The results of the mechanical grading trial for Irish beef cattle were communicated to the EU Commission last March and were discussed in the beef management committee in March and April in the context of a draft Commission regulation providing for mechanical classification.
The feedback from these discussions was that the trial was carried out in a highly professional manner and that the three machines tested achieved a relatively high degree of accuracy in relation to conformation and meat yield. However, the machines failed to meet the standards proposed by the Commission in a draft regulation setting down the requirements to be attained by these machines prior to their approval for use in the classification of carcasses. In general, the conclusion was that mechanical classification has very positive potential for future use, but the three machines operated in this trial need to be further developed.