The present invention provides a gripping device for a meat processing production line. The gripping device comprises a conveying belt. A left side plate and a right side plate are fixed on two sidesof the conveying belt, respectively. An infrared receiver is arranged in a position higher than the conveying belt on a side face of the left side plate. A first infrared emitter is arranged in a position higher than the conveying belt on a side face of the right side plate. The first infrared emitter and the infrared receiver are opposite in position in the same horizontal plane and a line connecting the first infrared emitter and the infrared receiver is perpendicular to the central line of the conveying belt. A guide rail is arranged horizontally above the conveying belt. A translation mechanism capable of traveling along the guide rail is provided on the guide rail. A gripping mechanism is retractably fixed below the translation mechanism. A left gripping jaw and a right gripping jaw,both rotatable, are provided at the bottom of the gripping mechanism. A second infrared emitter is fixed outside of the bottom of the left gripping jaw. With the first infrared emitter, the second infrared emitter and the infrared receiver, the gripping device for a meat processing production line is capable of effectively reducing misjudgement and determining the gripping motion to be in place atextremely low cost, and is flexible and simple to control, reliable in structure and easy to maintain.