Measuring pork quality is still carried out using time-consuming, manual and subjective methods. Ribless belly is measured through picking it up and assessing how soft or firm it is. If a new technology was created to do this objectively, workers would not need to do this labour and mistakes would be reduced. Through trial and error a procedure was developed to measure the quality of pork bellies. The bar at the end of the conveyor belt can be used to see if the belly can traverse the gap between the bar and the belt or if they are too soft and fall to be sorted elsewhere. This is useful because it allows for early sorting so each market can be considered before cuts are made.
Pork Belly Technology that’s Made to Measure (full article)
