P.PSH.1365 - Development of an application for portable E+V objective measurement technologies for the Australia red meat producers and processors
Red meat traits are graded using manual and primarily visual subjective methods.
| Project start date: | 20 January 2022 |
| Project end date: | 30 September 2023 |
| Publication date: | 15 May 2024 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
Red meat traits are graded using manual and primarily visual subjective methods. Not only are these manual grading methods tedious, they are also open to inaccuracies in the data captured. Developing precise objective measurement methods is an industry strategic 2025 imperative to capture more accurate data to support alternative pricing methods for producers. This project was submitted in response to an open call for co-investment proposals from businesses seeking to trial and adopt emerging objective carcase and/or live animal assessment technologies. While some technologies may not yet have achieved AUS-MEAT accreditation, the opportunity was open to all technologies for businesses to test and trial integration of developing equipment, and, where applicable, integration of software to enable MSA grading outputs from these technologies to plant systems.
The opportunity exists to develop an adoption case study of a grading solution using an application for the portal E+V device to measure ribeye grading characteristics in beef.
E+V is a world leading company in Germany having its core business developing objective carcase measurement technologies. E+V has already achieved widespread use of its beef rib-eye grading camera technology in almost all US plants as an approved solution by USDA.
It also has established track record working with Teys Australia meeting industry requirements in two plants, conforming to AUS-MEAT specification and gaining formal approval for its fixed camera system. E+V possesses considerable background know-how and intellectual property, placing it at the forefront of innovations in beef grading with practical installations in daily use all around the world.
This project aims to continue the success at Teys by demonstrating a portable hand-held rib-eye camera already developed by E+V. The ‘mobile-ribeye’ camera provides further advantages as it may be used to grade carcasses in a chill facility, assisting graders with their assessment improving the evaluation process.
Objectives
The specific objectives of the project are:
• Test and trial integration of developing equipment and integration of software into feedback systems, including MSA grading outputs
• Demonstration of capabilities of E+V mobile ribeye camera against AUS-MEAT requirements
• Evaluate the integration of the E+V portal device into Teys’ workflows and business data management systems, including feedback to producers
• Adoption procedures for the technology to reach Australian beef processors
• Validation of test results contributing to AUSMEAT review of the mobile version of the E+V cold carcase grading camera
• Evaluate device grading capabilities across multiple classes of animals and sites
Key findings
Compliant data was achieved for only one carcase attribute and that was AUSNEAT marbling low range (1 – 6).
The E+V mobile camera is based on its fixed camera cousin. When used in the same environment as the fixed camera operated equally as well and no doubt would have gained approval in the same group of attributes that its fixed camera cousin achieved.
When used in in the beef carcase chillers it became a little limited as it required more space around the carcase to facilitate the correct placement of the mobile camera. This made the results that were obtained from grading in the carcase chillers less reliable that those gained whilst using it on the fixed grading stand. The ability to use the E+V portably camera would be improved is the shroud and trigger mechanism were constructed from a light material.
There were some key lessons. The most important being that gold standards to calibrate both humans and devices against is absolutely necessary. The variability between Graders including between the expert graders as well as the plant graders as highlighted in section 4.3.9 would make calibrating a device against human graders almost impossible in certain circumstances.
Benefits to industry
There were no immediate benefits to industry as a result of this project. However, given the performance of the mobile device on the fixed grading platform there is no doubt that re-engineering it into a form that was more suitable for use in the more cramped environment of a beef carcase chiller there could be benefits to the industry.
Future research
Teys considers the mobile cameras hasn’t quite been the success that Teys would have hoped. The compliant data Teys collected was collected on the same fixed stand that Teys uses use for the E+V fixed camera. In addition, compliant data has been achieved for 1 attribute only when used in the beef carcase chillers.
On review of the data and the analysis done by independent analyst, the mobile cameras have only met compliance on one grading attribute criteria when used in the intended mobile way. Teys was hoping to get the same approval scope for the mobile camera that Teys got for the fixed camera but that hasn’t been the case.
There were some key lessons, including:
• Teys has maintained its desire to move to the use of Objective Carcase Measurement devices
o To make the process more consistent
o To make the process more transparent to producers
Also should allow the producer to be present remotely if they so wish
• The development of scientifically based “Gold" standards to calibrate both humans and devices against is absolutely necessary.
o The variability between Graders including between the expert graders as well as the plant graders as highlighted in section 4.3.9 would make calibrating a device against human graders almost impossible in certain circumstances.
• The variability between Graders including between the expert graders as well as the plant graders as highlighted in section 4.3.9 shows Teys need better Objective Carcase Measurement devices to ultimately replace human graders.
• The ability to use the E+V portably camera would be improved is the shroud and trigger mechanism were constructed from a lighter material.
More information
| Project manager: | Dean Gutzke |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | TEYS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. |
