L54: food and meat inspection pt. 1

antemortem

refers to the inspection of animals prior to slaughter

when is ante-mortem inspection performed?

on the day of slaugher

what does the ante-mortem inspection of animals identify?

1. diseased

2. injured

3. abnormal behavior or clinical signs

4. unfit for slaughter for human consumption

what is the purpose of the ante-mortem inspection?

protect public health, animal welfare, and meat safety

how are animals examined during ante-mortem inspection?

1. at rest

2. in motion

3. poultry are exemption

what does a “passed” ante-mortem inspection mean?

animals are healthy and fit for slaughter

what does a “suspect” ante-mortem inspection mean?

animals show signs of disease, injury, or abnormality

what does a “condemned” ante-mortem inspection mean?

animals are unfit for human consumption and excluded from the food chain

what are the conditions in which animals will be condemned at ante-mortem inspection?

1. rabies

2. listeriosis

3. scrapie

4. bovine spongiform encepalopathy

5. heavy metal poisoning

6. severe CNS lesions

what animals are affected by listeriosis?

1. sheep

2. cattle

3. goats

what is the ante-mortem importance of listeriosis?

animals showing neurological signs anre considered suspect or condemned depending on severity

what animals are affected by scrapie?

sheep and goats

what are the clinical signs of scrapie?

1. pruritis

2. ataxia

3. excess salivation

what is the ante-mortem importance of scrapie?

1. clinical cases are suspect for TSE

2. excluded from food chain

why might an animal be designated suspect?

1. abnormal clinical findings

2. suspected or notifiable disease

3. abnormal behavior or neurological signs

4. localized or systemic abnormalities

what temperature will cattle be condemned at?

equal to or above 105F

what temperature will swine be condemned at?

equal to or above 106F

what temperature will sheep be condemned at?

equal to or above 105F

what temperature will horses be condemned at?

equal to or above 105F

what signs may indicate that an animal is unfit for human food?

1. abnormal body movements

2. abnormal body condition

3. abnormalities on the body surface

what are abnormal body movements that may indicate an animal is unfit for human food?

1. lameness

2. neurological signs

3. depression

4. moribund

5. downer animals

emaciation

pathological wasting (often disease-related)

leanness

poor body condition without disease

can an animal be slaughtered during active parturition?

no

what is the post-mortem judgement for acintomycosis (lumpy jaw)?

1. usually head is condemned

2. carcass may be passed if there is no systemic involvement

what is the post-mortem judgement for actinobacillosis (wooden tongue)?

1. localized lesions of affected organs are condemned

2. if systemic infection entire carcass condemened

where do inspectors examine for suspect tuberculosis cases?

1. lymph nodes

2. lungs

3. other organs for lesions consistent with TB

A pig in the lairage appears dull and has nasal discharge. The inspector is

uncertain about its fitness for slaughter and requests further

examination by the Public Health Veterinarian, including a temperature

check. What is the most appropriate ante-mortem disposition?

suspect

what happens to non-ambulatory cattle?

they are not slaughtered rather they are euthanized

which animal is exempt from the act of 1978 on humane slaughter?

poultry

what are the different USDA approved stunning methods?

1. mechanical

2. gas

3. electrical

what type of slaughter do poultry follow?

ritual slaughter

which animals is carbon dioxide as a stunning method used in?

1. pigs

2. poultry

what facilitates efficient bleeding with penetrative captive bolt?

Brainstem usually remains functional briefly, allowing the heart to continue beating

which captive bolt produces rapid unconciousness?

penetrating captive bolt

how does the non-penetrating captive bolt cause unconsciousness?

concussion and rapid increases in intracranial pressure

what is the common use for non-penetrating captive bolt?

used to reduce contamination from bone fragments, blood clots, hair, and debris

what is the application of head-only stunning?

electrodes applied across the head for immediate unconsciousness

what is the critical requirement for head-only stunning?

animals must be bled immediately after stunning

what is the application of head-to-body stunning?

electrodes applied across head and chest to cause cardiac fibrillation leading to death

what are the advantages of head-to-body stunning?

1. reduce risk of recovery during bleeding

2. less dependent on stun-to-stick interval

3. may reduce blood splash or hemorrhage risk

what are the signs of an unconscious animal (effective stunning)?

1. immediate collapse

2. no eye movement

3. floppy ears, head, and neck

4. no blink response

5. absence of rhythmic breathing

what are the signs of a conscious animal (failure of stunning)?

1. standing or attempting to stand after stun

2. eye tracking or blinking

3. righting reflex

4. possible vocalization

As the PHV for a new Federal facility in Minnesota, you are asked to

recommend an approved stunning method(s) for pigs, that would avoid

the occurrence of blood splash in the carcass. What method(s) below

would you recommend?

carbon dioxide stunning

in a ritual slaughter how is the animal at the time of slaughter?

healthy animal

what is the mechanism of ritual slaughter?

single swift throat cut and complete draining of blood

who performs a kosher slaughter?

shochet

what is not allowed in kosher slaughter?

stunning

what is often allowed in halal slaughter?

reversible non-lethal stunning

what is the order of post-mortem inspection?

1. head

2. viscera

3. whole carcass

what are the steps of postmortem inspection of the head?

1. observe the outer surface of the head and eyes

2. incise and observe lymph nodes

3. incise and observe masseter muscles

4. observe and palpate tongue

which lymph nodes are incised in postmortem inspection of the head?

1. parotid

2. mandibular

3. retropharyngeal

what do we observe the esophagus postmortem for?

1. cysticercus

2. eosiniphilic myositisis

what do we observe the liver postmortem for?

1. liver flukes

2. abscesses

what do we observe the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes for postmortem?

1. enlargement

2. tuberculosis lesions

3. neoplasia

what do we observe the hindquarter for postmortem?

examine inguinal, iliac, and supramammary lymph nodes

what do we observe the forequarter for postmortem?

1. bruises

2. injection sites

3. abscesses

what is considered the forequarter of a carcass?

incised surfaces of muscles, pleura, diaphragm, and exterior surface

acute conditions post-mortem inspection

 Has sudden onset inflammation and active infection, often making meat unsafe

chronic conditions in animal post-mortem consideration

show long-term lesions like fibrosis and scarring, possibly allowing salvage if stable

what indicates a compromised animal health before slaughter?

1. fever

2. emaciation

3. dehydration

what are reasons for whole carcass condemnation at post-mortem?

1. lymphosarcoma

2. pneumonia

3. epithelioma

4. peritonitis

5. septicemia

6. icterus

when does ante-mortem inspecition of poultry occur?

at the end of a 6-7 week growing period

how are poultry stunned?

1. electrical stunning

2. controlled atmosphere using carbon dioxide

what can occur if biological residues are found in poultry?

1. may be returned to grower

2. more common poultry slaughtered at establishment and buried or incinerated

where do we find avian tuberculosis?

1. miliary nodules in liver

2. may also be seen at intestine and bone marrow

what is septicemia in poultry characterized by?

1. multifocal necrosis

2. diffuse congestion and hemorrhage

3. enlarged liver and spleen

4. fibrinous inflammation

5. petechaie of heart, liver, and intestines

how are poultry with septicemia handled post-mortem?

carcass condemnation

what are signs of airsacuculitis?

serous and white exudate in air sacs or body cavity if ruptured

what is the main agent that causes airsacculitis in poultry?

Mycoplasma gallisepticum

when are poultry carcasses with airsacculitis condemned?

1. airsacculitis is extensive

2. exudate cannot be effectively removed

3. systemic change

what is the current policy on poultry carcasses with lymphoid tumors?

Affected organs or carcass parts containing tumors must be trimmed and removed

what viral agents cause lymphoid tumors in poultry?

1. Maarek’s disease virus

2. avian leukosis virus group

what is a poultry cadaver?

lack of complete bleed out

what are the causes of a poultry cadaver?

1. breathing when placing into scalding tank

2. birds throat not completely cut

what is the outcome for poultry cadaver post-mortem?

condemned

what is the characterisitc of a poultry cadaver?

cherry red color

what organs are included to be considered missing viscera in poultry?

1. heart

2. liver

3. spleen

what is the outcome for a poultry post-mortem if they have missing viscera?

carcasses condemned