Introduction, definitions and classification

INTRODUCTION, DEFINITIONS AND CLASSIFICATION

  • Basically the term by-products and offals are used to denote the part or particles, which is not included in the dressed carcasses.
  • So, by-products may be defined as, “everything from the abattoir or butcher’s shop that is not sold directly as food”.
  • Some of the by-products are organs, such as kidney, brain, liver, heart, lungs and intestinal tract, gullets and sweet bread, stomach, blood, bones, hooves, horns, hair and bristles, hide and skin, etc.
  • Animals, which die at abattoir prior to slaughter, or those animals or parts of animals, which have failed to pass meat inspection as, fit for human consumption, are also included in the by-products.
  • Ears, lips, snouts, teeth, foetus, gall bladder, trimmings, fleshing and dew claws are also listed under by-products.
  • Organs such as kidney, brain, liver, heart and tongue are classified as edible by-products while the others are classified as inedible by-products.
  • The basic factors making the deviation between edible and inedible products are determined by the purchasing power of the consumer, his food habits, religious taboos and customs.
  • On the border line between these two extremes is a small group of organs which depending upon the food customs and purchasing power of the consumer may be considered either edible or inedible.
  • Among these are organs such as uterus, spleen, testicle, lungs, intestines, stomach and blood may be considered fit for human consumption provided, they are derived from sound animals and were not contaminated during the process of slaughter and dressing.
  • These by-products can be further sub-divided into
    • Principle by-products including hide and skin, blood, hooves and horn and
    • Secondary class of by-products which includes a wide range of items manufactured from the principle by-products for example, blood meal, fibrin, haemoglobin, blood albumin, serum, plasma and so on from blood, Fat yields glycerin and soap; bones yield gelatin and nitroglycerine, Hides yield leather shoes, bags, belts, clothing, etc.
  • Collection and utilization of by-products will be very difficult in small and widely scattered slaughterhouses with smaller throughputs.
Last modified: Wednesday, 12 October 2011, 12:11 PM