Slaughter Floor Redesign – Stage 1 - In paddock trials

Summary

​This project aimed to design and construct mild steel test 'rigs' for mechanical-assisted beef processing field trials. The objective is to empower cost-effective greenfield processing sites to be established anywhere within Australia, and arguably could provide alternatives to live export in regional locations.

This project was discontinued due to program priorities.

Outcomes of the work completed are summarised below:

• Preliminary 'paddock' concept trials were undertaken to evaluate if past processing techniques, combined with innovative thinking, and new technologies can improve the yield of dressed carcases, enabling new slaughter floor operations to be established.
• Trials investigated re-engineered aspects of 'bed dressing' concepts with the incorporation of an additional unique hide pulling/removal step. Combined with tasks such as evisceration and tender stretch.
• Fourteen carcase trials were undertaken using a variety of work up methods and processing configurations. Through a process of design iteration and improvement it was shown that hide removal in the prone position with carcase fixed at the front legs (post-conventional bleeding) was able to:
  • Minimise preliminary hide work up processes
  • Remove the hide in a sock fashion to contain/remove airborne contamination
  • Remove the hide from head to tail to ensure improved fat retention over the loins

In this configuration the hide is held (not pulled). The body is pulled from the hide out and upwards. Evisceration is also undertaken whilst the body is suspended by the front legs with the brisket having been split for that purpose.

The trials in this position were all very successful and easier than in some alternative configurations. Notwithstanding that more preliminary work is required than some other alternatives, the ease of the pull starting after the shoulder improves the pull time and results in an efficient process overall.