The adaptation of any new beef-grading technology will depend on evaluation of results of the upcoming trial of new technology, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture has told the Irish Farmers Journal.

The spokesperson said that there are no plans to replace the current beef-grading machines in factories.

Decisions regarding any adaptation of new technology will follow an evaluation of results of the trial and it is “not possible” to give a timeline for any potential change in technology at this point in time.

Ongoing process

The Department is currently involved in an ongoing process with regard to the supervision of carcases in factories, which includes trialling new classification technology in the coming months.

“The existing hardware infrastructure of the mechanical classification system will remain unchanged.

“The Department of Agriculture is coordinating and supervising this industry-led trial, and intends to examine the latest technology in terms of cameras and lights which are used in the mechanical classification system.

“This project will take place in the coming months and work is under way at present to prepare for it, which is expected to last three weeks,” the spokesperson said.

The trial will examine the feasibility of using digital cameras and LED lights as part of the existing carcase classification system which has been in place since 2003-2004.

Slaney Foods in Waterford is understood to be one factory trialling the new technology. Cattle slaughtered at the plant will continue to be graded as normal by existing equipment.

Ahead of the Beef Roundtable meeting last week, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association beef chair Edmund Graham said that the current cameras in use in factories are using 20-year-old technology and that these needed to be upgraded to HD cameras as a matter of urgency.

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