Apparatus and process for meat packing

A method of performing a meat packaging operation, wherein carcasses are transferred through one or more workstations where one or more cuts of meat are removed from the carcasses and the cuts of meat are transferred to one or more predetermined locations, comprising the steps of:

• identifying the cuts of meat with data regarding the carcass from which the cut was removed;
• storing the identity of the cuts of meat in a central programmable electronic processor;
• moving the cuts of meat to one of the predetermined locations;
• and
• accessing the identity of each cut of meat from the central programmable electronic processor.

An apparatus for use in a meat packaging operation, wherein cuts of meat are removed from a carcass, comprising:

• a conveyor for moving the cuts of meat to a workstation;
• a central programmable electronic processor associated with said conveyor, said central programmable electronic processor containing data about the carcass and the cuts of meat, wherein the data includes data linking the cuts of meat to the carcass from which they were removed;
• and
• a workstation coupled to the central programmable electronic processor, wherein said workstation is capable of receiving the data about the cuts of meat or is capable of providing additional data about the cuts of meat to the central programmable electronic processor.