611979 Disclosed is a chine removal apparatus for meat animal carcasses. The apparatus includes a guide defining a centreline, and an upper blade positioned substantially in line with the centreline, and having a downwards facing cutting surface. At least one lifting arm biased in an upwards direction to press an animal rack being processed by the apparatus against the upper blade and a lower blade or saw having an upwards facing edge and configured to act against the rack in conjunction with the upper blade to sever the rack. the at least one lifting arm includes a first lifting arm and a second lifting arm positioned sequentially along a side of the guide, the second lifting arm is configured to project higher than the first lifting arm. A pressure arm is configured to act upwardly on a portion of the rack laterally disposed from the guide such that the ribs are spread away from the centreline. The apparatus controls the extent to which pressure is applied by the pressure arm in accordance with predetermined settings associated with a particular product specification.
