Page 72 - CON Boardpack FEBRUARY 2020 FINAL (v5) P1 - 75_Neat
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ADDENDUM 8
Report to the Board on the more for fatter carcasses if the market
Carcass Classification Project demands them.
Phillip E Strydom, Michelle Hope-Jones and In Europe the slaughterhouses want uniform
Francois Siebrits carcass weights and penalties are
subtracted for deviations.
1. BACKGROUND Each of these slaughterhouses has its own
remuneration system, based on the
The current classification system was classification system but modified by other
developed and published by Dr Gerrit quality parameters, such as carcass weight.
Bruwer in 1992, some 28 years ago. At the
time it was state of the art and on par with
the most modern trends in Europe. 3. CARCASS CLASSIFICATION PROJECT 2019
Carcasses are classified on their predicted In the previous study to determine whether
lean meat content and then categorized the Bruwer (1992) equations still hold, it was
according to the PORCUS categories. This found by Strydom & Hope Jones in 2018 that
was analogous to the European SEUROP the existing formulae used in the Hennessey
classification although the intervals differ. Grading Probe (HGP) do not predict lean
meat yield accurately anymore, probably
The prediction of lean meat content is done due to a significant change in carcass
by way of regression equations for the characteristics. In general, lean meat yield is
Hennessy grading probe® (HGP) and the over predicted particularly in fatter
Intrascope®. carcasses.
These equations are regularly updated in 3.1. OBJECTIVES
Europe (in some cases every 5 years) to
make provision for changes in the pig A study panel was consequently sent to
population. Europe to study the latest developments
in carcass classification so that the wheel
A recalibration of the South African is not reinvented. This panel had to
equations was long overdue for several investigate:
reasons such as the fact that modern
genotypes are much leaner than the 1992 i) Whether the PORCUS system is still
pigs and particularly because the slaughter relevant or whether better
weights have increased substantially. systems have been developed
ii) Whether the Hennessy grading
probe is still adequate or should
new probes be introduced and
2. WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION
what about the Intrascope
A classification system is not a grading iii) How to modify the PORCUS
system since it does not say anything about system to be on par with the
carcass quality or value. European SEUROP system
It merely predicts the percentage of lean
meat in the carcass and classify them 3.2. METHODOLOGY
accordingly. In 2019 Dr Strydom and Dr Hope Jones
The meat trade may pay more for leaner were tasked by SAPPO to commence
carcasses if they want them or may pay with a carcass classification project The
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