ANTE MORTEM INSPECTION OF LIVESTOCK

Dr Mohammed Al Fateh Hamad

Veterinary Services Section

Public Health Services Department

Dubai Municipality

ANTE-MORTEM INSPECTION

• All animals presented for slaughter should be subjected to ante-mortem inspection upon arrival at the abattoir, by a competent veterinarian whether on an individual or a lot basis.

• Ante-mortem inspection serves the following purposes:

(a) To identify animals showing clear evidence of being affected with a disease or condition that could render the carcass unfit for human consumption.

• To identify diseases which exhibit definite symptoms in the living animal but have no clear or specific signs during a post-mortem inspection. Examples are rabies, tetanus, botulism and metabolic ailments.

• To identify animals with symptoms indicating the affection of a particular organ system or part

• of the animal to which the inspector responsible for the post-mortem inspection must be alerted;

examples are diarrhoea, lameness, nervous symptoms and especially mastitis.

(b) To identify animals which could pose a threat to the health of personnel handling the carcasses.

(c)To identify animals which are suspected of being affected with a disease or condition that might render the carcass unfit for human consumption.

(d) To identify animals which are suspected of having been treated with veterinary drugs such as antibiotics; or of containing chemical residues.

(e) To identify heavily contaminated animals.

(f) To identify animals which are suspected of having a reportable or exotic disease.

(g) To make a disposition regarding the suitability of animals for slaughter.

(h) To identify animals requiring special handling for humane reasons.

• Ante-mortem inspection should include confirmation that the animals are properly identified, so that any special conditions pertaining to their place of primary production are considered in the ante-mortem inspection, including relevant public and animal health quarantine controls.

Ante-mortem Methodology

• The ante-mortem inspection of livestock takes place in the pens. Each animal must be observed.

• Ante-mortem inspection consists of two parts: – 1. Observe Animals at rest – 2. Observe Animals in motion

• It is important to inspect the animals both at rest and in motion because certain abnormal signs, such as labored breathing, are easier to detect while the animals are at rest, while other abnormalities, such as lameness, may not be detected until you observe the animals in motion.

The following factors must be noted:1. History

Animals are usually presented for slaughter without any background information. Individual cases may be accompanied by a veterinary certificate indicating a disease and its treatment (antibiotics etc.).

2. The general behaviour of animals in each consignment. It is easy to recognise animals which are excited or showing obvious nervous symptoms.

3. Movement and posture

Recumbent animals must be made to get up and move around. Lameness, trembling, stiff legs or poor co-ordination are recognizable signs.

4. Skin or hide conditions Ticks, mange, skin discolouration, suppurating wounds,

superficial abscesses, tumors, pox and so on are all conditions which are easily observed.

5. Nutrition Emaciation is attributable to specific conditions like

tuberculosis, internal parasites or malnutrition6. External features Swellings on certain parts of the animal may indicate

specific conditions, such as actinomycosis in cattle or fasciola infestation in sheep, or may be of a general nature

- arthritis, abscesses, haematomas or emphysema.7. Age No person may slaughter any calf, lamb or kid, or other

animal that is not at least 21 days old, fully developed and in a well-nourished state.

8. Animals on the verge of parturition and those which have given birth en route or in the large

9. Animals with mastitis or any other condition which might have been treated recently with antibiotics or other chemo-therapeutical agents

Such animals mus t be marked in such a way that the carcass can be identified and tested.

• Depending on the findings of the visual inspection, it may be necessary to carry out a more thorough clinical examination.

i. Fever

This may vary from 33°C in comatose or dying animals to 43°C in sheep with heat stroke or with tetany caused by a metabolic disorder. Excited cattle may run a fever of 40°C.

ii. Blood sample examination

Animals infected with anthrax, babesiosis or anaplasmosis must not be slaughtered; those with

anaemia and neutrophilia may also be refused.

iii. Excessive salivation as in cases of: Foot and mouth disease and rabies.

iv. Manipulation of swellings, possible fractures etc.

v. Evaluation of nervous symptoms

• Where abnormalities in behaviour or appearance are observed in an individual animal or a consignment of animals they should be segregated and isolated from the rest of the animals as suspects for detailed examination.

• The veterinarian must defer the slaughter of animals suspected of having a disease or condition that may adversely affect human or animal health.

• Examples where a detailed veterinary examination is required includes:

• Animals showing clinical signs of a disease transmissible to man or animals.

Example: animals are found or suspected to have any form of clinical TB.

• Animals showing clinical signs of a disease or disorder that may make fresh meat unfit for human consumption

• Animals where residues are suspected, the possibility of treatment to mask illness must be considered

Ante-mortem judgment categories

• Passed for slaughter;• Passed for slaughter subject to a second ante-mortem

inspection, after an additional holding period, e.g., when animals are insufficiently rested, or are temporarily affected by a physiological or metabolic condition;

• Passed for slaughter under special conditions i.e. deferred slaughter as “suspects”, where the competent person undertaking ante-mortem inspection suspects that post-mortem inspection findings could result in partial or total condemnation;

• Condemned for public health reasons i.e. due to: meat-borne hazards, occupational health hazards, or likelihood of unacceptable contamination of the slaughter and dressing environment following slaughter;

• Condemned for meat suitability reasons;• Emergency slaughter, when an animal eligible for

being passed under special conditions could deteriorate if there was a delay in slaughter; and

• Condemned for animal health reasons, as specified in relevant national legislations.

• Animals described below should be subject to special controls, procedures or operations:

• Animals are not sufficiently clean; • Animals have died in transit;• A zoonotic disease posing an immediate threat to either

animals or humans is present, or suspected;• An animal health disease subject to quarantine

restrictions is present, or suspected;• Animal identification requirements are not met; or• Declarations from the primary producer, if required by

the competent authority (including compliance with good veterinary practice in the use of animal medicines), are absent or inadequate.

Holding of animals in the lairage• Animals passed for slaughter should be adequately

rested, preferably overnight.• Holding of animals presented for slaughter has an

important effect on many aspects of slaughter, dressing and the production of meat that is safe and suitable for human consumption. Cleanliness of animals has a major influence on the level of microbiological cross-contamination of the carcass and edible parts during slaughter and dressing.

• Facilities are operated in a way that soiling and cross-contamination of animals with food-borne pathogens are minimized to the greatest extent practicable.

• Floors are paved or slatted, non-slippery and allow good drainage;

• Animals can be held without overcrowding or injury, and are not exposed to climatic stress;

• There are appropriate layout and facilities for cleaning and/or drying of animals;

• There is an adequate supply and reticulation of clean water for drinking and cleaning;

• “Suspect” animals can be segregated and examined in separate areas. These areas should include facilities that are capable of secure holding of “suspect” animals pending slaughter under supervision, in a manner that precludes contamination of other animals;

• Holding of animals so that their physiological condition is not compromised and ante-mortem inspection can be effectively carried out;

• Separation of different classes and types of slaughter animals as appropriate, e.g., sorting of animals by age so as to facilitate the efficiency of routine dressing, separation of animals with special dressing requirements; separation of males from females

• Systems to ensure that only animals that are sufficiently clean are slaughtered;

• Systems to ensure that feed has been appropriately withdrawn before slaughter;

• Maintenance of identification of animals • Conveying of relevant information on individual

animals or lots of animals to facilitate ante- and post-mortem inspection

Holding of animals in the lairage• animals can be held without overcrowding or injury, and

are not exposed to climatic stress;• there are appropriate layout and facilities for cleaning

and/or drying of animals;• ante-mortem inspection is facilitated;• floors are paved or slatted and allow good drainage;• there is an adequate supply and reticulation of clean

water for drinking and cleaning.• there is a physical separation between lairages and areas

of an abattoir where edible material may be present;

• “suspect” animals can be segregated and inspected in separate areas.

• there is an adjacent area with adequate facilities for cleaning and sanitation of transport vehicles

• Special facilities may be required to handle condemned animals, so constructed that all parts, gut contents and faeces from such animals can be held under secure containment as appropriate to the circumstances and facilitate effective cleaning and sanitation