Fuente: WIPO "meat" An apparatus for automatically processing an animal carcass so as to remove the animal head (10) from the remainder of the carcass (8), the apparatus being characterised by head holding means (12), the head holding means (12) comprising locating means (13) for locating in use the animal head (10) in a generally desired position, and clamping means (14) for clamping the head (10) against movement, the apparatus further including stretching means (15) for stretching the neck of the carcass (8) so as to spread the atlas joint, and cutting means (151) comprising a cutting blade (156) which is selectively movable along a cut line located below and generally along the line of the jaw (9) and through the atlas joint so as to sever the head (10) from the remainder of the carcass.