Breakthrough in the Pig Supply Chain thanks to NIR Hyperspectral Inspection from Vision Partners
The pig chain is becoming smarter and more efficient. Thanks to the latest developments in AgriFoodInnovation's "Smart Pig Chain" business case, in which Vision Partners' NIR Hyperspectral Inspection plays a crucial role, groundbreaking steps are being taken to improve the quality of pork.
Working with VION, Vision Partners implemented the innovative hyperspectral camera on the slaughter line, which measures as many as 1,300 carcasses per hour. This technology enables the project team to accurately control the fat quality of pork. Angela van der Sanden, project leader, explains: "This makes it possible to better control fat quality and better match supply and demand."
Genetic Variation and Feed Trials.
A notable breakthrough in the project was determining a genetic variation that turned out to be higher than expected. Van der Sanden: "We had expected that the measurements on genetic effect would yield too little to target. But we were even able to determine a genetic variation that is higher than expected. This means you can select animals whose offspring are expected to produce a better fat quality in the carcass."
In addition, feed trials were conducted to investigate how differences in feed affect fat quality. The results were promising, with clearly measurable differences in fat quality based on variations in feed. "The trial indeed showed that you can also achieve a difference in fat quality with differences in feed. In other words, you can also control fat quality with feed," Van der Sanden said.
Economic Value Added for Pig Farmers
The ultimate goal of the project is to establish a reward system for pig farmers based on meat quality. Pig farmers will then be paid more for animals with better fat quality, contributing to a more sustainable and economically profitable pig chain. "Because of this better fat quality, we can value more of the animal and therefore there is less meat loss. This contributes to a tasty and healthy piece of good quality pork," says Van der Sanden.
The integration of the NIR Hyperspectral Inspection in the pork chain by Vision Partners and VION demonstrates how innovative technologies can transform the agriculture and food industry. With this technology, we can not only improve the quality of pork, but also build a sustainable foundation for the broad prosperity of the region.
