SUPPLY CHAIN MARKET INFO TECHNOLOGYz Real-world results driving DEXA Valuable, ‘real-world’ LMY measurement in lamb, Graham evidence of the robustness said work was continuing on the Processor points of DEXA technology in development of simpler, cheaper measuring lean meat yield is devices to measure LMY in both lamb to future DEXA flowing through to researchers and beef. These include a hand-held challenges following its installation in microwave device, a 3D-imaging camera and the E+V yield camera. both lamb and beef processing JBS Australia’s Mark Inglis says facilities. But it’s not the “The microwave prototype measures DEXA technology offers multiple only objective measurement fat depth and is showing real potential,” benefits to the lamb industry – technology under the microscope. Graham said. from running carcase-cutting “We’re currently building six test units robots to providing high-quality DEXA (dual-energy X-ray – three for beef and three for lamb – to feedback to producers – but it also absorptiometry) scanning provides ‘roadtest’ it further.” presents challenges. information on the lean meat, bone and fat composition of carcases; objective Verifying the results One challenge is ensuring measurement information critical While the lamb DEXA system in processors don’t provide LMY to providing high-quality producer particular is almost ready to deliver information to their suppliers feedback and the development of reliable carcase feedback to producers, in isolation. value-based payment systems. Graham said an audit system would be “The ALMTech project has shown DEXA is now installed in two JBS needed before value-based payment that DEXA provides good LMY Australia lamb plants – Bordertown, SA could be introduced. prediction outcomes, but we and Brooklyn, Victoria – as well as Teys “In order for any, or all, of these devices also need intramuscular fat Australia’s Lakes Creek beef processing to underpin a value-based payment measurements at line speed,” plant at Rockhampton, Queensland. system, we’ll need to develop an Mark said. While JBS initially adopted DEXA to industry-wide auditing and calibration “The negative relationship between direct its automated cutting system for system – that’s the last piece in the yield and eating quality means lamb, carcase data is being shared with puzzle,” he said. you can’t look at LMY on its own; researchers from the ALMTech project to “The Industry Calibration Working Group that’s the danger of incorrectly demonstrate the technology’s ability to within ALMTech is working on that using DEXA. reliably measure lean meat yield (LMY). system now. The group includes the “Carcase feedback from DEXA ALMTechprincipal investigator Professor National Measurement Institute and must be considered alongside Graham Gardner, from Murdoch University, AUS-MEAT.” eating quality feedback.” said the lamb DEXA work at JBS Beef system commissioned Mark said any future processor Bordertown had focused on repeatability ALMTech researchers have also been grids based on LMY and eating studies and calibration accuracy to on site at Teys Australia’s Lakes Creek quality would need to be demonstrate that the same lamb carcase site, following commissioning of the preceded by extensive industry can be scanned at any time, to geta beef DEXA system in June 2018. education and practice change. highly repeatable result. “A team led by postdoctoral research “Our internal analysis has shown With the device successfully calibrated fellow Honor Calnan got straight in, that in future we could build grids on one site, Graham said the next trained the basic algorithms of the around eating quality and LMY step was to prove the efficacy of the device, and then applied it to a set of and carcase specs etc, but at calibration method by undertaking 50 beef carcases, which were scanned the moment – because the lamb cross-site calibration. five times in a row,” Graham said. industry has been so focused on “We’ll process 10 lambs at Bordertown carcase weight – the majority of “Our aim was to get the same answer to producers wouldn’t hit the grid,” and 10 lambs at Brooklyn, DEXA scan demonstrate the technology was robust, them on site, transport the carcases Mark said. and it was. to the other site and DEXA scan them “So there will have to be a whole again,” Graham said. “It’s great to be working on a series of things that happen over commercially deployed device, time, including communicating to “We’ll repeat that process several times because we’re no longer looking at a on different days and build up a ‘proof producers the benefits of hitting lab prototype device where everything these specs and being responsive of concept’ dataset to show you can do is perfectly controlled. This is real-world it repeatedly with the same outcome.” to customers, to make sure they evidence that we’re generating. use any new carcase feedback Exploring other options “The next step is to calibrate the results to make changes within their While DEXA is showing great potential against CT, which we’re working production systems.” for highly accurate and repeatable towards now.” ■ 40