CHAPTER ONE
1.0              INTRODUCTION
Meat is a flesh of animals consumed for foods.  In the topics, the bulk of the meat consumed is derived from cow, sheep, cattle, pigs, camel etc.  The other aspect of a dead animal such as the offal’s (kidney, liver, intestine etc) and the skin are often consumed, but one not termed meat; which ever part of it is meat is usually consumed for its high quality protein content essential for body growth and repairs.
The proportions of meat derived foods that one consumed are related to the general, affluence of the society in which he lives. Meat consumption in the developed countries is more than in less developed countries is more than in less developed countries. Ihekoronye, A. I and Ngoddy, P.O. (1985)
The most common meat product include Beef (cow), pork (pig), mutton (sheep) and they are commonly used in making sausages, burgers, meat rolls suya meat and sometimes, they are eaten like that. The food technologist is not only interested in those products, but also mostly interested in the process leading to the slaughtering of animals final quality of meat or meat product is usually influenced by both.
SLAUGHTER FACTORS AND THE INITIAL HEALTH OF THE ANIMAL
Animal for slaughtering must be healthy and usually not so old. This requirement is necessary if a high quality product is to be obtained.
Suya is popular roasted and smoked sliced beet product, suya is a traditional meat product originating from the Northern part of Nigeria; and it has gained considerable acceptability and popularity in the south too. It is produced by community meant into straws and passing with slight pressure through sticks. The meat is sprinkled with spices, groundnut oil, dry pepper and heat treated by a process involving dry cooking (roasting) by heat from a burning wood or charcoal. Kafidiya, O.O. (1981)
            Suya meat is an ideal source of animal protein and its inclusion in a balanced diets should go a long way towards improving nutrition, but  technological problems need to be overcome before the product can be successfully and safely  processed, packaged and presented to the consumer Igene, J. O. (1982).
            Increased demand for convenience foods has resulted in expansion of the processed meat industry. The consumption of suya has been accelerated, especially in southern Nigeria. The traditional method of producing suya is processed with the view to effecting some modifications where necessary to improve hygiene, palatability, characteristics and shelf stability. Kafidya, O.O (1981).
            The recent up range of food prices in Nigeria has been the result of a number of complex circumstances, both domestic and international.
            A substantial amount of the diet protein in the nation is obtained from crops. The level of animal protein in take is only about 17 percent of this total protein consumed by the average Nigerian, which is far from minimum recommended this situation could be improved by developing the food processing sector, especially meat and meat products.
            The high quality of meat protein is well established and is essential in the maintenance to a healthy population. Development in the quantitative as well as qualitative production of suya could have a remarkable impact on the animal protein nutrition in Nigeria in view of the diverse and cheap sources of raw materials for suya processing. Suya is within the reach of most members of the population due to its unit price and as such contributes to a growing proportions of the much needed animal protein.