4DDI Equine CT – live cattle scan demonstrated in 1 Australian feedlot

Summary

This project aimed to enhance the recently developed 4DDI equine robotic CT scanner to be suitable for scanning carcase yield, eating quality, and health attributes, on Australian beef livestock in feedlots.

The scanner was trialled at an Australian beef feedlot. 4DDI will report on the success of the scans, and whether they can be paired with 2D DEXA and CT LMY and EQ OM results for beef sides.

The project was terminated by MLA due to complications the US based 4DDI partner faced during Covid to complete milestones and commit to funding. 

Objectives

• Equipping the 4DDI Veterinary CT scanner to scan Australian beef sides and lamb carcases.
• Manufacture, integrate and quality test in US factory, then transfer system to Australia.
• Undergo a meat science performance evaluation at a research facility.
• Scan a number of beef sides at an Australian beef feedlot facility.

Key findings

The design of a system, with technical validation, was carried out, and system specification and commercial proposal submitted. Work was terminated prior to an Australian demonstration.

Benefits to industry

A flexible CT x-ray livestock imaging system, with capability to integrate into a feedlot induction or hospital area, and be able to grade livestock for eating quality and health attributes and allow for sortation and process days-on-feed optimisation value gains.

MLA action

• The system concept is still considered technically and commercially interesting. MLA would seek to continue this evaluation.
• The project was terminated by MLA due to complications the US based 4DDI partner faced during Covid to complete milestones and commit to funding. These issues also prevented the securing of a feedlot partner within Australia to conduct field trials.
• MLA sees future value in the technology but will require new partners with expertise in the technology to come on board.