New Generation Sheep Meat Electronics

Summary

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has, in the past, developed a suite of meat electronics technologies which have contributed to an improvement in eating quality, meat colour, bleeding and carcase movement control. 

These technologies have been widely installed in the medium to large processors for both sheep and beef but little uptake has been experienced in the Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

A four module low voltage stimulation system was installed in the bleed area of the plant immediately following exsanguination and hang up.

Objectives

The project objectives were:

• production prototype electronics tested for reliability and design optimised for subsequent commercial production
• each technology installed and operating reliably within the budget constraints
• technology tested to perform according to industry best practice for eating quality and OH&S
• viable low cost (do it yourself) installation procedures documented and incorporated into the commercialiser's (StimTech) business plan.

Key findings

The outcomes of this project were:

• confirmation of the electrical performance of production prototype meat electronics for beef.
• development of data on "do it yourself" installations in a variety of SME's.
• confirmation of eating quality and OH&S performance of the equipment.

Benefits to industry

This new initiative has led to the development of lower cost (but equal performance) electronics using new developments in technology which will see the price of the electronics drop significantly.

The new electronics will go some way towards reducing the cost of meat electronics installations, however, an equally important consideration is the mechanical costs associated with electrode installation.

Another initiative with MLA commercialiser, StimTech to streamline the mechanical installations by developing "do it  yourself kits" is also nearing completion and these two initiatives together will enable SME's to install meat electronics in a cost effective way.

MLA action

As a result of the project outcomes, MLA has:

• a third party audit by MSA Development officers has been conducted and shown the ES system to be operative effectively to deliver the required pH decline window on a specified number of lamb carcases within the MSA requirements.
• developed a Procedures and Safety Manual 
• subsequently a MSA accreditation has been licenced to the operation with ongoing QA requirements for assessment of pH decline compliance and reported to MSA offices. 

Future research

The first electronics ready for testing was applied to sheep (single and multi-channel stimulator/bleeders) and this project is nearing completion. Due to the success of the SME sheep electronics projects, the same developments are now being applied to beef (single channel stimulators and immobilisers). It is envisioned that if this project is successful we will develop a final project in a similar vein with a new back stiffener.