Abstract: Device of the type including a system against which a side of meat suspended from the conveyor of a slaughterhouse line bears, capable of orientating the side of meat about its hanging point, a system for taking shots which is located on one side of the conveyor, a luminous or contrasting background situated facing the system for taking shots, on the other side of the conveyor, a system for processing the shots and a control system. The system against which each side of meat bears includes a vertical post, the axis of which passes through the axis of the hook of the conveyor, this post being driven in terms of rotation by a gear motor unit and associated with a mechanism for indexing its angular position, the post having, diametrically opposite each other, two series of bearing limit stops for a side of meat, each limit stop including a support fixed to the post used for mounting a horizontal bar forming the limit stop proper.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for grading carcasses, a carcass is rested on a support along a lengthwise face of the carcass as well as along a dorsal face, near the lower part thereof, namely near the part located toward the animal's neck. The support is pivoted for positioning the carcass angularly to take images from various angles at the hindquarters, thigh, upper part of the backbone, and front part of the carcass corresponding to the lower zone thereof. The recorded images are stored in the memory of a computer which already contains the weight and length measurements of the carcass. The support is retracted to remove the carcass from the surface on which it rests. The recorded image information is compared with stored theoretical data to grade the carcass. The support can be a belt forming a first resting surface with a movable flap forming the second surface or an element with two fixed surfaces. The support is moved vertically to optimize its support of the carcass.