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Improving meat standards with x-ray tech and inspiring the next generation
Improving meat standards and sheep production systems is a key element of both food security and sustainability in the agricultural industry.
Murdoch University’s Professor Graham Gardner, director of the Food Future Institute’s Centre for Animal Production and Health, has helped to revolutionise the industry through stakeholder and research collaboration and development of new meat measuring technologies.
In 2016, Professor Gardner and his team in collaboration with Scott Automation and Robotics, developed a scanning technology called DEXA, a dual x-ray absorptiometer technology that can accurately differentiate meat from fat and bone in a carcase.
This technology not only acts as a tool for greater accuracy in meat yield and improved profit margins, but it may also provide data that helps to raise meat quality and consistency across the entire industry.
What DEXA allows processors to do, is to measure the amount of saleable meat in a carcase and, as such, their value in the market – enabling supply-chains to tailor their prices accordingly.
“More recent work even suggests that this device may also predict meat eating quality, stemming from its bone scan information," Professor Gardner said.
DEXA marked one in a series of technologies from Advanced Livestock Measurement Technologies (ALMTech), where Professor Gardner is the chief investigator.
Mentoring future changemakers
Professor Gardner also played a pivotal role in the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), which was established in 2001 and operated until 2019.
The Sheep CRC primarily focused on the development of new technologies, and improvement of sheep production systems in Australia.
Taking the lead on the postgraduate program, Professor Gardner mentored 82 postgraduate researchers sponsored by Sheep CRC.
During this time, he instilled the researchers with the knowledge they would need to enter the animal production and health industry well-prepared.
Sheep CRC delivered several industry benefits that made real-world impacts. These included increased overall productivity and profitability and a cuts-based model for Meat Standards Australia with new meat quality information.
Professor Gardner continues to lead the ALMTech team to develop technologies that will further transform the meat industry.
He has, since DEXA’s development, published a number of research papers which have put the technology to the test, proving its accuracy, efficiency and contribution to Australia’s red-meat industry.
Several of Professor Gardner’s mentees from the Sheep CRC postgraduate program have joined ALMTech to ensure accurate, objective measurements of meat quality and a sustainable future.
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Improving meat standards with x-ray tech and inspiring the next generation
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