Transport, Antemortem inspection, and slaughter

rapid postmortem intracellular glycolysis causes accumulation of lactic acid

- Low muscle pH + body heat denature myofiber proteins - Proteins lose water‐binding ability - The meat is moist, exudative

Then shrouded (just for cattle)

- Muslin sheets immersed in a warm, mild brine solution, stretched tightly around the carcass - Shrouds absorb blood from surface - Produce a smooth, white, dense appearing fat - Reduce collar shrinkage on very lean animals by acting as an insulator

Disposition

-Refers to the ultimate handling of a carcass or its parts according to current regulations

Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)

-Requires inspection of all meat sold from livestock -Foods must be: sanitary, free of pathogens, not adulterated, properly labeled

porcine stress syndrome

-Stress‐induced changes in pork quality: 1991 estimate: ~25% of US pork affected -Heritable susceptibility to PSE: recessive gene = malignant hyperthermia response to stress; affects survival and meat (Heterozygotes have intermediate susceptibility) & genetic testing now available for breeding stock -other pigs can develop stress‐related pork quality problems.. condition less severe + requires more stress

carbon dioxide

-Swine, sheep, and calves -Must be sufficient to induce proper surgical anesthesia with minimum excitement -Can be used for depopulation of pigs and chickens (kill them not just stun them)

reportable Diseases and the Abattoir

meat inspection provides an additional opportunity for surveillance of animal diseases reportable / notifiable diseases must, by law, be reported when detected at slaughter: - Diseases with significant human costs - Diseases/FAD's with significant animal costs

Electricity

cattle (rare), calves, sheep, goats, swine Electrical current through brain sufficient to generate an epileptic seizure/stun animal - Appropriate restraint - Electrodes placed appropriately - Acceptable to stun brain and then use a second electrical pulse to induce cardiac arrest excessive amperage may cause petechial hemorrhages *poultry

captive Bolt

cattle, sheep, goats, swine Two basic types can be used - Penetrating = bolt enters cranium / brain - Non penetrating = causes concussion, less brain contamination; preferred by most plants Animals must be properly restrained Bolt must be aimed at the correct place (different for every species)

Systemic metabolic conditions (results in condemnation)

- Ketosis - Parturient paresis

When you can hold animal for possible recovery (results in condemnation)

-Post‐parturient, until placenta passes

Dark Firm Dry(DFD)

- All livestock, but much more common in cattle - PRE‐MORTEM depletion of muscle glycogen -chronic Stress prior to slaughter + adrenaline pre‐mortem glycogen depletion in muscles -muscle fibers become swollen, tightly packed: firm consistency & darker color of meat (looks "old") -cattle (Dark Cutters) > lamb, pork (DFD Pork) -not all the carcass is affected -carcass is downgraded and passed for human consumption

Pale Soft Exudative (PSE)

- All livestock, but much more common in swine - POSTMORTEM depletion of muscle glycogen -high stress pre‐slaughter (acute) -rapid postmortem intracellular glycolysis causes accumulation of lactic acid -PSE > in warm weather months.. more heat = more damage -condemned at postmortem insp -most common in PORK

Systemic infections (Result in Condemnation)

- Anaplasmosis - Leptospirosis - Listeriosis - Multiple abscesses - Pseudorabies - Tetanus - Rabies - Septicemia

Only exception is ritual slaughter (kosher, halal)

- Animals are killed directly by exsanguination - only for the "stun before sticking" part of the law!

weight loss ..shrink stress associated with transport

- Breakdown of fatty and muscular tissue, loss of water‐ holding capacity of tissue - Most pronounced in pigs > sheep > cattle

Reduce glycogen consumption (reduce stress)

- Calm handling: no stock prods - Don't mix new groups of animals together - Males, females in estrus

4 Approved methods of stunning

- Carbon dioxide - Electricity - Captive bolt - Firearms

Requires inspection of all meat sold from livestock

- Defined as: cattle, sheep, swine, goats, equids - Meat processing plants under daily inspection - Inspection also of "meat products" production (Sausage, stew, TV dinners, etc)

Do not fall under FMIA rules

- Examples: farmed deer, elk, rabbits, alligators, etc. - These fall under generic rules by the FDA, stating all food sold commercially must come from an "approved source" - Each state decides how to define "approved source", so these regulations vary state‐to‐state - Voluntary USDA inspections can be requested by producers, cost ~$40/hr

Federal authority over renderers, transporters, warehouses and animal food manufacturers FMIA and commerce

- Federal inspection = interstate or export - State inspection = intrastate ONLY - The same basic requirements apply

Increased inspection of imported products FMIA and commerce

- Foreign importers into US - must have standards "equivalent" to US law OR demonstrate equivalent risk - USDA can visit the importing country and review the inspection procedures there

Ensure adequate muscle glycogen

- Proper feeding prior to transport - Food and water every 12 hrs. in transport - If transport is >15 hrs feed and water on arrival - Don't overnight in plant - More common in summer (heat)

chronic Stress prior to slaughter + adrenaline pre‐mortem glycogen depletion in muscles

- Reduction in lactic acid causes high pH - Spoilage more likely

Dehairing

- Scalded at 140°F for 5‐6 min to loosen hair, hooves and epidermis - If scalded for too long or too high temperature, skin will split and contaminate underlying tissues - Dehaired by machine - Any remaining hairs burned off by singeing

what about other species?

-Only livestock are covered by the Act -exotic ungulates (deer, antelope, etc., etc.) may be killed using captive bolt or gunshot -Poultry are NOT covered by the humane livestock act.. the PPIA requires "good commercial practices" instead; no specific legislation on slaughter

Pork Quality & pH

- pH of meat is affected by premortem stress and by heritable genes -PSE meat much less common in beef and Lamb

downer cattle

-As of October 1, 2007 FSIS prohibits the slaughter of cattle that are not able to stand or walk, also known as -have a higher probability of being infected with BSE

Chest Sticking

-Pigs -Cut the vessels where they arise from the heart -Exsanguination maybe faster than throat cutting -Back Bleeding -Cut the pleura and blood may flow into the chest, blood clots will stain the walls of the rib cage

Dressing carcassas

-"On the rail" dressing: conveyed by gravity or power along an overhead rail -occurs in various stages, each undertaken by a separate operator or machine -a combination of several machines allows complete carcass dressing -Need to prevent contamination!

USA Federal Rule on Antemortem Livestock Inspection

-All livestock offered for slaughter in an official establishment shall be examined and inspected on the day of, and before, slaughter -very small slaughter plants (<15 animals / day) may have animals inspected the day before -in cases of animal emergency (such as injuries), the plant may slaughter the livestock immediately and save all parts for postmortem inspection - NOT PERMITTED FOR CATTLE

Bovine TB (M. bovis)

-Animals that react to the TB skin test are branded "T" on the left hip -TB reactors = SUSPECT -Extra postmortem inspection required -TB‐infected tissues removed, and remainder may be passed for COOKING only

Swine

-Carcass is washed -Dehairing (hide left on / hair removed) Head separation, evisceration, and cooling follow, generally by hand

gunshot

-Cattle, calves, sheep, goats, swine -Sufficient to render the animal insensible; watch out for emergence and ricochet -Head and brain not suitable for food; Tongue may be salvaged -Also... need to aim at the correct place

Passed for slaughter

-Determined to be fit for human food

Reducing Dark Firm Dry Meat

-Ensure adequate muscle glycogen - Reduce glycogen consumption (reduce stress)

Difference between: "Subject" and "Suspect"

-Farmer has a cow that is not perfect: skinny, old, lame, cancer eye -> -cow is bought by Slaughter Plant Subject to passing inspection at slaughter -> -public Health Vet's disposition at antemortem inspection is Suspect

effective captive bolt/gun shot stun

-animal immediately collapses -becomes rigid with forelimbs extended for 10‐ 20 seconds followed by involuntary kicking movements then relaxation -eyes will be central and fixed -no corneal reflex -no rhythmic breathing -heart beat will continue for some time

Subject to Inspection

-animal is bought by plant operator, subject to passing inspection -seller is only paid for those parts passing inspection

Suspect animal

-animal suspected of having diseases or conditions that would make part or all of the carcass unfit for food; detailed postmortem inspection needed

after stunning

-animals must be rapidly moved to the next stage -Exsanguination typically used for killing: sufficient time must be permitted for animal to bleed out completely, to ensure death prior to carcass cutting -FSIS inspectors do have the right to immediately halt all slaughter at a plant in cases of "egregious" violations

Brucellosis (Brucella spp.)

-animals that are positive for brucellosis are tagged and branded "B" on the left hip -must be sent to slaughter within 15 days! -meat is considered safe if from cattle or pigs -Brucella melitensis goats are not slaughtered; destroyed

Condemned animal

-clearly exhibit diseases or conditions that make them unfit for human food -must be destroyed & not slaughtered for food -dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock are condemned

Sticking

-cutting the throat, cut all veins in the neck, carotids and Jugulars -cutting only one carotid prolongs the time to death -brain death occurs on average in about 15 to 20 seconds -when about 50% of the total blood volume is lost -remaining blood is mostly in the viscera -doesn't require a beating heart

Pubic Health Veterinarian (PHV): Makes a DISPOSITION at inspection

-disposition of animals is directed by criteria that are found in the Meat and Poultry Inspection Regulations -Professional issue: "made with dispatch, confidence and consistency" -Consumer considered first, but never so stringent to cause unnecessary waste -Must be defensible, as in a clinical setting

animals in motion (problems Noted at Antemortem Inspection)

-lameness -non‐ambulatory -ataxia / incoordination -circling

Egregious violations

-making cuts on or skinning conscious animals -excessive beating or prodding of ambulatory or non‐ambulatory disabled animals -dragging conscious animals -driving animals off semi‐trailers over a drop off without providing adequate unloading facilities (animals are falling to the ground) -running equipment over animals -stunning of animals and then allowing them to regain consciousness -multiple attempts, especially in the absence of immediate corrective measures, to stun an animal versus a single blow or shot -dismembering live animals, such as removing feet from livestock -leaving disabled livestock exposed to adverse climate conditions while awaiting disposition -otherwise causing unnecessary pain and suffering to animals, including situations on trucks

inspection procedure

-observe animals at rest -observe animals in motion from one or both sides (varies by plant / supervisor) -determine if animal is normal or abnormal: take temperature of animals as needed -suspect & condemned animals must be ear tagged as such: suspect segregated for careful postmortem & condemned = NOT FOOD

Normal Post Slaughter Carcass Changes

-well fed un‐stressed animals should have a lot of glycogen in muscle before slaughter -after slaughter metabolism continues in muscle cells -glycogen is converted to lactic acid which lowers the pH of muscle and tenderizes the meat... this is why meat especially beef carcasses are "hung" in a cooler for 2 to 3 weeks after slaughter

FMIA: Exemptions

-slaughter of your own animals for consumption by self, family, guests - NOT for $$!... custom plants that slaughter for the owner (not for sale) can also be exempted -retail dealers / stores that do not slaughter, with >75% of sales to retail customers; no meat inspection required; these still have to meet the health department's standards for sanitation -individual who purchases meat or meat products outside the United States for his/her own consumption - not to exceed fifty pounds

Ritual Slaughter (Kosher, Halal)

-under Jewish and Islamic law, animals for slaughter must be healthy and uninjured at the time of death, which rules out driving a bolt into the brain -animals neck is severed with a surgically sharp knife, severing it's major arteries causing a massive drop in blood pressure -the cut itself stuns the animal -then it dies of exsanguination

Slaughter is a two step process?

1. Stunning 2. Exsanguination

The 4 "D"s

Dead ~ Dying ~ Diseased ~ Disabled

shackling

Shackling = hanging from a shackle Shackle = hook on the overhead rail Hang the Animal Before Sticking Hanging increases the volume of blood loss

poultry?

is covered by the PPIA, not FMIA PPIA = Poultry Products Inspection Act

after slaughter

the carcass must be dressed: - Skinned / "dehided" / dehaired - Head removed - Eviscerated - Shrouded (cattle only) - Chilled Dressing is a common source of meat contamination from soil on hide, rumen contents, feces, etc.

cattle

-Skinning is mechanical: pneumatic knives and mechanical hide puller: intact carcass may be washed and sanitized with chlorine or quaternary ammonium compounds -Head removal: Cleaned with high pressure stream of cold water and marked with a tag bearing the same number as carcass and set aside for inspection -Evisceration -Carcass is washed with high pressure water -Then shrouded (just for cattle) - Shrouds removed after 24 hr chill

stress associated with transport

-expensive! Loss of meat quality, injuries to animals, animals may be condemned -weight loss ..shrink -pigs are very vulnerable to suffocation -Bruising -especially sheep and pigs: bruised tissue is trimmed from carcass & If extensive, whole carcass is condemned -immune stress / microbial shedding

Animals at Rest (problems Noted at Antemortem Inspection)

-fractures & downer animals -labored breathing -excessive excitability -severe depression -tumors, lumps and bumps -cancer eye -injection site reactions -actinomycosis

Antemortem Livestock Inspection

-inspection of individual live animals prior to slaughter -helps keep ill animals out of food chain, many conditions can be noted antemortem that may not be readily apparent postmortem -helps reduce contamination of abattoir, obviously infected animals kept out!

Humane Handling and Slaughter of Livestock Directive

- Livestock must be rendered insensible to pain before being shackled, hoisted, or cut