P.PSH.1416 - Develop optimised carcase tracking and sortation for early adoption of Objective Measurement Technologies

Summary

This project aims to develop and evaluate processes to optimised carcase tracking and sortation for early adoption of OM technologies in sheepmeat processing. A full carcase identification and tracking system will be implemented and validated from livestock into processing whereby multiple objective measurement technologies integrated in the plant can be linked to data capture. The outcome will be a case study including guidelines of how a sheepmeat processor can implement a full end to end tracking system from livestock to carcase monitoring using OM data to enable pre-chiller sortation and allocation in saleable product markets to optimise value and returns.

Objectives

This project aims to develop and evaluate processes to optimise carcase sortation for early adoption of OM technologies in sheepmeat processing. A full carcase identification and tracking system will be implemented and validated from livestock into processing whereby multiple objective measurement technologies integrated in the plant can be linked to data capture throughout all areas.

Key findings

Allflex abattoir EID-reader system was commissioned for use at Frewstal plant in line with the contracted commencement period. The commissioning component includes a single unit of the commercial version of the Allflex abattoir EID-reader solution, installed in the hot meat passage at the Frew Foods plant. Allflex abattoir EID-reader systems are comprised of the following critical components, including:

• Fixed Automated Antennas [Model NX-RSS]
• Abattoir Wand [Model NX-RSSW]
• Abattoir Reader [Model NX-MSSP]
• Hooktraka Systems [NX-HTP 40X20CM PANEL ANTENNA; NX-HTW 30CM HOOKTRAKA WAND; NX-HTC HOOK CHECKER]
• Hook Pellets
• Smart Data Solutions.

A new Chiller Sorting solution was developed by Cedar Creek to cater for the sorting of carcases into various chillers based on selected carcase characteristics including DEXA and MEQ results. Development included integration work with DEXA and MEQ to capture the results and have the results available at the point of grading for each carcase. DEXA and/or MEQ data can then be printed on tickets and used as criteria for sorting carcases into chillers.

Benefits to industry

With Frews developing accurate IMF measurement capability of individual carcases yield LMY% using DEXA and animal health disease reporting, they will thereby be providing feedback to their livestock suppliers. This development will also position them as early adopters of the cuts-based MSA sheepmeat model.

The potential solution will integrate an optimise plant data business management system couple with RFID hook tracking capability from legging through to the boning room. Adopting technology like this will provide greater consistency to brand owners which encourages greater investment as they know it will be rewarded in optimal product categorisation.

MLA action

Case studies of learnings from the integration of hook track and solution for individual carcase identification into business workflows and operating systems will be used to develop generic guidelines for adoption and integration of new OM technologies. MLA will create case studies from each of the early OM adoption projects that can be made available to companies to help leverage the uptake and adoption of OM technologies into their business systems and processes.

Future research

One of the primary performance challenges has been identified as an issue with capturing all the data (eg. DEXA predictions, Cut predictions through Cedar Creek’s GAP SW and MEQ IMF) while, at the same time, capturing the carcase weight and Fat Score before calculating the market and printing a ticket real time with a line speed of 14-15 carcases per minute.

This has been successfully achieved at the commercial chain speed at Frew Foods, and currently data is being printed at real time on carcase tickets. However, some minor code efficiencies pending to be resolved. More work is required to further refine and streamline real time data so that is readily and reliably accessible for ticketing and used for commercialiser business decision, such as pre-chiller carcase sortation.