Meat packing industry

As meat production usually animal husbandry in agriculture is called, which has the purpose of producing meat. However, part of the production process also the transport of the animals whose slaughter, packaging of meat products and quality control of the products.

Animal Production

In animal production, including livestock, farm animals are produced and maintained. A distinction is cattle production, pig production, poultry production and sheep production.

Animal fattening

The aim of the animal pole is to reach animals through concerted feed and appropriate selection of meat a strong growth in the shortest possible time. These different animal species are kept, in Germany especially domestic cattle, domestic pigs and poultry. Meat from other, sometimes exotic animals is more of a niche product dar. In almost all animals there are different races, which differ markedly in their properties to some extent. For example, there are breeds that have a particularly high meat content assets. The monitoring of the still living animal and the approval of establishments carried out by the official veterinarian. Since area also represents a cost factor, is set in the conventional breeding to intensive livestock farming, where the animals can be kept in the smallest possible space with high mechanical use.

Transport of animals

Because of slaughter and fattening facility does not have to be in close proximity to each these days cattle are transported there. The live export offers the advantage that no precaution against damage to goods must be taken. Carcass is transported here in one to four storey large trucks. In Germany, the Animal Transport Regulation provides the legal basis for the transport of live animals.

Slaughter

The slaughter takes place almost exclusively in state-controlled slaughterhouses in Germany. The observance of hygienic rules is particularly important to prevent slaughterhouses to microbial attack. Must be ensured for high quality meat that the cattle remain as calm as possible. Excitement and agitation can cause muscle bleeding or increased ATP degradation prevent the smooth flow of rigor mortis and diminish quality. Cattle are stunned by a captive bolt pistol, swine by electrocution. They are then left completely bled with open carotid artery, since due to remaining blood would also reduce by glycolysis meat quality ( " stuffy maturation "). Body of pigs are freed from the bristles. All other animals the head is instead separated and skinned. After gutting the innards of pigs takes place in the division of cattle in halves and quarters.

Packaging

Usually the meat is cut manually at the nearby factory location in boneless meat pieces and packed automatically. This is set to aseptic packaging and inert gas to increase the shelf life. They are stored in cold storage. The control of finished products in terms of consumer protection in Germany through the Official food control. It checks about the content of heavy metals, microbial contamination and whether the statutory EU-wide maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal been complied with.

Criticism

PETA opposes the production and consumption of meat for ethical reasons.

The industrial meat production is responsible for 18 % of the greenhouse gas and global warming related.

Biotechnology

Alternatives offer modern biotechnological methods such as tissue culture meat, can replace the animal pole. These approaches, however, are not developed to market maturity. Already today a meat substitute (also " Novel Protein Food " ) is available from grains and soy protein and fermented mushroom braids.