An apparatus for processing meat carcasses into portions or removing meat from an animal skeleton, including a guide defining a centreline a pair of dorsal assemblies on either side of the centreline with a substantially vertical dorsal blade positioned substantially in line with the centreline at least one lateral assembly with a lateral blade and an actuator configured to move the lateral assembly from a position where the lateral blade is adjacent the dorsal blade and extends laterally relative to the guide, to a second position away from the guide and at least one chine assembly with an upper blade positioned substantially in line with the centreline, and having a downwards facing cutting surface and a lower blade positioned below the upper blade. The pair of dorsal blades and upper blades are offset from the centreline so that a dorsal process of a carcase potion passes between and against the respective blades. The dorsal blade is biased both laterally and vertically towards the centreline, and a dorsal blade actuator acts against the bias to hold the dorsal blade away from the centreline until released.
