Antemortem Inspection - Quick Reference

Antemortem Inspection

  • Definition: A pre-slaughter health check to ensure animals are fit for slaughter and to prevent disease spread. Assesses health, behavior, and appearance for illness or injury.
  • Purpose: Maintain meat quality and safety for human consumption.

Objectives

  • Screen all animals destined to slaughter.
  • Ensure animals are properly rested; obtain clinical information to aid diagnosis and judgement.
  • Reduce killing-floor contamination by separating dirty animals and condemning diseased ones as regulated.
  • Ensure humane treatment: injured animals may require emergency slaughter.
  • Identify reportable diseases to prevent contamination.
  • Identify sick animals and those treated with antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, insecticides, or pesticides.
  • Require cleaning and disinfection of transport trucks.

Timing and Process

  • Both sides of an animal should be examined at rest and in motion.
  • Antemortem examination within 2424 hours of slaughter; repeat if slaughter delayed beyond 11 day.
  • Suspect animals (showing clinical signs) should be held for veterinary examination and judgement; segregate from healthy animals.

Antemortem Card

  • Owner's name
  • Number of animals in the lot and arrival time
  • Species and sex of the animal
  • Time and date of antemortem inspection
  • Clinical signs and body temperature if relevant
  • Reason why the animal was held
  • Signature of inspector

Observations

  • General behaviour, nutritional status, cleanliness, signs of disease, and abnormalities.
  • Abnormalities in respiration
  • Abnormalities in behaviour
  • Abnormalities in gait
  • Abnormalities in posture
  • Abnormalities in structure and conformation
  • Abnormal discharges or protrusions from body openings
  • Abnormal colour
  • Abnormal odour

Abnormalities (Respiration, Behaviour, and More)

  • Abnormal respiration: unusual frequency or pattern; segregate as suspect if pattern differs from normal.
  • Abnormalities in behaviour: signs include • walking in circles or abnormal gait/posture • pushing head against a wall • charging at objects • dull/anxious expression in eyes
  • Abnormal gait: associated with pain in legs, chest, or abdomen; may indicate nervous disease.
  • Abnormal posture: tucked abdomen; extended head with feet stretched out; animal may be lying with head turned to the side; inability to rise labeled as a “downer”; handle cautiously to prevent suffering.
  • Abnormalities in structure (conformation): swellings (abscesses); enlarged joints; umbilical swelling (hernia/omphalophlebitis); enlarged udder (mastitis); enlarged jaw ("lumpy jaw"); bloated abdomen.
  • Abnormal discharges or protrusions: nasal discharge; excessive saliva; afterbirth; protruding from vulva, rectum, uterus, or vagina; eye growths; bloody diarrhoea.
  • Abnormal colour: e.g., black areas on horses/swine; red areas on light-colored skin; dark blue areas on skin or udder (gangrene).
  • Abnormal odour: may indicate abscess or ketosis or other conditions; some odours are difficult to detect on routine A/M examination.

Quick References (Key Points)

  • Always inspect both at rest and in motion.
  • Classify suspects for veterinary evaluation and segregate.
  • Maintain humane handling of downer or severely ill animals.
  • Document findings on the antemortem card for traceability.