Metal ring takes off lamb, sheep pelts

Press, 15 August 1980, Page 9

Metal ring takes off lamb, sheep pelts

The mechanical pelting machine being developed at the Meat Industry Research Institute at Hamilton for doing most of the job of removing the pelts from lambs and sheep is a fascinating device. It was the subject of an item on these pages last month.

In essence it involves

forcing a metal ring down between the carcase and the pelt. Mr A. A. Robertson, who is in charge of the project, says that rings of two sizes should sufficeall lambs and sheep. The ultimate machine could involve four heads with rings, which Mr Robertson expects would handle eight animals a minute.

He says that about 95 per cent of the principle involved has been solved. It is now a case of developing a machine to work faster.

Recently he said that it could be a year, or longer, before it was translated into commercial reality. He said that the cost of the machine could be somewhere of the order of $30,000 to $50,000.

The machine, which could well have export potential, is thought to put New Zealand in a leading position in the world in this sort of mechanical development. A mechanical head skinner, now widely used in the industry, is being exported to Australia. Apart from other advantages, it is expected that use of the new machine will lead to a reduction in microbiological contamination of carcases and this could lead to animals or- carcases not having to be washed saving water and reducing trade waste problems and leading to better carcase appearance. It is anticipated that there will also be less damage done to carcases and pelts than with manual dressing.