Plastic | Cow
Year of Origin
2018
Technic
Mixed Media Installation, Film, Plastic, Photography
The Project PLASTIC / COW refers to a simple Question: How much Packaging-Material is needed to provide the meat of one Cow/one Cattle for standard European Supermarket Sale? The following calculation works as an approximation - it should convey an impression.
The average steer used for meat production weighs between 500 to 600kg (So called Liveweight). During the butchering/slaughtering process losses occur (Slaughtering losses: Blood, Skin, Stomaches, Hooves..), these are calculated with about 38% (Dressing Percentage) of the total liveweight. The Carcass, the remaining 62% of the animal, still includes bones, excess fat and moisture. After further processing, deboning and cutting the carcass will lose another 35% of its weight.
Breaking down this calculation on the example of a 550kg steer:
550kg Liveweight Steer
210kg
120kg
220kg
Losses
38% Dressing Percentage
(Slaughtering Losses)
35% Further Processing
(Deboning, Cutting)
Total Amount of Meat
220kg of Meat results in about 1400 Portions (150g/Portion), the standard super market packaging units vary between 150g to 1,5kg. Using these calculations brings an average result of 600 - 650 Packaging Units to provide one Cattle for standard European supermarket Sale.