This project put in place a system that enables lean, fat and bone percentage data calculated using the DEXA algorithm.
This project involved:
a) implementing hardware to enable data-sets to be stored for an extended time;
b) hardware to ensure that carcases are presented to the DEXA
c) integrate an RFID scanner onto the DEXA machine to enable data captured to be integrated into the rest-of-plant process; and,
d) a user interface to enable stored data to be queried in relation to time/batch/flock/run.
Measurements will be captured and stored in real-time and integrated into a database that will have the ability to be interrogated over the corporate network or ultimately, with additional work, linked into an industry database.
As part of this project an RFID scanner was implemented to read test RFID hooks supplied by the site for the trial and software developed. RFID assists to link/store carcase IDs with captured images and calculated results such that, in future, measurements will have the ability to be related retrospectively to additional measured data within the plant and ultimately to livestock supply and origin. A verification step was undertaken to ensure that measured data is being attributed to the correct animal ID numbers and that the automated primal and middle cutting system are not adversely effected by the use of DEXA hardware.
At the completion of this project the site will have the ability to query a Scott constructed database and extract lean%, fat%, bone% and carcase hook ID. Results from this project will give the processor the ability to implement several business rules and form a structure that can feed data back to industry managed databases and livestock suppliers.