Product News

New Defrosting Technology Using Cold Steam

Defrosting frozen raw meat and poultry for processed products requires a quick and efficient process that doesn't decrease the value of the thawed product. Technology provider GEA has created a solution using cold steam under vacuum conditions that completes the job faster than when using conventional methods. GEA has developed the ColdSteam, which works in conjuction with the GEA ScanMidi tumbler, injecting steam into a highly controlled vacuum drum to gently but rapidly defrost meat and poultry, reducing lead times and enabling food manufacturers to respond more quickly to orders. Atthenormalatmosphericpressureof1bar,waterboilsat100°C(212°F). However,underthe95%vacuum(0.05bar)conditionsoftheColdSteam, itboilsatthemuchlowertemperatureof33°C(91.4°F).Thesteamisthen injected into the drum at this temperature which does not scald or damage the meat, nor cause denaturation of proteins. The steam condensesonthecoldmeat,andefficientlytransfersitsthermalenergy, significantly speeding up the defrosting process, whilst keeping the colour,bindingpropertiesandstructureofthemeatintact. The system is suitable for a wide range of meat and poultry products. The speed and angle of the system can be adjusted according to requirements, and the process is very gentle, ensuring that damage to the products is at an absolute minimum.

New Nitrogen-based Cull Method For Laying Hens

Gas separation specialist Oxair has launched a nitrogen-based system which gives egg-laying poultry a distress-free send-off at end of life. As the price for layer-meat has reduced significantly in recent years, the outlay involved in shipping spent layers off to poultry processing plants has made this option commercially unviable for many poultry farmers. The commonly preferred method, gassing with carbon dioxide, can cause distress to poultry. Oxair’s Anoxiatec equipment guides poultry into a controlled nitrogen environment, into which nitrogen is injected. The birds are gradually put to sleep within two to three minutes and at no time regain consciousness or experience distress. Similar methods using nitrogen have previously been trialled; however Oxair’s enclosed system ensures no danger to the operator and no risk that the birds may regain consciousness or fight the procedure.

New Poultry Incineration Solution Launched

A new high throughput agricultural incinerator has been launched by Staffordshire manufacturer Addfield Environmental Systems aimed at operators of large broiler houses. Leedsway Farms recently invested in the A50L to dispose of fallen stock. It is able to achieve almost continuous loading and operation. It is capable of managing in excess of 1 tonne a day or as little as 100kg.

Waste can to be loaded almost continuously via an automated hopper and bin tipper system. “We work with farms of all sizes from micro small holdings through to some of the largest pig and poultry producers in the world,” said James Grant, business development director at Addfield.

New Precision Technology Aims to Improve Poultry Welfare Stonegate Farmers Installs

Compas Software

A new precision farming solution for poultry farmers has been developed through a partnership between agri-tech business Glas Data and poultry software specialist Eggbase. The smart poultry sensors will allow egg producers, pullet rearers and broiler growers to monitor poultry housing conditions with greater accuracy. The sensors will gather key data about bird welfare and behaviour including temperature, humidity, sound and ammonia levels. Water, electricity and feed usage can also be monitored. Anne Fleck, Managing Director of Eggbase said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with Glas Data to offer Smart Poultry Sensors. Now is the perfect time for the poultry industry to embrace and exploit the power of our cloud-based data and sensor solutions to the benefit of bird welfare.” Data from the sensors can be viewed on the go on Glas Data's cloud based GlasCore dashboard. “The system can also send out real-time alerts by email or text message, allowing bird welfare and behaviour to be monitored more closely and ensuring immediate action is taken if issues are identified,” said Colin Phillipson, co-founder of Glas Data. The smart poultry sensors use long range, low power technology and communicate using the Internet of Things. The sensors are low maintenance and batteries can last for several years. Smart poultry sensors can be rented, with flexible subscriptions allowing farmers to adapt their subscription based on their business needs or to get access to the latest technology. Three packages are available, which all come with access to the GlasCore dashboard and real-time alerts. Stonegate Farmers has turned to British cloud software Compas to help it keep up with the surging demand for eggs. Stonegate Farmers is a leading supplier of free range and organic eggs to major UK retailers and foodservice operators, including the supply of its premium egg brand, Clarence Court. Stonegate Farmers has used the software to build up detailed forecasts of egg supply by size and type from individual flocks, and to match that to expected requirements using a sophisticated allocation algorithm. This helps to highlight peaks and troughs in demand well in advance, which gives time to plan accordingly. The system also supports financial planning, generating detailed analysis which can be used to feed into their forecast and budget processes. At the start of the pandemic, when customer demand increased significantly overnight, the system allocated stocks and provided good visibility of the balance of supply and demand at all times. “Consumer patterns with accuracy not only ensures continuity of supply, it also ensures that our entire operation, from production and packing to distribution and marketing, is focused and optimised,” said Kevin Rosevere, Stonegate Farmers' finance director.

Roxell expanding range of feeder pans

The manufacturer of automated feeding, drinking, nesting and heating systems, is expanding its range of MiniMax feeder pans. Roxell's round feeder pan for broilers is now modular, which means there are four different versions of the MiniMax. Producers can determine which pan is the best depending on the end weight of the broilers, the type of floor the pan will be used on, and the age at which the producers would like chicks to stop stepping into the pan to eat. The MiniMax feeder pans have a stepped bottom pan with a special anti-waste edge. Both features improve the chickens' feed intake and prevent spillage because feed cannot fall over the edge of the pan. The wings in the pan mark out a pecking zone, which means each broiler will eat out of its own compartment and cannot eat selectively. Each animal therefore receives the correct composition of feed to ensure consistent growth in the group. The feed flow occurs according to a 360° principle, meaning that the pan fills consistently and evenly across the entire surface area.

Turkey Twizzlers relaunched by Bernard Matthews

15 years after Jamie Oliver led a campaign for healthy school meals that led to Turkey Twizzlers being scrapped, Bernard Matthews has decided to bring back the processed meat product. The brand described the launch as the 'comeback of the century' and said it had developed a healthier recipe that is “just as tasty as the version many will love and remember. ” The original Twizzler machines have been recommissioned and the product will be available across all major retailers starting with Iceland from 20th August. Shoppers will be able to find them in the frozen aisle with an RRP of £3.00 for a pack of 8 Twizzlers. Turkey Twizzlers will be available in two flavours, Original Tangy Tomato & Chilli Cheese, The company, which was bought by 2 Sisters founded Rajit Boparan in 2016, has erected a Turkey Twizzler statue outside the headquarters of Bernard Matthews in Norfolk.