08/01/07 Instrument grading

Computers have been introduced to the grading lines in beef processing plants. Will they be accepted over USDA grading personnel? I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this to talk about that. Ever since computers, called Visual Image Analysis systems have been included in the grading of beef carcasses, it has not been about replacing the USDA graders but helping them to complete their job quickly and more accurately. Grading personnel have only a few seconds to evaluate a carcass and assign a yield grade and a quality grade. Some components graders have to look at include fat thickness, rib eye area, marbling, maturity and color of the lean meat. Visual Image Analysis systems or VIA can measure rib eye area, one of the more difficult evaluations to determine quickly, marbling scores, also calculate and assign the final yield grade for a beef carcass. USDA graders still have to operate and place the VIA on the carcass, but their accuracy of grade placement increased from about 55 per cent to 70  80 percent using the computers at the speeds needed in beef processing plants. Will the VIA's be accepted? The main drawback to packers include cost of renovating processing plants to accommodate the VIA systems, but I think they eventually will be implemented like most other new methods that increase accuracy and efficiency. Beef - July 2007