Method for identifying a pig carcass in a slaughterline system and a system adapted for using this method
By employing two RFID antennas to read the same RFID tag data twice along the slaughterline, the method significantly improves carcass identification accuracy and minimizes the need for stressful tattoo applications.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PIGLETAB TREATMENT SYST
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing slaughterline systems face high risks of misidentification and loss of RFID tags on pig carcasses due to their close proximity and varying orientations, leading to stress-inducing tattoo or carcass tag applications.
Utilize a passive RFID tag attached to the pig during its life, reading the same tag data twice using two separate RFID antennas positioned strategically along the transport line to enhance identification accuracy.
Reduces misidentification rates from 10-15% to less than 1%, ensuring reliable carcass identification with minimal human intervention.
Smart Images
Figure NL2026050022_30072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A PIG CARCASS IN A SLAUGHTERLINE SYSTEM AND A SYSTEM ADAPTED FOR USING THIS METHOD
[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present invention pertains to method for identifying a carcass of a pig present in a slaughterline system for pigs, the slaughterline comprising a transport line for carrying and moving neighbouring pig carcasses through the slaughterline system, each carcass being present at a predetermined carcass carrier site of the transport line, wherein the system comprises multiple processing stations along the transport line for processing the pig carcasses, the method comprising identifying the carcass of the pig at a main identification site along the transport line by reading identification data coupled to the said carcass. The invention also pertains to a slaughterline system for applying this method.
[0004] BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0005] A slaughterline systems for pigs, often referred to as a pig processing line or pig slaughterhouse, is a systematic series of steps designed for the humane and efficient processing of pigs from the moment they arrive at the facility until they are prepared for distribution. There are many stages involved in such a system. Pigs are transported to the processing facility and are received in a designated area. This area is often equipped with holding pens where pigs can rest before slaughter. Before the pigs are actually entered inot the automated system, they are usually inspected by a veterinarian or an inspector to ensure they are healthy and free of disease. This step is critical for food safety and public health.After that, the pigs enter the actual slaughterline system, wherein the first step is to stun the pigs to minimize stress and pain, pigs are stunned before slaughter. Common methods include electrical stunning and gas stunning (such as CO2 stunning). The goal is to render the pigs unconscious and insensible to pain.
[0006] After that, the pigs are taken up in the line, typically by carrying them by their back legs e.g. using chains. Once stunning is confirmed, the pigs are bled out. This is typically done by cutting the major blood vessels in the neck to facilitate rapid blood loss, which is critical for meat quality. After bleeding, the carcasses are often scalded in hot water to loosen the hair, making it easier to remove. This step is essential for the preparation of the pork meat. Following scalding, the pigs undergo dehairing, where mechanical equipment is used to remove the hair from the carcass. These steps are typically referred to as the "hot" process, in which the pigs and their carcasses are still treated as is, thus before being actually cut and divided. After these steps, the carcasses are typically moved to another line, where they are suspended in close proximity from carriers and are transported at a relatively high speed along the processing stations to cut and divide the carcasses.
[0007] The first step in this so called "cold" process is evisceration, where the internal organs are removed. Care is taken to prevent contamination of the carcass with gut contents. The carcasses are then washed to remove any remaining contaminants and are chilled in a cold storage area to reduce the temperature quickly, inhibiting bacterial growth. After chilling, carcasses are taken form the carriers and (manually) butchered into various cuts (e.g., hams, loins, shoulders). This can happen on-site or in a separate processing area. The final stage involves packaging the pork products for storage and distribution to retailers or consumers. This may involve vacuum sealing or boxing.
[0008] Throughout the slaughter line process, strict hygiene and biosecurity measures are enforced to ensure that the meat produced is safe forconsumption. Regulations vary by country, but many places adhere to guidelines established by organizations like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to ensure animal welfare and meat safety. Also, identification of the carcasses is of the utmost importance. Although the pigs during their life all carry so called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags comprising identification data, these tags are not used in slaughterline systems for identification. This is because at the high speeds of a typical slaughter line, give the fat that the carcasses are in very close proximity and have a varying orientation in the line, there is a high risk of misidentification, in particular with state-of-the-art high frequency and ultra-high frequency tags which can be sensed with an RFID antenna at a distance 1-10 meters. Also, the risk of loss of these (ear) tags is considerable, in particular during the hot stage. Therefore, at the holding pens before actual slaughter, pigs typically receive a more robust identification means (which is then linked to the data in the ear tag) such as a tattoo, or a specific carcass tag, also known as loop tag, abattoir tag, traceability tag, luggage tag and meat tag, to ensure complete traceability of every carcass through the slaughter line. Downside of this is that the pigs just before slaughter have to undergo the stress of applying such a tattoo or tag.
[0009] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the invention to devise an improved method and system for identifying a carcass in a slaughterline, which method avoids or mitigates the stress of applying a tattoo or carcass tag.
[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In order to meet the object of the invention, a method as identified hereabove in the section title "Technical Field" has been devised, the method being improved in that the identification data are stored in an RFID tag that was coupled to the pig during its life (typically as an ear tag), and that in the method the data are read for a first time using a first RFID antenna at the main identification site and the data are read for a second time using a second RFID antenna at the main identification site.
[0013] To the inventor's surprise, it appeared that the data in the (normally passive) RFID chip that is typically present in a tag that is coupled to the pig just after birth (or replaced during its life thereafter), can be used with a high degree of certainty for identification of the corresponding carcass in a typical slaughterline system, even when the chip is a so called high frequency chip. The measure to be taken is that two RFID antennas are used to read the same data. This way, the degree of uncertainty when identifying a pig carcass can be lowered much more than expected beforehand. For example, if the first antenna sense two chips when a carcass needs to be identified (thus picking up a chip form a carcass that is somewhat further away, but apparently quite sensitive), and the chances are 70% that the chip is from the carcass right in front of the antenna (thus at the identification site), there is a chance of 30% that the carcass is misidentified. This percentage is unacceptable. The second identification with a second antenna might find for example a chance of misidentification of 20% (because of the inherent different orientation of this antenna to the moving carcass). This is still way too high, even when mathematically combined i.e. by combining the statistics). However, the inventors realised that when the chance of a proper identification is 70% in a first measurement, and 80% for the same carcass in a second measurement, it is almost 100% certain that the correct carcass is identified, even if the statistical chance of failure is above 5%. So combining these data means that it is almost absolute sure that the carcass is indeed the carcass hanging in from of the antenna(s). In other words, the combined result is not the mere result of mathematic chances. In practice, this way it has proven that the ultimate fault rate can be brought down from 10-15% using the RFID tags and one antenna, to less than 1% using two antennas. This was highly unexpected. 1% fault rate isacceptable since human operators are present anyway to cure other faults along the line, and they can correct the identification mistake manually. Still, when an even lower percentage is needed, a third or further antenna can be used. In any case, the gist of the invention is that along the transport line, for identifying the carcass, the same RFID chip is used that the corresponding pig wore during its life, and that (at least) two separate RFID antennas are used to read the chip (at least) twice.
[0014] The technology of using RFID tags for identifying live pigs is common, and does not need any detailed description here. Still, it is noted that these tags are typically provided with a so-called passive RFID chips (having no energy source of its own), and nowadays having chips for the high (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF). At its core, RFID technology is a system that uses radio waves to transmit data between a reader and an RFID tag. RFID tags are small, electronic devices that store and transmit information. These tags can be attached to the pigs, typically as an ear tag. An RFID antenna sends out a Radio Frequency (RF) signal that energizes the tag, enabling the tag to reflect back its unique ID code, and receives the reflected signal, which is subsequently decoded by an RFID reader to identify the specific tag.
[0015] Antennas are an essential part of the RFID system. They are needed for sending and receiving radio waves effectively from the RFID tags. As the key connection between the tag and the reader, the antenna plays a pivotal role in the RFID system, influencing the range, speed, and accuracy of RFID tag scanning.
[0016] The invention is also embodied in a slaughterline system adapted for use of the method according to the invention as described here above, wherein the slaughterline system comprises a transport line for carrying and moving neighbouring pig carcasses through the slaughterline system, each carcass being present at a predetermined carcass carrier site of the transport line, wherein the system comprises multiple processing stations along the transport line for processing the pig carcasses, the system comprising identification means for identifying the pig carcass at a main identification site along the transport line, the system being improved in that it comprisesa first RFID antenna at the main identification site and a second RFID antenna at the main identification site, preferably downstream of the first RFID antenna.
[0017] DEFINITIONS
[0018] F site along a slaughter line is a position for performing one particular process on or using a carcass. Upstream and downstream of the site there may be present different means for performing different operations.
[0019] An RFID tag is a small electronic device that uses radio waves to identify (and optionally) track objects (such as an animal body) by storing and transmitting unique data when read by a dedicated reader, allowing for contactless identification without the need for line of sight. In pig keeping, RFID tags are commonly used in the form of ear tags.
[0020] An RFID antenna is an essential component of a Radio Frequency Identification system, responsible for transmitting radio waves to RFID tags and receiving the signal back from them, essentially enabling communication between a reader and the tag to identify objects through their unique data stored within the tag. The RFID antenna acts as the "bridge" to send and receive radio signals in the RFID system.
[0021] Identification of an animal means that the animal can be identified as a unique animal, at least distinct from other animal present in the same group of animals. Data corresponding to an identification can be for example a name, a number, a code etc. The type of data based on which an animal can be identified is not essential.
[0022] The position an animal takes in a space at a certain point in time is the geographical location the said animal has in that space at that point in time. Data corresponding to a position can be a number or set of numbers (e.g.geographical codes) or any other means of identifying the location (such as for example a name of a box in a stable).
[0023] Data being coupled means that they are stored or presented in a combined way, such that they can be analysed (automatically or by a human operator) for the presence of one or more operative relations. Coupled data is also referred to as shared data, i.e. data that can be processed in combination due to shared accessibility.
[0024] A medicament is any substance or composition of matter able to prevent, treat, ameliorate or cure a disease or disorder. Typical medicaments used for live-stock are antibiotics, vaccines, anti-inflammatory agents, musclerelaxants and other small molecule pharmaceuticals.
[0025] To connect operatively is to establish a working relationship between two parts.
[0026] A memory is any unit that comprises means for storing data, being present at a remote location or locally, e.g. on a local computer, handheld device or in an identification means typically used for identification of a production animal such as an ear tag, implant, bolus or a combination of any of these. The term is not restricted to any type of unit and can e.g. be an RFID chip, a magnetic chip or any other electronic memory, in particular for example an EEPROM, RAM, NVM or FLASH memory.
[0027] Automatic means without operator intervention. An automatic action may however be operator initiated or ended.
[0028] EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0029] In a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, the second RFID antenna is located at the main identification site downstream of thefirst RFID antenna. It appears that this way, the chance of misidentification is even smaller, i.e. when compared to having two antennas at exactly the same position, e.g. opposite of the transport line.
[0030] In second embodiment of the method according to the invention, the distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line is at least the same as the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line. This way, the antennas are not too close, which also helps in lowering the risk of any faulty identification.
[0031] In a third embodiment of the method according to the invention, the distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line is larger than the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line. This way and even further decrease in misidentification is obtained.
[0032] In a fourth embodiment of the method according to the invention, the distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line is between two to four times the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line. A distance of at least two times the distance between to neighbouring carcass carriers appears to be ideal for lowering the risk of misidentification. However, increasing the distance above four times, means that more space is needed which is economically disadvantageous. Most preferred is a distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line, exactly two times the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line.
[0033] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the first and second RFID antenna are identical antennas. This simplifies the system and has no negative effect on the identification process. It also simplifies identification algorithms.In yet another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the first and second RFID antenna have the same spatial orientation with respect to the transport line. This further simplifies the system and has no negative effect on the identification process. It also simplifies identification algorithms.
[0034] In still another embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which embodiment the transport line comprises a first transport subline at which line the pig is killed and the externals of the corresponding carcass are processed (a so called "hot" transport line) and a second transport subline where the carcass is subsequently cut and divided in parts (a so called "cold" transport line), and wherein the main identification site is located at a site of the second transport subline, there is an auxiliary identification site located at a site of the first transport subline and in that in the method identification results for a row of carcasses as obtained at the auxiliary identification site are compared with those obtained at the main identification site for the row of carcasses. Typically, the identification of a carcass takes place at the cold part of the transport line. However, there is a considerable risk that an RFID tag gets lost in the hot part of the process, since here the carcasses undergo relatively rough external treatments. Without any additional identification, this would mean that one of out every few (10-20) carcasses cannot be identified due to loss of the tag. However, by introducing an auxiliary identification site (early) in or at the beginning of the hot transport line, and comparing the data of a row of pig carcasses with those obtained at the main identification site, carcasses that do no longer have an RFID tag can still be identified, even at the main identification site. For example, if there is a row of 5 pigs, initially being scanned at the beginning of the hot process, and the third pig loses its tag, it is clear by scanning the same row at the main identification site, what the identity of the carcass having no tag anymore must be (being neighboured by identifiable tags). Preferably, the identification at the auxiliary identification site are obtained using the RFID tag.
[0035] In again another embodiment of the method according to the invention, inwhich embodiment each carcass carrier site of the transport line is uniquely identifiable (e.g. since a chip is present at or in each carrier, for example he actual hook, or the transport wheel, or whatever part that uniquely corresponds to the carrier), the data read at the main identification site are coupled to the corresponding carcass carrier. This means that even if the tag is lost later in the process, the carcass can still be identified due to the coupling with the unique carrier data.
[0036] In again another embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which embodiment a group of live pigs is transported to the slaughterline, and all pigs in this group are identified before the transport and / or at arrival at the slaughterhouse, using the RFID tag connected to each live pig, the identification data obtained at the main identification site is compared to the identification data of the group of live pigs. This way it can be guaranteed that each pig that is part of the group is ultimately slaughtered in the system and ends as a cut and divided carcass. Also, loss of a pig during transport (or any other problem that occurred during transport) can be easily identified.
[0037] The above further embodiments all have their equivalents in the system according to the invention.
[0038] The invention will now be further explained using the following non-limiting examples.
[0039] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] Figure 1 schematically shows a slaughterline provided with identification means according to the invention.
[0041] Figure 2 schematically shows details of the identification means according to the invention.EXAMPLES
[0042] An embodiment of use of the system according to figure 1 and 2 is exemplified hereafter in concise example 1.
[0043] Figure 1
[0044] Figure 1 schematically shows a slaughterline 1 provided with identification means (55, 250) according to the invention. The slaughterline basically is a system as commonly known in the art. The difference is that in the present system, no use is made of a separate carcass tag as known in the art, but use is made of the RFID tag (230; see figure 2) with which the live pigs are foreseen anyway, in combination with multiple (identical) RFID antennas 55 that are present along two sites of the transport line (consisting of sublines 10 and 100).
[0045] At the beginning of the slaughterline, the live pigs (2) are showered and thereafter sedated at processing site 30. At processing site 40 each pig is hoisted with a carrier 11 that is suspended from the first transport sub line 10 (the so called "hot" line). This way a row of pigs is formed and transported along the line. At site 50 the pigs are identified using their RFID ear tags (see figure 2), scanning them with two consecutive RFID antennas 55. At site 60 the pigs are bled, such that carcass 20 remains. At site 70 the carcasses are washed, and thereafter, at site 80 the pigs are inspected. At site 90 the pigs are released from their carrier and transported lying on a belt to dehairing and peeling station 120. Then at site 130, the carcasses, while keeping the order of the row intact, are hoisted again, to be suspended from carriers 111 of second transport subline 100 (the so called "cold" line). At the beginning of this second subline, at site 140, each carcass is identified again using two consecutive RFID antennas 55. The identification data are coupled to the carrier the carcass is suspended from (each carrier beingprovided with an identification chip), such that when the ear tags are lost or cut of, the carcass can still be identified. Thereafter, at site 150, each carcass is eviscerated and inspected. The internal organs are washed and inspected while being taken up by transport subsection 160. At site 170 the head and feet of the carcasses are removed. At site 180 the carcasses are split and thereafter showered and re-inspected at site 190. Finally, each carcass is weighed at site 200. The carcasses are then stored at storage facility 210 until further processing (cutting, dividing etc.).
[0046] Figure 2
[0047] Figure 2 schematically shows details of the identification means according to the invention. Depicted are transport line 100 and a number of carriers 111, each provided with an internal identification chip (not depicted in figure 2). In dashed lines one carcass 20 is indicated, together with two RFID ear tags 250, one in each ear. At the depicted processing site 140, the slaughterline comprises two identical RFID antennas 55, positioned at a distance of two carriers, along transport line 100, each having the same spatial positioning with respect to the line 100. With these antennas, the carcasses can be identified reading ear tags 250. Once identified, the identification data are coupled to the identification data of the respective carrier 111.
[0048] Example 1
[0049] In this example, a group of live pigs, comprising pigs 1-10 (small number for the sake of convenience) is transported from a remote location to the slaughterline 1, and all pigs in this group are identified before the transport using the RFID tag connected to each pig. For this, a handheld RFID antennas is used, reading the UHF tags of all pigs in the group in one simpleclick. The full data regarding each animal, comprising age, medical history, treatment history, etc are downloaded at the same time (via cloud services) once an animal is identified. The identification data of the pigs (1-10), together with a full data report, is sent to the slaughterhouse at the same time the transport commences.
[0050] At the slaughterhouse the pigs 1-10 are unloaded, optionally again scanned for identification, temporarily put in a designated pen and thereafter guided one by one to the beginning of the slaughterline 1 at site 30 (see figure 1). Then the pigs are taken up by transport line 10 as described here above. All pigs are taken up by the line as a row of pigs and identified at site 50. In this case, the row consists of pigs 8-6-5-9-10-2-3-1-4-7 (in this order). Since all pigs as identified at the remote location (1-10) are identified and present in the row, it is clear that all pigs put on transport indeed have arrived at the slaughterhouse and being taken to the slaughterline. At site 140 the row of carcasses is identified again. In this case the row identified is 8-6-5-9-10-"no identification"-3-l-4-7 (in this order). It appears that one carcass has lost its RFID tags during he processing at subline 10. However, since the data for the row are compared with the data as established at site 50, the carcass that no longer has any identification means can still be identified as number "2". The identification data are coupled to the chips as present in carriers 111. This way, the carcasses and parts thereof can be durably identified along the remainder of transport line 100.
Claims
CLAIMS1. A method for identifying a carcass of a pig present in a slaughterline system for pigs, the slaughterline comprising a transport line for carrying and moving neighbouring pig carcasses through the slaughterline system, each carcass being present at a predetermined carcass carrier site of the transport line, wherein the system comprises multiple processing stations along the transport line for processing the pig carcasses, the method comprising identifying the carcass of the pig at a main identification site along the transport line by reading identification data coupled to the said carcass, characterised in that the data are stored in an RFID tag that was coupled to the pig during its life, and that in the method the data are read for a first time using a first RFID antenna at the main identification site and the data are read for a second time using a second RFID antenna at the main identification site.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the second RFID antenna is located at the main identification site downstream of the first RFID antenna.
3. A method according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line is at least the same as the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line.
4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line is larger than the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line.
5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line is between two to four times the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line.
6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the first and second RFID antenna in a direction parallel to the transport line is two times the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line.
7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first and second RFID antenna are identical antennas.
8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first and second RFID antenna have the same spatial orientation with respect to the transport line.
9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transport line comprises a first transport subline at which line the pig is killed and the externals of the corresponding carcass are processed and a second transport subline where the carcass is subsequently cut and divided in parts, and wherein the main identification site is located at a site of the second transport subline, characterised in that there is an auxiliary identification site located at a site of the first transport subline and in that in the method identification results for a row of carcasses as obtained at the auxiliary identification site are compared with those obtained at the main identification site for the row of carcasses.
10. A method according to claim 9, characterised in that the identification at the auxiliary identification site are obtained using the RFID tag.
11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each carcass carrier site of the transport line is uniquely identifiable, characterised in that the data read at the main identification site are coupled to the corresponding carcass carrier.
12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a group of live pigs is transported to the slaughterline, and all pigs in this group areidentified before the transport and / or at arrival at the slaughterline, using the RFID tag connected to each live pig, characterised in that the identification data obtained at the main identification site is compared to the identification data of the group of live pigs.
13. A slaughterline system adapted for use of the method according to any of the claims 1-12, wherein the slaughterline system comprises a transport line for carrying and moving neighbouring pig carcasses through the slaughterline system, each carcass being present at a predetermined carcass carrier site of the transport line, wherein the system comprises multiple processing stations along the transport line for processing the pig carcasses, the system comprising identification means for identifying the pig carcass at a main identification site along the transport line, characterised in that the system comprises a first RFID antenna at the main identification site and a second RFID antenna at the main identification site, preferably downstream of the first RFID antenna.
14. A system according to claim 13, characterised in that the distance between the first and second RFID antennas in a direction parallel to the transport line is at least the same as the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line, preferably larger, more preferably between two to four times the distance between two neighbouring carcass carrier sites of the transport line.
15. A system according to any of the claims 13 and 14, wherein the transport line comprises a first transport subline at which line the pig is killed and the externals of the corresponding carcass are processed and a second transport subline where the carcass is subsequently cut and divided in parts, and wherein the main identification site is located at a site of the second transport subline, characterised in that there is an auxiliary identification site located at a site of the first transport subline.
16. A system according to any of the claims 13 to 15, characterised in that at the auxiliary identification site, the system comprises at least one RFIDantenna, preferably two.