Digital Classification of Bovine Carcasses

Important results from the project

The purpose of the project is to develop a product to digitally classify carcasses according to the EU´s official classification system - EUROP. The method, based on camera technology, image processing and AI, eliminates the need for visual inspection. It provides an accurate and more efficient assessment/classification of the meat´s usefulness. Automation contributes to increased profit in many stages. The cost of the technology is low and staff costs decrease. Above all, an objective assessment is achieved for the benefit of agriculture, slaughterhouse and consumers.

Expected long term effects

The digital solution streamlines the process for classifying carcasses. It provides an even assessment which saves labor and increases the profitability for the slaughterhouses. Automatic classification eliminates visual inspection. The system delivers an accurate and secure classification which always is fair to the supplier/slaughterhouse as well as to government inspectors and the consumer. When the project is over, we have a solid database with information about gender, race, age and farm as well as other desirable origin data in order to increase traceability.

Approach and implementation

The project began with a pre-study to investigate which cameras are best suited. Furthermore, the placement of the cameras, application and programmed to provide optimal images to automatically classify a carcass according to EUROP. A hardware overview was created. We visited Skövde slaughterhouse for a simplified and temporary test installation of two cameras for data collection. Finally, we have examined the Swedish Board of Agriculture´s and the Swedish Food Agency´s certification procedures and requirements as well as the licensing of technical Equipment.