Tyson Foods to upgrade beef plant in Dakota

Tyson Fresh Meats has initiated a multi-million dollar project to increase efficiency at its beef plant in Dakota City, Nebraska, US.

The project involves replacing or upgrading parts of the plant and is designed to improve animal handling, food safety, meat quality and workplace safety.

The company, which is a subsidiary of US-based food company Tyson Foods, will construct a new beef slaughter floor, featuring the latest sanitation and production systems, and also improve the plant’s rending operations.

Tyson will improve the plant’s box handling system by installing additional conveyors and other equipment, which will enable the facility to handle the product mix in a more efficient manner.

Ergonomic changes of equipment and process designs will be incorporated into the new slaughter area to make certain jobs less demanding.

Tyson Fresh Meats senior group vice president Noel White said the investment will enable the facility to be an important market outlet for the region’s cattle producers.

"The improvements will help optimize the value of the plant’s product mix for domestic and international customers and make the plant even more cost competitive," White added.

The project, which is expected to be completed in mid-2013, will increase the number of cattle harvested for processing, but it may lead to the closure of its beef plant in Denison in 2013.

According to the company, unless area cattle supplies increase significantly or an alternative use of the plant is found, the operations will be discontinued in 2013.

The Dakota City plant is Tyson’s largest beef processing complex, which produces fresh vacuum-packed, boxed beef for wholesalers, retailers, hotels, restaurants and institutions.