Meat Production and Processing Techniques

Ante-mortem inspection

Inspection completed on live animal; animal must be capable of walking off trailer to be slaughtered - used for human consumption.

Captive bolt gun

A gun used to knock cattle completely insensible. This gun does not kill the animal, it knocks a part of the brain insensible.

Why does a captive bolt gun not have a projectile?

Too dangerous to use in facilities full of people and livestock.

Percentage of animals that must be insensible prior to exsanguination

100%

Exsanguination

To bleed out after being shot by captive bolt gun.

Why do we need the heart to beat during exsanguination?

Consumers do not like the meat flavor to taste like blood has stayed.

Evisceration

Evisceration is when all the internal organs are removed.

Post-mortem inspection

Evaluates carcass.

Cold shortening

Cold shortening is when muscle fibers shorten and meat products get tougher.

Why do we not want cold shortening to happen?

Tough meat is not wanted by consumers in the U.S.

Differences between slaughtering cattle versus hogs

Cattle are skinned after exsanguination and use captive bolt gun; Hogs use slap tattooing, coz stunning, tumbling, and are ear-tagged.

Primal cuts of meat

Round, Sirloin, Loin, Rib, Chuck, Flank, Plate, Brisket, Shank.

Common cuts on the hog

Ham, Boston butt, picnic shoulder, loin, and side.

Marbling

Marbling is intramuscular fat seen within the ribeye that looks like white lines and clumps.

Reasons we want more marbling

1-Juiciness, 2-Tenderness, 3-Flavor.

Ribeye #1 vs Ribeye #2

Between ribeye #1 and ribeye #2, the one with more marbling would be worth more money.

Ribeye 2

Possesses more manding, has a larger vibeye, less fat (trimmer).

fibeye I

Has a darker color with less marbling and more fat.

Convenience Cost

While the cut and quality of meat being used impact meat cost the most, any additional processing can also potentially increase the cost for the meat.

Meat Ranking

Per pound, rank them from cheapest to most expensive: B, I, H, G, A, CIF, D, E.

Offal

Part of animal not consumed by Americans.

Examples of Offal

Pig feet, leaf fat, heart, tongue, bones, ears, head, brains, skin.

Animal By-products in Perfume

Yes.

Animal By-products in Chalk

Yes.

Animal By-products in Gum

Yes.

Animal By-products in Glass

No.

Animal By-products in Adhesives

Yes.

Animal By-products in Various Medicines

Yes.

Animal By-products in Instrument Strings

Yes.

Ear Notching

Completed in a way for us to identify individual hogs from one another.

Litter #

Animal right ear.

Piglet #

Left ear.

Needle Parts

Shaft, Lumen.

Slip Tip Syringe

Sits on top of syringe and is convenient to distribute multiple meds.

Luer Lock Syringe

Needle locks in place and ensures needle and syringe stay intact.

Needle Gauge

How thick the needle shaft is.

Needle Length

How long the shaft of the needle is.

Longer Needle Usage

To administer medicine into a larger animal.

Larger Gauge Needle Usage

To administer a thicker drug into an animal.

Reasons to Decrease Needle Re-usage

1) Barbs can form on the end and cause more tissue damage. 2) Increased risk to spread disease.

Candling

When we shine a light through the end of the egg.

Determining Fertilized Egg

You will be able to see a dark area inside the egg and some small blood vessels.

Function of Chalazae

Two membranous strips that connect yolk to the inside of the eggshell; provides physical support.