noted that vertebral separations made at letters E or F, or line B-B, in FIG. 1 result primarily in a stretching of the longissimus dorsi muscle 40.
  • a vertebral separation may be made along a portion of the sacral vertebrae 18.
  • a vertebral separation may be made along any portion of the sacral vertebrae 18, including in the portion indicated by line D-D in FIG. 1 , in order to stretch the muscles in the round of the carcass.
  • the vertebral separations in some embodiments of the invention, care is taken to avoid severing the major muscles in the area of the vertebral separation. For this reason, in one embodiment of the invention, only the vertebra or vertebrae — and not all minor muscles, fat, and connective tissue adjacent the major muscle — are separated. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, only a single thoracic vertebra 14 or two thoracic vertebrae 14 need be separated, and not the multifidus dorsi 42, spinalis dorsi 44, or other minor muscles in the portion of the carcass opposite the vertebrae.
  • the fat and connective tissue surrounding the major muscle need not be separated, aside from the fat and connective tissue that is incidentally separated during separation of the vertebra or vertebrae
  • portions of the fat, connective tissue, and minor muscles may be severed or partially separated during the process of vertebral separation, no special effort need be made to separate these areas in one embodiment of the invention
  • the vertebra or vertebrae separation includes the separation of the entire bone structure of the vertebra or vertebrae
  • the present invention involves the splitting of a single vertebra into two or more pieces, or the splitting and/or increased spacing between two vertebrae
  • the present invention involves disruption and/or dislocation of a normal vertebra or the normal relationship between vertebrae
  • a vertebra or vertebrae separation could include a complete separation and/or removal of the vertebral column, thoracic vertebra or vertebrae, and/or the spinal processes adjacent the vertebral column
  • Another embodiment of the present invention is a red meat slaughter animal carcass, wherein a vertebra or the vertebrae of the carcass have been separated prior to rigor mortis to increase meat tenderness through muscle fiber elongation
  • the separation of the vertebra or vertebrae causes the weight of the portion of the carcass below the separation to pull on the muscle fibers adjacent to the separation, thus causing a stretching of muscle fibers in the carcass. Separation of the vertebra or vertebrae results in the extension of the length or tearing of the sarcomeres (muscle fiber complex) and therefore increases tenderness of the resulting meat.
  • the separation in one embodiment, is made in order to maximize the muscle stretch.
  • vertebra or vertebrae separation is typically performed prior to completion of rigor mortis of the carcass (pre-rigor), which typically takes place within approximately 3-24 hours after slaughter. After rigor mortis, muscle fibers will be immobilized and hence vertebra or vertebrae separation will have a limited effect on meat tenderness.
  • vertebra or vertebrae separation in accordance with this specification may be made at any time prior to rigor mortis.
  • carcasses are steam pasteurized approximately thirty to sixty minutes after slaughter and prior to being chilled.
  • Electrical stimulation may be performed on the carcasses either before or after steam pasteurization, or both before and after pasteurization.
  • vertebra or vertebrae separation may be performed at any time after slaughter and prior to rigor mortis in accordance with the invention, in one embodiment, vertebra or vertebrae separation may be performed after steam pasteurization and prior to chilling of the carcass.
  • electrical stimulation may be performed on the carcass either before or after vertebra or vertebrae separation to further increase tenderness of the meat.
  • vertebral separation is performed first, followed by electrical stimulation and steam pasteurization.
  • vertebral separation is performed first, followed by electrical stimulation followed by steam pasteurization.
  • An advantage of performing vertebral separation prior to electrical stimulation is that, in some instances, the prior separation enhances the beneficial effects of electrical stimulation. Namely, the muscles are more able to contract and relax, resulting in increased glycogen depletion, and the muscles are able to physically stretch more post-separation.
  • steam pasteurization is performed prior to vertebral separation and electrical stimulation.
  • the weight of the carcass and electrical stimulation may result in a muscle stretch after vertebral separation, other processes may also aid in stretching the muscle after separation. One such process is the moving or swinging of the carcass along a rail line or chain.
  • weights could be attached to the lower portion of the carcass in order to increase the muscle stretch, thus increasing the resulting meat tenderness. In other embodiments, however, no weights, aside from the carcass weight, are necessary in order to increase meat tenderness.
  • the vertebral separation method of the invention may be combined with other meat tende ⁇ zation programs to increase meat tenderness Breed and hump height programs for beef cattle, for instance, may be used with the vertebral separation method to increase meat tenderness.
  • feed supplements or programs or chemical injections on live animals may also be used with the vertebral separation method of the invention Aging of meat products may be used as well with the vertebral separation method of the invention
  • the invention offers numerous advantages over the previous tenderizing methods
  • Third, the methods in these embodiments may be performed quickly and are relatively easy to perform, thus allowing the methods to be performed during commercial processes for the production of meat products at high chain speeds
  • Another advantage of the methods of the invention is that higher quality cuts of meat may result
  • the stretching or elongation of a muscle of a carcass results in an elongated muscle with a smaller diameter than the muscle would have without vertebral separation and stretching of the muscle
  • the cut of meat will need to be thicker in order to have the same weight as a cut of meat from a muscle that has not been elongated.
  • an eight ounce steak may be one and a half inches thick from a muscle that has not been elongated, and an eight ounce steak from the same area of an elongated muscle may be two inches thick (with a decreased diameter or circumference).
  • Cuts of meat that result from the method of the invention may be thicker, while still having the same portion size (weight) as a cut of meat from a carcass that is not subjected to the method of the invention.
  • a thicker cut of meat is generally more appealing to consumers, in part because of the visual qualities of such a cut of meat.
  • the thicker cut of meat is generally better for cooking because a decreased amount of moisture will likely be evaporated or cooked out of the meat cut during cooking.
  • Thicker meat cuts can typically withstand harsher cooking conditions, while maintaining tenderness and juiciness.
  • the combined benefits of this aspect of the invention therefore, may allow for higher priced meat cuts that are of the same weight as meat cuts from carcasses that are not subjected to the invention, which may be important for commercial meat production.
  • the lip-on ribeye was removed from each of the eighty-eight sides and the strip loin was removed from twenty-seven of the sides in the study.
  • the lip-on ribeyes were aged for fourteen days at one degree Celsius and then frozen at negative twenty degrees Celsius. Steaks were removed from the lip-on ribeyes at the location of the eleventh, ninth and seventh ribs, and the steaks were vacuum packed and stored at negative twenty degrees Celsius. Steaks were thawed for twenty-four hours and were then cooked. In this study, the steaks were broiled to a medium degree of doneness (seventy-one degrees Celsius).
  • FIGS 6-9 illustrate one exemplary apparatus for separating a vertebra or the vertebrae of a carcass
  • FIGS. 10-12 illustrate such an apparatus during its use or operation.
  • the apparatus 110 for use in meat processing comprises a plate 112 for contacting a carcass, an operating member 114 operably coupled to the plate 112 and a drive mechanism 116 operably coupled to the operating member 114 for driving the operating member 114 into a carcass to manipulate or separate one or more vertebrae.
  • the apparatus 110 comprises a plate system 112, a piercing operating member 114, and a drive system 116.
  • the plate system 112 may contact, be attached to or supported against the carcass of an animal, and then the piercing member 114 may be driven through a single vertebra or between two vertebrae to move, split and/or achieve separation of the vertebra or vertebrae.
  • the components of the apparatus or device 110 may be assembled and operably coupled to each other using suitable devices known to those skilled in the art, including screws, rivets, bearings, and the like, and operating or driven components may be coupled using appropriate power or motive force providing and transmitting elements and linkages.
  • Power source and/or drive elements may be electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic or manual.
  • the plate system 112 includes a lower face plate 118 and an upper face place 120.
  • the lower face plate 118 and the upper face plate 120 intersect at substantially a ninety degree angle, although this angle may vary in other embodiments of the invention, and the plate system 112 may take the form of a single, generally flat or curved plate adapted to receive or conform to a particular portion of a carcass. In some instances, it may take the form of a table-like working surface for receiving a carcass or a portion thereof.
  • the plates 118 and 120 are depicted as fixed relative to each other, they may be respectively movably coupled by suitable adjustable brackets, slides or the like, whereby they may be relatively positioned at a selected angle.
  • FIGS. 10-12 which illustrate a second embodiment of the apparatus
  • the plate system 112 may be placed against a carcass (a side of beef in FIGS. 10-12) with the lower face plate 118 along the portion of the carcass that was sawed when a whole carcass was split into two sides and the upper face plate 120 along the rib portion of the carcass.
  • Each face plate 118, 120 may vary in size and geometry. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS.
  • each face plate 118, 120 is substantially rectangular in shape, and the lower face plate 118 is approximately 4.35 inches wide and ten inches long, while the upper face plate 120 is approximately 3.5 inches wide and ten inches long.
  • Each face plate 118, 120 is about 0.25 inches thick in this embodiment.
  • the plate system 112 may be made from any rigid material appropriate for food processing applications, including but not limited to metals and plastics.
  • the plate system 112 may include a pin, a plurality of pins or posts, an elevated or relieved region or regions, or other positioning, guiding and attachment device or adaptations (not shown in FIGS.) that may be used to securely position or attach the apparatus 10 to the carcass during operation.
  • a pin, or pins, for instance, could extend beyond each face plate 118,120 and securely position and/or fasten or hold the carcass to the plate system 112.
  • the piercing member 114 may come in a variety of geometries.
  • the member 114 is wedge-like (thus, it may also be referred to as a piercing wedge 114 or an operating member 114), and although the cross section of the wedge shaped piercing member 114 may be circular in one embodiment, in other embodiments it may have differing cross sections, such as a square shape
  • the piercing wedge 114 depicted in FIGS 6-9 is a rotational piercing wedge In the embodiment in FIGS 6-9, a first end 140 of the piercing wedge 114 reaches a sharp point, and a second end 142 of the piercing wedge 114 has a diameter of approximately 1 5 inches The depicted piercing wedge 114 increases in diameter and curves with length along the piercing wedge 114 from the first end 140 to the second end 142
  • a rotational actuator may be used as the drive system or drive mechanism 116
  • two pneumatic rotational actuators of any type commonly used by those of skill in the art are operably coupled to the piercing member 114 to move the member 114
  • the piercing member 114 may rotate upon an axle or axis of rotation
  • a link system 150 of two arms with one arm being connected to the piercing wedge 114 and the second arm being attached to the rotational actuator or axle of rotation, may be used to translate the motion of the rotational actuator to the piercing member 114
  • each face plate 118, 120 may have a hole of sufficient size to allow the second end 142, or wide end, of the piercing member 114 to fit through and past the plate 112 to a desired extent or travel
  • These holes or apertures are designated by numerals 144 and 146 in FIGS 6-9
  • the apertures 144, 146 need not be circular or any particular shape, but should be of sufficient size and shape to allow the thick second end 142 of the piercing member 114 to fit there through
  • the apparatus may include one or more handles (not shown in FIGS 6-9, but indicated at numeral 160 in FIGS 13-16 of a second embodiment) for grasping, moving and handling the apparatus 1 10, and/or for positioning and supporting it relative to and/or against a carcass
  • An operator of the apparatus may therefore grasp the handles and support the apparatus against a carcass or, in another embodiment, the apparatus may be mounted or suspended on a stand, lift or support generally similar to those used to support other tools (saws, etc ) that may be positioned adjacent a carcass in meat processing operations
  • the handles or any other portion of the apparatus may contain a triggering device (not shown) that actuates the drive mechanism to move the piercing member 14
  • FIGS 13-16 illustrate a second embodiment of the apparatus 110 of the present invention
  • the apparatus includes handles 160, and the actuator 116 of the apparatus is directly attached to the piercing member 1 14 to drive or move it, and therefore the apparatus does not contain links or arms between the piercing member 1 14 and the actuator 116
  • the apparatus of FIGS 13-16 also has an angle of slightly less than ninety degrees between the upper face plate 120 and the lower face plate 118, which may allow the apparatus to conform to certain carcasses and/or to separations or manipulations to be carried out on a carcass
  • FIGS 10-12 show operation of the apparatus embodiment shown in FIGS 13-16
  • the rotational wedge-like piercing member 1 14 moves into the carcass 170, separating two vertebrae of the carcass 170 or, in another application, separating a single vertebra
  • the piercing member 114 may be sized such that it causes a complete separation of the vertebra or vertebrae, but does not extend into the major muscle (the longissimus dorsi muscle in FIGS 10-12) which could damage the major muscle Instead, the piercing member 114 separates only the vertebra or vertebrae and the tissue, fat, and minor muscles immediately adjacent the vertebrae and the area in which the piercing member 114 is used In an embodiment in which the second end 142 of the piercing member 114 is approximately 1 5 inches in diameter, a separation of 1 5 inches results upon use of an apparatus of the invention using such a piercing member 114 During operation, the
  • a linear piercing member 114 may be used in conjunction with a linear actuator as the drive system 116
  • the linear piercing member 114 may be a rod that is sharpened at one end or, alternatively, a linear rod that tapers from a larger thickness or diameter to a decreased thickness or diameter or sharp point at the other end
  • One or more linear actuators may be used to drive the linear piercing member 114 into the vertebra or between two vertebrae
  • an embodiment using a linear piercing member 114 may be sized and oriented such that use of the piercing member 114 does not result in damage to the major muscle near the vertebrae, but instead results only in separation of the vertebra or vertebrae and possibly minor muscles, connective tissue, and fat immediately adjacent the vertebra or vertebrae and area in which the piercing member 114 enters the carcass
  • any embodiment of the present invention may be adapted
  • an apparatus for manipulating, separating or piercing such as that disclosed above may result in repeatably accurate vertebral separations that require a minimal amount of effort
  • a vertebra or vertebrae may be separated quickly at chain speeds that match those commonly used during commercial meat production processes
  • Such an apparatus 110 performs an act of piercing that may be quickly and repeatably performed on carcass after carcass without damaging major muscles
  • the use of an apparatus 110 such as that disclosed above can repeatably manipulate and/or separate a single vertebra or two vertebrae without risking damage to major muscles, because the piercing member 114 will repeatably reach the same depth into the carcass without harming the major muscles
  • an air-powered or hydraulic-powered circular saw for example one sold under the "Jarvis" brand name, is used to separate the vertebrae
  • a reciprocating saw such as the Jarvis Model 444) is used to separate the vertebrae

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Meat, Egg Or Seafood Products (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé d'attendrissage de viandes. Ce procédé consiste à séparer une ou plusieurs vertèbres de la carcasse d'un animal de boucherie à viande rouge avant l'état de rigidité cadavérique. L'opération de séparation, réalisée à vitesse de chaîne commerciale, permet aux fibres musculaires de s'étendre dans la carcasse.
PCT/US2001/002599 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Procede et appareil d'attendrissage de viandes WO2001054509A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ519545A NZ519545A (en) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Method and apparatus for tenderizing meat
AU33014/01A AU768370B2 (en) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Method and apparatus for tenderizing meat
MXPA02007048A MXPA02007048A (es) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Metodo y aparato para ablandar carne.
EP01905097A EP1274312A4 (fr) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Procede et appareil d'attendrissage de viandes
CA002393768A CA2393768C (fr) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Procede et appareil d'attendrissage de viandes
MX2010014370A MX340022B (es) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Metodo y aparato para ablandar carne.
BRPI0107469A BRPI0107469B1 (pt) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 método para amaciar carne

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US46535700A 2000-01-28 2000-01-28
US60/465,357 2003-04-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001054509A1 true WO2001054509A1 (fr) 2001-08-02

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PCT/US2001/002599 WO2001054509A1 (fr) 2000-01-28 2001-01-26 Procede et appareil d'attendrissage de viandes

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1274312A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU768370B2 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA02007048A (fr)
NZ (1) NZ519545A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001054509A1 (fr)

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US7892076B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2011-02-22 Swift & Company Multibar apparatus and method for electrically stimulating a carcass
US9135501B2 (en) 2006-04-03 2015-09-15 Jbs Usa, Llc Method for administering a drug program to determine whether an animal has been given a drug
US9159126B2 (en) 2006-04-03 2015-10-13 Jbs Usa, Llc System and method for analyzing and processing food product

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US3483592A (en) * 1966-07-29 1969-12-16 Schlumberger Cie N Method of preparing sides of meat for boning on an automatic machine
US3579716A (en) * 1969-02-24 1971-05-25 Cornell Res Foundation Inc Meat tenderizing method
US4139926A (en) * 1976-01-26 1979-02-20 Armour And Company Tool for cutting materials and methods for sterilizing the same
US4667368A (en) * 1984-11-29 1987-05-26 N. Schlumberger & Cie Backbone inner guiding device for splitting butchery animals
US5152713A (en) * 1991-09-05 1992-10-06 Vac-Air, Inc. Universal power head for hand operated tools
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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9135501B2 (en) 2006-04-03 2015-09-15 Jbs Usa, Llc Method for administering a drug program to determine whether an animal has been given a drug
US9159126B2 (en) 2006-04-03 2015-10-13 Jbs Usa, Llc System and method for analyzing and processing food product
US9412160B2 (en) 2006-04-03 2016-08-09 Jbs Usa, Llc System and method for analyzing and processing food product
US9881366B2 (en) 2006-04-03 2018-01-30 Jbs Usa, Llc System and method for analyzing and processing food product
US7892076B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2011-02-22 Swift & Company Multibar apparatus and method for electrically stimulating a carcass

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MXPA02007048A (es) 2004-04-23
NZ519545A (en) 2004-10-29
EP1274312A1 (fr) 2003-01-15
EP1274312A4 (fr) 2003-07-09
AU3301401A (en) 2001-08-07
AU768370B2 (en) 2003-12-11

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