Method for de-hairing animals
AssigneeMonfort, Inc.
InventorsRod A. Bowling, Robert P. Clayton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for remvoing hair from the hide of an animal to be slaughtered in order to reduce bacterial contamination of meat and meat by-products. A bovine is first immobilized and a depilatory substance of sodium sulfide is sprayed onto the animal's hide for 1-60 seconds. After a dwell time of about 1-180 seconds, the hair contacted by the depilatory substance is removed by directing pressurized jets of water at the animal's hide. Neutralizing agents are then sprayed onto the animal to stop the depilatory process and the animal is conveyed to an exsanguination station for further processing.
Claims40
In a method for slaughtering an animal, wherein said animal is immobilized, dispatched, and fabricated, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- a. contacting a depilatory substance to said animal's hair prior to dispatching said animal;
- and
- b. removing said hair contacted by said depilatory substance.
In a method of slaughtering an animal by immobilizing an animal, dispatching said animal and removing the hide of said animal, the improvement comprising the step of removing hair on said animal's hide with a depilatory substance prior to said dispatching of said animal to reduce bacterial contamination of meat during the slaughtering process.
A method for reducing bacterial contamination of meat during slaughtering, comprising:
- a immobilizing an animal;
- b. applying a depilatory substance to said animal's hair;
- c. removing the hair on said animal's hide;
- and
- d. dispatching said animal from which hair has been removed.
A method for reducing microbial contact during slaughtering of an animal, comprising:
- (a) immobilizing an animal;
- (b) contacting a depilatory substance to said animal's hair;
- (c) permitting said depilatory substance to reduce disulfide bonds between cystine residues of said hair;
- (d) removing hair contacted by said depilatory substance by directing pressurized water or air at said animal's hide;
- and
- (e) dispatching said animal from which hair has been removed.
A method for preparing hides, comprising:
- (a) applying a depilatory substance to an animal's hair prior to fleshing of said animal's hide wherein said depilatory substance comprises sodium sulfide;
- a composition of sodium hydroxide, calcium oxide and thioglycolic acid;
- or a composition of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide;
- and
- (b) removing hair contacted by said depilatory substance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.