Automatic system for determining lean content distribution in pig carcasses
The slaughtering sector in the EU plays a key role within the meat industry, representing a turnover of €73b. In a context of a strong market competitiveness, slaughterhouses are striving to minimise production costs and maximise the value of their meat products. Driven by the demand of meat processors, slaughterhouses are developing new strategies to improve their product segmentation, and the consistency of their product quality. In particular, pre-classified raw meat according to lean content is being increasingly demanded by meat processors. One of the most important aspects of pig processing is the classification of carcasses and primal cuts (ham, loin, belly and shoulder) based on their lean content. Currently, total lean content is mainly estimated using penetration probes, which require manual operation, or using other automatic equipment, which are faster and provides additional information of the lean content in the primal cuts. PIGSCAN project aimed to develop a contactless technology that can estimate lean content in pig carcasses and on primal cuts. The system has been designed to perform a vertical scan of the carcass thus minimising space requirements or layout modification in the processing line. PIGSCAN is targeting small to medium slaughterhouses operating with manual probes, and hopes to have a product on the market within a year of the project's completion date. Experts in carcass quality (IRTA and DTI), pig slaughterhouses in Denmark, Spain and Netherlands as well as other industrial partners (Lenz Instruments and G&M Steel fabricators) are collaborating in the project. A pre-industrial scanner has been installed in two commercial slaughterhouses for industrial validation. Results have demonstrated the potential of the technology to make an accurate prediction of the lean content in the carcass and in the primal cuts. The system also works with hot and/or cold carcass and under different carcass presentation either full or half carcass.
Keywords
Automatic non-invasive scanner, lean content , pig industry, pig carcasses and main cuts
