PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (July 9, 2024) – Lea Ann Kinman, Ph.D., has been awarded $100,000 in grant funding by Southern University through the USDA-NIFA (United States Department of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
Dr. Kinman, a distinguished research scientist in Meat Science and Laboratory Services at Prairie View A&M University’s Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC), will lead this project. Jayant Lohakare, Ph.D., a research scientist at the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center at PVAMU, will serve as a collaborator.
The primary objective of this project is to produce virtual training videos on carcass evaluation and fabrication. Dr. Kinman and Dr. Lohakare will complement these videos with hands-on training workshops held at the PVAMU Meat Science Center and Poultry Processing Center. Key topics will include the influence of livestock management practices on meat quality, safety considerations, and maximizing saleable product. Participants will work in small groups under the guidance of Drs. Kinman and Lohakare to practice carcass cutting techniques.
Participants in this program will receive training and skills through various workshops, including meat processing, carcass evaluation, carcass fabrication, and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). These skills will lead to industry-accepted credentials and, ultimately, gainful employment in the meat and poultry industry.
Additionally, Dr. Kinman will conduct a two-day HACCP certification course in person at PVAMU. Completion of this program will qualify individuals for employment as Quality Assurance or Control Technicians in the meat and poultry industry.
By Joe McGinty