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MIJ goes mobile

New technology makes MIJ quality imaging available to more customers

Friday, 4 February 2022

Developed for Australian processing conditions with a unique Australian configuration

Following on from AUS-MEAT accreditation of the MIJ-30 camera for Marble Score 0-9+, Meat Image Japan (MIJ labo Inc.) have tested and released their new mobile device for the Australian market. The MIJ mobile objective grading camera will make MIJ quality imaging available to more customers – the new addition to the already well known and respected technologies released by MIJ labo Inc. This new device follows similar principles of development and refinement displayed by the MIJ-30 camera, but in a smaller and more available package. 

Professor Keigo Kuchida first demonstrated the MIJ mobile phone technology to Australian Wagyu Associations members during the 2017 Japan Tour. MIJ Labo Inc. has been scientifically testing and validating MIJ mobile phone configurations for several years. The new MIJ mobile objective grading camera has been developed for Australian processing conditions with a unique Australian configuration including a specific imaging BEAK.

mij digital camera

The MIJ mobile objective grading camera underwent a lot of time and research developing the camera for each unit.

Like the MIJ-30, the new MIJ mobile technology is capable of rapid and accurate throughput, imaging more than 200 carcases in the chiller or at a grading stations every hour, under Australian conditions.

The MIJ-30, MIJ mobile, MIJ mobile with BEAK (Australian configuration) are all INPUT devices for collecting carcase ribeye images. A lot of time and research has been spent on camera development for each unit.

All MIJ models have access to the same “MIJ carcase database” and perform automatic analysis. The contents of the analysis include the research results and patented technology of Professor Kuchida for more than 30 years and cannot be imitated elsewhere. The AWA has extensively tested the MIJ mobile side by side with the MIJ-30. The MIJ mobile uploads carcase images to the same cloud-based digital analysis platform as the MIJ-30. This means that image analysis on the MIJ mobile provides the same data output fields as the established MIJ-30 commercial grading camera.

The technology also allows for image capture review, allowing the user to review the image just taken and if required, they can elect to retake the image before saving the image for upload. This paired with a simple Bluetooth barcode pairing of carcases tags to image ID’s means that a full recovery and comparison of carcases traits and data can easily be done. If WiFi or adequate Mobile roaming data signal is available, then automatic image upload to the online database can occur. This means that the captured ribeye image can be automatically uploaded and analysis calculated within 5 to 10 seconds, giving real time feedback data for the user.

 

Key features

  • Optimised configuration for carcase grading
  • Can grade all recognized grading site locations
  • Over 200 carcases graded per hour
  • External LED lighting has been added to accurately capture carcase ribeye images
  • Easy to use interface for tailoring the device to individual users
  • Image captured review
  • Overall, the whole device is only about 1.2kg total
  • Standard carcase trait reports as for MIJ-30 data

Units available for purchase

MIJ mobile units are sold and supported by the Australian Wagyu Association.

Contact Aaron van den Heuvel, AWA’s Camera Carcase Technician for the latest information about the units.

 

Important Notice and Disclaimer

It is very important that you appreciate when viewing the AWA database that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Index values, is based on data supplied by members and/or third parties.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information reported through AWA, AWA officers and employees assume no responsibility for its content, use or interpretation. AWA disclaims all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the use by you of the data on this AWA database and the information supplied by ABRI and AGBU being inaccurate or incomplete in any way for any reason.

Regarding EBVs and Index values, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • EBVs are derived using Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN technology developed independently by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), using the information contained within the AWA database.
  • AGBU is a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England, which receives funding for this purpose from Meat and Livestock Australia Limited.
  • AWA relies solely on advice provided by AGBU and ABRI in accepting Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN software.
  • EBVs published in Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may not reflect the raw animal phenotype.
  • EBVs can only be directly compared to other EBVs calculated in the same monthly Wagyu Group BREEDPLAN analysis.

Regarding pedigree and DNA testing results submitted to the AWA, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Pedigree and DNA data submitted and supplied to AWA may have errors in it which cannot be detected without further DNA testing.
  • Technology may have advanced since a particular test was undertaken so that previous inaccuracies which were not detectable are now able to be detected by current testing technology.
  • AWA estimates that less than 1% of the pedigree entries, ownership or breeding details in the AWA Herdbook may have errors or which may be misleading. For this reason, users ought to consider if they need to obtain independent testing of the relevant animal (if possible) to ensure that the data is accurate.

Regarding prefectural content, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Prefectural content is based on the estimation of prefectural origin from Japanese breeding records of 201 foundation sires and 168 foundation dams.  As genotype-based parent verification is not used in Japan, and full Japanese registration certificates are not available for all foundation animals, exact prefectural composition for these sires and dams cannot be validated.
  • The calculation of prefectural content for Australian Herdbook animals relies on the accuracy of pedigree records and DNA samples provided by AWA members.
  • The reporting of prefectural content for animals within the AWA Herdbook relies on the calculation provided by ABRI.

If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and extent of the data provided on this website or the EBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek independent expert advice.

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