Beef Monitor
The ‘Beef Monitor’ project is co-funded by Innovate UK and involves SRUC working in partnership with Innovent Technology, Harbro, Ritchie, Morrisons and Scotbeef.
At the heart of the project is a 3D camera system based at a water trough, taking images of cattle from above. The information that this system can provide to the farmer is:
- Liveweight (gain)
- Carcass weight, fat grade and carcass conformation
- Primal yield estimation
The use of video image analysis (VIA) is becoming more commonplace in abattoirs and this developing camera technology is now becoming cheap enough for use on farms. It is much better to have these estimates of growth and carcass composition prior to slaughter so that the farmer can make better decisions about feeding programs and optimal slaughter times
