November 2005 

Inspecting and Testing Electronic Carcass Evaluation Devices 

By Dick Suiter 

This is the first in a series of articles intended to familiarize field officials with the 

standards for and the operation, inspection, and testing of electronic carcass evaluation 

devices. Since the 2006 edition of NIST Handbook 44 will include a new tentative code 

Section 5.59. Electronic Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems and/or 

Devices-Tentative Code, it is important that field officials begin evaluating these devices 

to determine if any changes are need to the tentative code. 

There are four documentary standards that are applicable to electronic carcass evaluation 

devices during inspection and testing in the field. The first is NIST Handbook 44 Section 

5.59. Electronic Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems and/or DevicesTentative Code, the primary documentary standard to be used by weights and measures 

officials. It provides the legal basis for field inspections and for testing of the devices 

when the jurisdiction adopts the current edition of Handbook 44 into its law or regulation. 

In addition to Section 5.59., three ASTM documentary 

standards apply and are referenced in Section 5.59: (1) ASTM Standard F2341 - 03 

Standard Practice for User Requirements for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation 

Devices or Systems; (2) ASTM Standard F2342 - 03 Design and Construction of 

Composition or Quality Constituent Measuring Devices or Systems; and (3) ASTM 

Standard F 2343 - 04 Standard Test Method for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation 

Devices. The ASTM Standards which are referenced in Section 5.59. are voluntary 

standards that provide the basis for some of the requirements in Handbook 44 Section 

5.59. 

Like other Handbook 44 codes, Section 5.59. is divided into Subsections addressing 

device application, Specifications, Test Notes, Tolerances, and User Requirements. The 

Application paragraphs state that this code is applicable to electronic devices or systems 

for measuring the composition or quality constituents of live animals, livestock and 

poultry carcasses, and individual cuts of meat or a combination thereof for the purpose of 

determining value. It further states that the code is not applicable to scales used to weigh 

live animals, livestock and poultry carcasses, and individual cuts of meat unless the 

scales are part of an integrated system designed to measure composition or quality 

constituents. Scales used in integrated systems must also meet NIST Handbook 44 

Section 2.20. requirements. 

The Specifications subsection cites ASTM Standard F2342 Standard Specification for 

Design and Construction of Composition or Quality Constituent Measuring Devices or 

Systems, which provides design and construction requirements for device manufacturers. 

The Notes subsection cites ASTM Standard F 2343 Test Method for Livestock, Meat, 

and Poultry Evaluation Devices and provides addition guidance for weights and measures 
officials for inplant testing of the applicable devices. Paragraph N.3.1. Official Tests 

encourages officials to periodically witness "in-house" tests which are required on a daily 

basis, using the appropriate reference standards device owners are required to have on 

site. 

The paragraphs in the Tolerance Subsection and table provide the tolerances for devices 

that are currently being used for commercial purposes by the meat packing industries. 

Additional tolerances may need to be added for other types of devices or measurements if 

packers begin using the measurement of other constituents, such as "pH", in the 

determination of carcass value. 

The paragraphs in the User Requirement subsection require that all devices and systems 

shall be installed in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Devices and systems are 

also required to be maintained in an accurate condition and in accordance with the 

manufacturer's instructions and ASTM Standard F 2341 Standard Practice for User 

Requirements for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Devices or Systems. Probably 

the most important paragraph of the entire code for weights and measures officials is 

UR.4. Testing Standards. This paragraph requires the user of a commercial device to 

make available to the official with statutory authority over the device testing standards 

that meet the tolerance expressed in Fundamental Considerations, paragraph 3.2. (i.e., 

one-third of the smallest tolerance applied). The accuracy of the testing standards shall 

be verified annually or, for those states that have a policy for re-verification based on a 

history for each standard, at a frequency as required by the jurisdiction with statutory 

authority. The device user is also responsible for providing documentation of the required 

verification, which shows traceability to a national standard. 

The ASTM F10 Subcommittee responsible for F 2341 recently began developing 

language to be included in that Standard to require the manufacturer of a livestock, meat, 

or poultry evaluation device or system to provide the required testing standards at the 

time of installation. After installation, the user of the device will still be responsible for 

properly maintaining the testing standards. 

Before weights and measures officials begin testing or witnessing the testing of these 

systems, it would be important for them to have some training on the testing criteria for 

the devices. The NIST Weights and Measures Division (WMD) and the Packers and 

Stockyard Program (PSP) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have 

begun to develop material for presentation at some of the Regional Weights and 

Measures Association meetings. This material is intended to provide an overview of 

various systems currently in use by the packing industry. The presentations will also 

introduce the official to testing criteria and procedures for these systems. WMD and PSP 

have also agreed to work together on the development of a training program for 

presentation on a regional basis for jurisdictions that would like to participate. 

Subsequent articles in this series will provide information on several different 

technologies currently being used commercially for making measurements that are used 

to determine the value of harvested animals by the meat packing industry. They will 
provide information on how the various technologies operate and how they are used, as 

well as inspection and testing procedures for each type of device or system. 

For further information or questions related to this article contact Dick Suiter (NIST) at 

rsuiter@nist.gov or at 301-975- 4406.