Carcass grading machine a ‘success’ in Northern Ireland

Implementation of Video Image Analysis machines to grade beef carcasses at abattoirs across Northern Ireland has proved a success according to one quality assurance officer.

Speaking about VIA-one year on, Charlotte Moore of DARD said the machines were “overall working well” since being installed last year.

Although she admitted some people were fearful of change and it had taken a little while for acceptance in Northern Ireland she said most farmers were “coming around and agreeing with the VIA system”.

Seven of the largest throughput plant in Northern Ireland have opted to go with VIA with a new price grade also introduced alongside.

The VIA system of grading uses a 15 point scale with goes beyond the scope of the naked eye. For each class there are three subclasses such as “U+”, “U-“, “U=”. This means there is less difference in price between the classes, whereas before there could be a 6p difference between a E and U class, for example. Northern Irish farmer Stephen Heenan who runs 80 sucklers and 15 pedigree Charolais said: “Upgrading to VIA was a big if but now the majority of farmers are in agreement with it.”

There is no legislation requiring carcasses to be graded with VIA, but it is thought there are plans for some plants to introduce VIA in to the UK imminently.

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