Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 4

Written Answers. - Mechanical Beef Grading.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

36 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, in light of the results of the trials by his Department and Teagasc on mechanical beef grading, he intends to extend this type of grading as a measure to improve the general quality and standards of Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13820/00]

The trial on mechanical classification, the results of which I launched last week, involved a comprehensive examination of the ability of three machines to predict fat and conformation class based on the EUROP grid given to carcases by a panel of three classifiers and also to estimate meat yield.

The trial showed that the machines were able to predict conformation and meat yield with a relatively high degree of accuracy, but they had a significantly lower accuracy level in the case of fat cover. In general, the conclusion can be drawn that mechanical classification has considerable potential but the machines tested did not achieve the level of accuracy set down by the European Commission in its initial draft regulation for the standards to be attained by these machines prior to their approval for use in the classification of carcasses. However, following representations by my Department, the Commission now proposes to allow for further trials prior to setting down precise standards which these machines must achieve.

My Department will continue to work with the developers of these machines to assess whether the inaccuracy can be improved and with the Commission to ensure the standards set down in EU regulations reflect the current state of the technology while at the same time ensuring that these systems are capable of accurately classifying carcasses. However, it will not be possible for a mechanical classification system to replace the current system of manual classification until EU regulations have been amended to provide for the use of machines. For approval they must be capable of meeting the standards set down in these regulations. When these conditions are met, mechanical classification will provide the beef industry with an objective basis for graded pricing. However, pending the introduction of mechanical classification, it is open to the industry and individual processors to use the machines to underpin a graded pricing system based on the meat yield.
Top
Share