VPH and Abattoir Welfare Flashcards
What are the general principles of the Welfare of animals at the time of killing regulations 2015 (UK) and the EC1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing?
It is an absolute offence to cause or permit an animal avoidable excitement, pain or suffering
The loss of consciousness and sensibility shall be maintained until the death of the animal
The methods which do not result in instantaneous death/simple stunning shall be followed as quickly as possible by a procedure ensuring death such as bleeding, pithing, electrocution or prolonged exposure to anoxia
Distinguish stunning and simple stunning.
Simple stunning = recoverable (must be followed by a method to kill)
Stunning = non-recoverable, such as gas or cardiac arrest stunning
What does ‘without pain’ mean?
Without pain should mean a procedure which produces
How long does it take for a painful stimuli to be recognised as painful?
100ms
How is unconsciousness achieved?
Inducing a dysfunction affecting:
- The cerebral hemispheres on a large scale
- The reticular formation
- Or the ascending reticular activating system or the median thalamus bilaterally
What is brain death?
A brain-dead animal has no clinical evidence of brain function upon physical examination . This includes no response to pain and no cranial nerve. Reflexes include pupillary response reflexes. (fixed pupils), oculocephalic reflex, corneal reflex the caloric reflex test, no response to and no spontaneous respirations
What are calorcic reflex tests?
Cold water in ear, eye movement towards that ear, warm water, away from ear
Can we measure brain death?
The EEG measures brain voltage in microvolts. All positive responses suggest brain function, cortical death occurs when the EEG is silent.
Visual evoked potential/VEP – a measure of residual consciousness that can be used to obtain objective measures of brain death
What are the signs of brain dysfunction?
- Loss of posture
- No rhythmic breathing
- No corneal reflex
- No response to pain
What are the possible stunning methods?
- Mechanical methods
- Electrical methods
- Gas methods – killing method in the UK
- Other methods – lethal injection but not used/legal as people want to eat the meat
What are the stunning methods for red meat?
Captive bolt
Controlled atmosphere
Electrical stunning
Explain the physics of captive bolt stunning.
- Energy of the bolt, accelerates the skull (but not the brain) – hit on the skull that stuns not hit on the brain
- The brain (which is floating in CSF) accelerates a fraction of a second after the skull – will keep moving to have pressure waves through the brain. Depending on how strong, can go down the brainstem and so has a gap between movement post stunning
- The concussion induces immediate potassium efflux resulting in depolarisation of the neurons
- It also causes the secretion of excitatory neurotransmitters and a calcium influx into the cells which disrupts mitochondrial function, and therefore, the production of energy
- The shock wave can push the brain tissue through the opening of the tentorium resulting in compression of the brain stem which may cause slowing/cessation of breathing and cardiac function
- Following concussion, the bolt causes local fragmentation of the skull and crushes brain tissue and blood vessels in its trajectory
- The retraction of the bolt temporarily leaves a void in the tunnel created by its passage that sucks in the surrounding brain tissue causing further tearing of axons and blood vessels
- Haemorrhage further deprives certain brain structures of the blood supply, and lack of nutrients and oxygen disturbs the inter- and intra-cellular biochemical balance
- Cranial bone fragments introduced into the brain cause further damage
How long does captive bolt take?
1.5ms
What is the problem with captive bolt stunning?
You can’t guarantee to hit the right spot every time
What is the difference between penetrating and non-penetrating captive bolts?
The potential for recovery - more likely to recover from non-penetrating as there is not the extra damage of the bolt retrieving but still work in the same way with pressure waves.
What are the factors affecting captive bolt gun performance?
- Kinetic energy = ½ x mv^2 so speed is everything
- Gun type and condition – clean well to maintain
- Choice of cartridge/air pressure
Why develop a health and welfare plan for a farm?
Helping farmers with a useful management tool to improve their herd/flock
What does goof health planning entail?
- A farmer/vet relationship focussed on improving health, welfare and performance
- Improved farm profits
- Better stock heath and welfare
- Improved sustainability
What are the 4 principles of the DEFRA farm health planning?
- Measurement – collecting data to identify the cost of health and welfare problems
- Management – prioritise control measures for problem areas, cost/benefit calculations for the most effective measures
- Monitor – regularly review farm health plan
- Seek advice
What is or should be health and welfare planning?
- Current policy/protocols
- Records
- Review
- Action plan
- Benchmarking outcomes
What does the Defra Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain (2004) include?
- Identification of risks of introduction and spread of disease and infections
- Early recognition of disease
- Prioritising measures to control any existing problems and manage risks, including the responsible use of medicines
What are the problems with farm health planning?
- Most farms have plans but often not valued
- Records are available but often poor accuracy
- Reviewing of plan or records is very limited
- Farmers not aware of problems
What can be done if there are complex and persistent disease (and welfare) problems?
Enforce – legislation, certification
Educate – technical advice
Encourage – better communication
What is the ideal position for captive bolt in cattle?
At the intersection of 2 imaginary lines drawn from the top of the eyes to the base of the opposite horn bud
Why is this the ideal position for captive bolt in cattle?
Only a thin layer of skin over the skull at the position so is not slowed down, very little sinuses that could absorb energy, good position to direct bolt to the midbrain (stun is impact, penetration is to prevent recovery), don’t go through nuchal ligament (which will absorb lots of energy), don’t point too far downwards as it will go down spinal cord and will die from asphyxia.
What is the ideal captive bolt position for sheep?
Place the gun of the highest point of the head and aim towards the angle of the jaw
What must be done after captive bolt in sheep?
Must be bled quickly as they can recover quickly – will likely get hit in the head from uncontrolled kicking
What is the poll position for horned sheep and goats?
Only things we can shoot in the back of the head due to huge sinuses at the front of the head that are meant for shock absorption. Must bleed or kill it within 15 seconds as it is not as good a stun.
How does pig position for captive bolt change with age?
Pigs up to about 100-110kg, it is 1inch or 2.5cm drawn between the eyes on the midline. Very effective but still simple stunning so could recover. As pigs get older, skill development changes and have large sinus with plate of bone in the middle, so boars and sows must be 5cm.
What are pigs’ reaction to stunning and why?
White meat so fast twitch muscle fibre, reacts aggressively to electricity and to captive bolt. Start kicking violently and immediately, goes on for minutes. Kicks so violently it damages the carcass. Kicking reflex does not occur with gas (affects brain and spinal cord at the same time so better quality).
What are the signs of effective mechanical stunning in red meat?
- Loss of posture
- Tonic/clonic activity
- No rhythmic breathing
- No corneal reflex
- A fixed, glazed expression to the eyes – if they are rolled and can see the whites of the eyes, they will shoot again
What by law happens if the first method of mechanical stunning does not work?
By law if first method doesn’t work, have to use a second method in case there is something wrong with the first method/instrument.
What species do captive bolt pistols not work very well with?
Water buffalo – the average distance between the outer skull and brain is 7cm of shock absorbing sinuses. Captive bolt will not work – use free bullet
Horses – the opposite, the skull is too thin for impact = no stun. Use free bullet, kill immediately
What must be done with head only electrical stunning?
Electrical head only stunning will definitely recover if you do not bleed them after
What is the stunned state?
- The action of an applied high voltage waveform on neural tissue will disrupt normal membrane activity and produce brain dysfunction
- Brain dysfunction within 1 wave of electricity
- The neurophysiology condition that is also produced by effective electrical stunning is tonic/colic epilepsy, which in humans and animals is associated with unconsciousness
- Epilepsy will end and they will recover if they do not bleed
How is epilepsy generated neurologically?
Chain reaction of NT surges at synapses in the brain, happening 10x faster than they can feel pain
What are the phases of stun?
Brain dysfunction occurs 15-20 ms swinging voltage disrupts normal brain activity
200ms, over generation of aspartate and glutamate produces overstimulation of synapses – global epilepsy
How do animals recovery from epilepsy?
First thing that comes back is rhythmic breathing, then will be able to respond to pain, then consciousness returns, but not responding to visual threat
What are the phases of epilepsy after electrical stunning?
- Tonic phase – stiff muscled, is characterised by front legs extended, hind legs flexed into the body
- Clonic phase is characterised by uncontrolled physical activity
- No rhythmic breathing in either phase – during this time we must bleed animal to death for brain death
Where are the probes placed for head only electrical stunning?
Best place is between eyes are electricity will take the path of least resistance which means not through bone. Here, will go through optic nerve and auditory canal to get to the brain
What is the minimum electrical current for pigs in head only electrical stunning and why?
If tongs in exactly the right place in pigs, only need 0.4A, but often put behind ears as they are oddly shaped so need 1.3A in this position so minimum is 1.3A for pigs
How long are electrical tongs held on in head only electrical stunning and why?
Despite the stun being immediate and epilepsy developing at 200ms, the tongs are held on for 3 seconds to allow the spreading electric field to depolarise the spine, reducing the post stun clonic activity = kick less
Describe what head to body/cardiac arrest stunning is.
- Electrical stun/killing methods involve induction of cardiac ventricular fibrillation (rapid and irregular beating of the heart), by passing an electric current across the heart in unconscious animals that have been stunned by a head-only application.
- Electrical stun/kill with simultaneous induction of unconsciousness and cardiac ventricular fibrillation prevents recovery.
- It is not the cardiac arrest that kills it is the fact the heart is not pumping blood to the brain – epilepsy uses up a lot of oxygen and if this supply is cut off they die very quickly
- Targets more of the spinal cord so kick less
- Cannot be used for halal as it is non-recoverable
How does stun to stick interval affect welfare?
Stun to stick interval does not affect pig welfare as exsanguination simply voids the carcass of blood
What are the 3 types of gas killing?
High concentration CO2 – pigs, mustelids, poultry except geese and ducks due to diving reflex
CO2 and insert gas – less CO2 so less horrible
Inert gas
What are the advantages and disadvantages of inert gas killing?
Most welfare friendly, argon or nitrogen. Argon as it is easy to control. Most friendly as you cannot detect lowering O2, only rising CO2
But it effects the brain and start kicking. But takes 4-8 minutes with anoxia but high CO2 takes 10-15s
What are the properties of carbon dioxide?
- CO2 is a heavy gas (1.5 x air)
- CO2 is an acidic gas, it dissolves in water to form carbonic acid – this is what kills not suffocation
The one gas we can detect physiologically so body tries to stop you inhaling it as soon as you detect it
What is the effect of carbon dioxide on neural tissue?
- Inhalation of carbon dioxide induces respiratory and metabolic acidosis and hence, reduces the pH of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neurons thereby exerting its neuronal inhibitory and anaesthetic effects
- The normal pH of CSF is 7.4 and a state of analgesia and anaesthesia are induced at 7.1 and 6.8, respectively
- Affects brain and spinal cord at the same time due to CSF so do not kick or damage carcass
What are the 2 properties of carbon dioxide effect on the body?
Anaesthetic
Anticonvulsive
Why is CO2 gas killing used on pigs?
Handling before hand is good and can be done in groups which is less stressful for pigs. But they panic. Only done with pigs as cattle panic destroys machines and sheep absorb too much in their wool and not take enough in
How quickly must pithing done?
15s
What happens after bleeding by law?
No person may cause or permit any further dressing procedure or any electrical stimulation to be performed on the animal before the bleeding has ended
- In the case of bovine animals, a period of not less than 30 seconds
- In the case of sheep, goats, pigs and deer, a period of not less than 20 seconds
What does bleeding result in?
Loss of oxygenated blood due to loss of blood pressure causes cortical brain death
Is a beating heart required to ensure blood is lost at exsanguination?
No – blood is lost through gravity
What is a full ventral neck cut?
In sheep – cut both jugulars and both carotids, brain dead in 14s. if they only cut 1 side, it takes 70s to die, if only jugulars it takes 5 minutes
What is chest/thoracic sticking?
In pigs cuts major vessels around the heart releasing large volume of blood. Blood pressure falls quickly starting the process of brain death. Cuts heart, brachiocephalic trunk, subclavian artery. Want to make this cut as big as possible as pigs can squeeze and close up the hole and recover, so must shoot it immediately and cut again in this case. Thoracic stick in 18s. Thoracic stick in cattle too – 17s for brain death
What are the times for cortical brain death following sticking?
Thoracic stick in cows = 17s
Thoracic stick in pigs = 18s
Ventral neck stick = 14s
When is cervical dislocation and percussive blows to the head used in poultry killing?
- These methods shall not be used as routine methods but only where there are no other methods available for stunning
- No person can kill more than 70 birds a day by breaking their necks
- Will see flapping – pivot neck around the thumb, white muscle fibres so will flap for ages
How is neck dislocation used to kill poultry?
Kill the bird through asphyxiation or haemorrhagic shock so is not immediate – about 100s for brain to die once neck is broken, may not be conscious for all bit for a lot of that
Does removing the head of a bird kill it instantly?
Removing the head does not kill the bird, brain dies 130s after you cut the head off
How does a percussive gun for stun killing poultry?
Acceleration of the head sufficient to produce a stun and then bolt crushes all the frontal bones which emulsifies the brain and kills it
Will flap again but this time will mean the brain is destroyed, don’t flap as much as neck dislocation as pressure waves goes down through the spine
How can head only stunning be used to stun poultry?
Head only stunning passes electricity through the brain to achieve brain dysfunction, just across the head but problem his having a bird with no control over the spinal cord with random signals so damages carcass as it flaps lots, have to place probes by hand so takes time, incompatible with sheer amount of birds in abattoirs a day. On farms, have to turn bird upside down to hold the wings so it doesn’t flap as much and bleeds while undergoing a fit, so is slow.
What are the issues with head only stunning in poultry?
- Inversion of the bird – birds hate this, no diaphragm so all internal organs move forward and crush the heart and air sacs so struggles to breathe
- Speed of application – slow, takes time to place and do, so not used commercially
- Post stun flapping (enhanced spinal reflexes) – so not done commercially as there is too much carcass damage
How do waterbaths kill birds?
Water in the bath contains live electrode, bar above in earthed. When bird in shackle goes into the water, it is the switch and current runs through the water, the bird and to the earth to stun it.
How does waterbath stunning of birds affect quality?
Need to apply enough voltage for enough current to ensure all get stunned, passed through entire bird, which makes every muscle contract. Huge muscles, weak tendons and bones, muscles contracts and it breaks the bones, which makes chickens hard to sell.
What are the 2 types of waterbath stunners for poultry?
Stun to stun (High Frequency)
Stun to kill for ducks to stun and stop the heart (Low frequency – 50Hz producing cardiac fibrillation). Hardly used as this produces carcass damage due to direct muscle stimulation at 50Hz. Most dangerous frequency as this is the range the heart reacts to.
What are issues with poultry waterbath stunning?
- Bird inversion is stressful
- Shackling is painful – tapered and gets tighter and tighter
- Prestun shocks are painful
- Variation in current received
- Difficult (impossible?) to assess stunned state in commercial setting
- Conflict between welfare and carcass quality
How long are poultry legally allowed to be hung upside down for and why?
Gets more stressed the more they hang upside down, so are only allowed by law to be hung upside down consciously for 1 min and 2 mins for ducks, geese and turkeys.
What are breast comforters?
A system in contact with the breast of the birds shall be built from the point of shackling until the birds enter the waterbath stunner in order to calm them down. The bottom of the breast comforter should be below the head of the largest bird to reduce the visual field by half
What are the welfare implications of prestun shocks in poultry waterbath stunning?
- These occur when part of the bird (other than the head) touches the live water will get an electrical shock. Should go in and contract once so if more than 1 contraction, they are getting an electric shock. Bad for welfare and damage to meat
- But if you invert a bird, generally the wings hang lower than the head
How can we calculate the voltage necessary to produce the minimum current required to stun?
- Ohms law – V= IR
- However, the current through individual birds is variable due to the varied resistance through individual birds. Uses average resistance but there is a range from 1000 to 2500 ohms in birds
- So ohms law, is 156V across a bar, current to each will vary based on resistance. So need more voltage meaning more contracture and damage to carcass and so less quality
- Cannot control how much current each bird gets and won’t happen in abattoirs as they would lose 75% of their product
Why can we not just assess poultry stunning and unconsciousness by presence of rhythmic breathing, as we can in red meat?
Birds brains are different and different structures so react differently to electricity. Very hard to tell a stunned chicken from a non-stunned chicken
What are the issues of using behavioural indicators to assess a bird’s level of unconsciousness/stunning?
We are passing electricity through the entire bird – possible electro-immobilisation, might be freezing the bird electrically so paralysed or stunned?
Tonic immobility – stress response in birds it freezes
Distinguish the behavioural responses to stunning in red meat and in poultry.
Red met – no rhythmic breathing, no corneal reflex, if these are present the animal is not stunned
Poultry – a stunned bird can breathe, a stunned bird can gave a corneal reflex. If these are present the bird is alive. Maybe or may not be stunned
What are the criteria for stunned but live birds?
- No breathing movements (for >8 s from waterbath exit)
- Wings held close to the body
- Rigidly extended legs and constant body tremors
What is the effect of increasing current for stunning in poultry?
Increasing the current produces more damage through direct muscle stimulation.
Supracoracoideus muscle beneath the pectoral muscles. Tendon at top of muscle goes in here. Electrical stunning causes haemorrhage here due to contracture being so quick and powerful, will get more haemorrhaging. Same in breast muscles.
In the UK, what must follow stunning of birds?
As the stun is not immediate, the birds must be killed in the stunner.
What is the effect of biphasic CO2 gas killing on pigs and poultry?
Biphasic CO2 not allowed in pigs bit in poultry is good. If you put a chicken straight into 40% CO2, will react the same as a pig and panic.
But slowly raise this level then chicken slowly adapts and doesn’t panic and then loses consciousness and dies. No one is handling the birds until dead. No damage.
What is a bird’s reaction to argon/inert gas killing?
If you put chickens into argon, they will continue to breathe it but low oxygen affects the brain so will flap. In a group flapping and kicking each other will have bad quality.
What is the effect of carbon dioxide and anoxia on poultry?
Carbon dioxide – no convulsions
Anoxia – just affects the brain so there will be spinal reflex activity when unconscious - anoxic convulsions, which will produce wing damage
What is the effect of carbon dioxide on neural tissue?
- Inhalation of carbon dioxide induces respiratory and metabolic acidosis and hence, reduce the pH of cerebrospinal fluid and neurones thereby exerting its neuronal inhibitory and anaesthetic effects
- The normal pH of CSF is 7.4 and a state of analgesia and anaesthesia are induced at 7.1 and 6.8 respectively
- Therefore, CO2 is both an anaesthetic and an anticonvulsive gas as it affects the CNS in the brain and the spinal cord
What are the welfare concerns of gas killing poultry?
There are welfare concerns during induction of unconsciousness
There are no welfare concerns after induction of unconsciousness
How go gas stunning units work?
Problem is building the pit to put the chamber in, gas pipe must be 5m underground. So they lower the entire crate of birds in and slowly lower them down as CO2 is heavier than air so will be strongest at the bottom.
How does time of exposure and concentration of CO2 correlate in poultry gas stunning units?
Level 2 – 2.5% carbon dioxide – 54s
Level 3 – 16% carbon dioxide – 83s
Level 4 – 26% carbon dioxide – 108s
Level 5 – 35% carbon dioxide – 125s
Level 6 – 40% carbon dioxide – 132s
All the birds appeared to be unconscious before exposure to the more aversive 40% carbon dioxide concentration
What are the advantages of gas killing poultry?
- Not shackled
- Not inverted
- No pre-stun shocks
- No problems with birds missing the stunner
- No problems with birds receiving varied current
- Improved product quality
Why do birds have to be bled?
Must be bled properly before they go into water or they would be conscious for drowning. Must be bled as quickly as possible and is not allowed to recover. If simple stunned, must cut both carotids and both jugulars, want to drop blood pressure as quickly as possible.
How does automonic neck cutting systems (in non-halal) compare with older systems for poultry?
Bike wheel on equipment. Head caught between 2 rollers and wheel stretches neck out as it goes over the blade to cut both carotids and both jugulars. Cuts so deep that bird opens mouth as it cuts into the spinal cord. Has water sprayed on blade for hygiene. Must be a slaughterman there to make sure every bird is cut.
Old systems with 2 blades spin birds heads and only 1 side cut.
Why must both carotids have to be cut in poultry?
Takes 15s if both are cut and 35 seconds if 1 cut
Must cut carotids, if you cut these then the jugulars will be cut
How long must poultry be left to bleed for?
Chicken 90s, turkeys or geese 2 minutes, cannot touch or do anything to make sure the birds are bleeding and brain dead.
What is the purpose of bleeding?
To ensure the animal is brain dead before it can recover from the stunned state and before any other processes are carried out that may have painful stimuli
What are the instruments of VPH policy?
Legislation
Education
Communication
Research
Subsidies
Control/supervision/inspection
Enforcing legislation
What is a write around procedure?
Regulations sent to every department for the to see what issues it would cause for their sector
What is the lifecycle of policies?
- Agenda setting - politics, science, society, media, lobby groups
- Analysis
- Policy development - writing regulations
- Implementation - legislation, education, extension, communication, subsidies, research, control, upholding
- Evaluation/monitoring - every 5 years to check if regulation worked and agenda get to be reset if not
What are the 3 sisters that underpin all of global policy?
For food safety, the Codex Alimentarius Commission
For animal health and zoonoses, WOAH
For plant health, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
What does WOAH define listed diseases as?
A disease, infection or infestation listed in the Terrestrial and Aquatic Codes based on the criteria detailed in the Terrestrial Code and the Aquatic Code
What is WAHIS?
The World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) is an internet-based computer system that processes data on animal diseases in real time and shares these data with the international community
What is INFOSAN?
International food safety authorities’ network
What are the 3 main reasons for rejection of pig carcasses?
- Pathogenic to humans – septicaemia, toxaemia, systemic disturbance, parasites, zoonoses
- Aesthetic – foetal flesh, scarring, bruising, pigmentation, parasites
- Legal requirement – no ante mortem, SRM, Identification issues, age of animal, residues
What is the main issue of meat inspection?
We can only reject what we can see
What is the abattoirs responsibility over the offal?
Abattoirs responsibility for offal to remain correlated to carcass in case of a problem. Every set of offal from every animal is inspected. Standard inspection and then OV or inspector is suspicious is extra inspections
What in pigs is visually assessed?
Liver
Hepatic and pancreatic LNs
Spleen
Pericardium
Tongue
Lungs
Diaphragm
Heart
When is the heart in pigs incised?
Not routine, when OV or MHI has suspicion of disease spread, generally the kidneys in pigs
When are the kidneys incised?
Incise kidneys so that vet or HI can see them, it is their hob to inspect these. Either ascending infection or blood borne.
Both kidneys must be removed from their fatty covering. In the case of bovine and porcine animals, and solipeds, the peri-renal capsule must also be removed.
How is inspection of the porcine carcass done?
- Inspect joints and symmetry
- Iliac lymph nodes
- Inspect tail for tail bite and other lesions – if tail bite, must look down the spine
- Inspect peritoneum
- Inspect kidneys
- Inspect pleura
- Inspect submaxillary L.N. for enlargement – TB very common in pig heads
- Inspect skin for lesions and contamination
Are adenocarcinomas in pigs rejected?
Reject carcass and offal Category 2 Animal By-Product Pathogenic to humans or animals Multiple or malignant neoplasia warrant total rejection and Category 2 due to tradition
Are milk spot liver/chronic focal interstitial hepatitis in pigs rejected?
Milk spot livers, chronic focal interstitial hepatitis is scarring of migration of parascaris suum. Reject affected part Category 3
Is liver fluke in pigs rejected?
Category 3 of affected parts - aesthetics
Is septic peritonitis in pigs rejected?
Total rejection of carcass and offal under category 2 - pathogenic to humans or animals
Is enzootic pneumonia rejected in pigs?
Apical/cardiac lobes of the lung, hepatised, feels like liver as there is no air in there. Stays in the lungs so category 2
Is pleuritis in pigs rejected?
Reject affected parts under category 2 - don’t know cause but tends to stay in thoracic cavity
Is lungworms in pigs rejected?
Raised plaques, cut just above to remove lungworm. Metastrongylus apri rejected part affected by category 3 - can’t get, so aesthetic
Is melanosis in porcine lungs rejected?
Black pigmentation – no change to flavour or colour. Category 3 part affected – aesthetic. Unless melanoma, then this is category 2.
Is suppurative pericarditis rejected in pigs?
Reject affected part. Check carcass for signs of systemic infection Category 2 Animal By-Product Pathogenic to humans or animals
Is valvular endocarditis in pigs rejected?
Incise heart, done because seen infarcts in the heart. If valvular endocarditis and infarcts in the kidneys it is a systemic issue and whole organism is unfit for consumption. Category 2.
Reject affected part Check carcass for signs of systemic infection – check kidneys. If associated with infarction Category 2 Animal By-Product Pathogenic to humans or animals = total rejection
What is the mneumonic for conditions of the kidneys in pigs?
SPINPATCH:
Stones
Petechiae
Infarcts
Nephrosis/nephritis
Pyelonephritis
Abscesses
TB, tumours
Congenital cysts
Hydronephrosis
Are congenital cysts in pig kidneys rejected?
Autosomal defect in landrace kids. Reject affected part under category 3 - aesthetic
Are kidney infarcts in pigs rejected?
pyramidal wedges. Reject kidney category 2 and go look at the heart. If associated with valvular endocarditis, reject whole carcass
Are petechial haemorrhages in pigs rejected?
Just the kidneys or primary source somewhere else, must go look for this. Reject affected part on category 2
Is pyelonephritis rejected in pigs?
Reject affected part, check for systemic infection. Category 2
Is splenic torsion rejected in pigs?
Just the spleen = category 3. If septicaemia = systemic so category 2
Are auricular haematomas/cauliflower ears rejected in pigs?
Reject affected part under category 3. Category 2 if a secondary infection because of it. If coming from the same farm, inspect farm
Is corynebacterium suis in SMLN rejected in pigs?
Reject head at category 2
Is arthritis in pigs rejected?
Common in pigs from umbilical infections. Reject affected parts and then look at other joints, should this animal have been transported? Category 2 rejection of affected parts
Is jaundice in pigs rejected?
Carcass and offal are rejected as category 2 as don’t know what caused it
Is urticarial erysipelas rejected in pigs?
Only skin rejected for something zoonotic. Reject whole thing as zoonotic. Tradition is that only if there are cardiac signs or arthritis
Is congenital porphyria rejected in pigs?
Bones and teeth go brown – humans an cattle get photosensitisation and anaemia, not seen in pigs. Aesthetic so category 3. Systemic condition but not infectious but congenital
Is septicaemia rejected in pigs?
Reject carcass and offal immediately. Category 2. Bright red so easily identified
Is melanosis of abdominal fat rejected in pigs?
Abdominal fat looks like poppy seeds. Affected part rejected under category 3. Happen normally near teats, don’t know why
Is longissimus dorsi/PSE pork rejected in pigs?
Pale soft exudative pork – causes it from stress if the last 4 minutes before death. So if seen, can tell that if someone hasn’t done job right. Welfare indicator. Category 3 rejection of affected part. Can convince abattoirs to get welfare right in order to sell more meat
Is osteomyelitis rejected in pigs?
Dog sitting due to abscess in the spine following tail bite. Must split if got tail bite. Crushes spinal cord so rear end paralysis. Category 2 whole carcass unfit
What incisions are made into the bovine head at meat inspection?
- 2 incisions in the external masseter muscles, parallel to the plane of the mandible
- 1 incision of the internal pterygoid muscles
- Check for lump jaw. Incise = multiple cuts. Cut into cheek muscles to look for cystericercus and abscesses
How are the retropharyngeal lymph nodes incised and examined in bovine meat inspection?
Examine and incise retropharyngeal LN, as all LN in the head drain here – this will tell us f there is an infection in the head. But if we find something here, must examine the parotid and submaxillary LN, which is done in the UK for every animal as there is TB in the UK.
How is the bovine head inspected?
- Examine mandibular symmetry
- Incise submaxillary LN
- Incise parotid LN
- Incise masseter muscle parallel to plane of mandible
- Second incision of masseter derogated by FSA
- Repeat for other side
- Incise internal pterygoid muscles
- Push down on hyoid bone to raise retropharyngeal LN
- Incise retropharyngeal LN
What is the pneumonic for conditions of the bovine head?
MISSMAXFACTOR:
Malignant catarrhal fever
Infectious keratoconjunctivitis
Stomatitis
Sarcocysts
Melanosis
Actinobacillosis,actinomycosis
Xanthosis
Foot and mouth
Abscesses
Cysticercus bovis
Tuberculosis, tumours
Osteohaematochromatosis
Ringworm
How do legislations link together to form the procedures around bovine heads in meat inspection?
- Bovine head must be removed after 30s of bleeding must be skinned by the abattoir
- Must be inspected by government inspector
- Head is specified risk material due to brain category 1
- SRM category 1 and unfit for human consumption
What is assessed upon examination of the bovine tail?
- Faecal contamination
- Trauma (fractures at base of tail common if producers twist the tail of the animal)
What is the bovine tongue examined for?
- Contamination
- Actinobacillosis /wooden tongue
- Vesicles
- Trauma
- Tonsillar material must be removed from the tongue as it is SRM
How is the bovine liver inspected?
- Visual check of surfaces and of hepatic and pancreatic lymph nodes
- Palpation hepatic and pancreatic lymph nodes
- Incision of gastric surface
- Incision at base of caudate lobe to examine the bile ducts
Is fascioliasis and cholangitis in bovine rejected?
Get cholangitis as they irritate the bile ducts and feed in the serum released and then it gets so bad the ducts die off. Reject affects part under category 3 - aesthetic
Is telangiectasis/plum pudding liver rejected in bovine?
In older cattle and steers, peripheral nerve excitement from mounting. Reject affected part under category 3 - aesthetic
How is the bovine heart inspected?
A visual inspection of the pericardium and heart, the latter being incised lengthways so as to open the ventricles and cut through the interventricular septum. Check heart valves for vegetative endocarditis. Check cut surface for C.bovis.
Is vegetative endocarditis rejected in bovine?
Reject affected part under category 2. Check kidneys, if spread, then sign of systemic disease so reject whole carcass
Are sarcocysts rejected in bovine?
Tend to be associated with eosinophilic myositis so kind of green. Elongated and follow muscle fibres. Reject affect parts unless generalised, then reject whole carcass and offal under category 2
How are the bovine lungs inspected?
An inspection of the trachea and oesophagus, visual inspection and palpation of the lungs, incision and examination of the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes, looking for TB as it will show in these LN before the lungs. If going for human consumption, lengthways opening of the trachea and the main branches of the bronchi. The lungs shall be incised in the posterior third, perpendicular to their main axes, these incisions are not necessary where the lungs are excluded from human consumption. Mediastinal LN in the middle of lungs so fat incised a lot.
Is TB rejected in bovine lungs?
Reject affected part under category 2 and check for signs of systemic disease
Is lungworm rejected in bovine?
Can block bronchi and trachea. Reject affected part only under category 3 - aesthetic
Is pneumonia in bovine rejected?
Reject affected part under category 2 and check for signs of systemic disease
Are congenital kidney cysts rejected in bovine?
Can get congenital cysts, which can be cut around as they are lobulated – in pigs, reject whole. So reject only affected lobules under category 3 - aesthetic
Are uroliths in cattle rejected?
Reject affected part under category 3 - aesthetic. Worth a lot of money for traditional oriental medicine
How is green offal inspected in bovine meat inspection?
A visual inspection of the gastrointestinal tract, the mesentery, the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes, palpation of the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes. An incision of the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes.
What is assessed in carcass inspection in bovine meat inspection?
- A visual inspection of the pleura and the peritoneum
- A visual inspection of the genital organs (except for the penis, if already discarded)
- A visual inspection of the udder and its lymph nodes
- Checked for signs of pathology
- Checked for signs of visible contamination – E.coli
- Checked for signs of SRM – offence to present a carcass for inspection with SRM still contained such as a small piece of spinal cord
- Health marked if considered fit for human consumption
- Symmetry of carcass and joints
- Check pleura, diaphragm, peritoneum, spinal channel, neck and joints
- Check joints, lymph nodes, pelvic channel
How is the bovine spinal cord inspected in meat inspection?
A small piece is sometimes found at the base of the carcass where it breaks during removal. This can flick under the neck and this is enough to be prosecuted. Risk of BSE is reducing over time so happy to just warn but if keeps happening, prosecute.
What is presternal calcification/putty brisket? Is this rejected in bovine?
occurs when put in housed over winter and feed outside of bars and push against the bars and get pressure necrosis in the fat.
Reject affected parts under category 3 – aesthetic, can go for pet food
Which diseases is the UK not free from that have serious economic trade implications?
Bovine TB
Contagious Equine Metritis
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis
BSE
Avian influenza
Why is the age of the sheep important in meat inspection?
Over 1 year old, or have one or more permanent incisor erupted, to allow SRM to be removed from the carcass. Sheep heads for consumption must be under a year of age.
What is the specified risk material in sheep?
The skull including the brain and eyes, the tonsils and the spinal cord of animals aged over 12 months or which have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum
Is cysticercus tenuicolis rejected in sheep?
Migratory scarring from canine tapeworm larvae. Category 3 reject of liver only – aesthetic reject. When the cysts forms, this is infective to dogs and becomes category 2
Are echinococcus granulosus cysts in sheep rejected?
Form inside the substance of organs. 70% of sheep rejected in Wales for these. Reject affected part only under category 2 – can’t go into pet food
Are tumours rejected in sheep?
Only affected areas under category 2
Is enzootic pneumonia rejected in sheep?
Affects the cardiac lobes at the top. Reject affected part only under category 2
Is fibrinous pneumonia in sheep rejected?
Fibrinous pneumonia where it will resolve into an abscess, sticking the lung to the ribcage. Category 2 rejection of affected part only
Is vegetative endocarditis rejected in sheep?
Only cut into heart if we see infarcts in the kidneys. Rejected affected part under category 2 but reject whole carcass if infarction in kidneys
Why is kidney inspection vital in sheep?
Infections in the kidneys are either ascending infections from the urogenital system or bloodborne, if the latter there is indication of haematogenous spread.
Are kidney abscesses rejected in sheep?
Reject affected parts under category 2, reject whole carcass if signs of systemic infection
Are kidney infarctions rejected in sheep?
Reject affected part under category 2. Check carcass for signs of systemic disease
Is lymphosarcoma rejected in sheep?
Reject affected part under category 2, unless multiple organs or malignant
What is the mneumonia for splenic conditions?
LASTRASH:
Leukaemia
Anthrax
Septicaemia
Torsion - only in pigs where the spleen can twist
Redwater fever/babesia
Abscesses
Slaughter spleen - caused by pithing
Haematoma
Is septicaemia rejected in sheep?
Any septicaemia = spleen enlarges. Very enlarged with dark tarry blood, could be anthrax. Reject affected part under category 2, check for systemic infection
Is caseous lymphadenitis rejected in sheep?
Caseous lymphadenitis – goats is cottage cheese like, in sheep is like an onion with lamina layers in the abscess. LN and kidneys. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis wants to be taken by BWC to LN and get walled off by body system in abscess. Zoonotic but is only category 2 (Andy says chuck whole thing) so reject affected part but if find another, reject whole carcass
Is enteritis rejected in sheep?
Enteritis don’t know cause so have to reject this part under category 2, if systemic then reject whole carcass
Is monezia expansa rejected in sheep?
Not very pathogenic to sheep, cattle and deer and are really common. Intermediate stage is a grass mite so tends to be a farm problem. But doesn’t cause issues. Will be extruded from intestines during any further processing with intestinal contents for category 3.
Is oedema in sheep rejected?
Signs of a systemic problem with that animal, so generally will reject entire carcass for oedema under category 2.
How is visual inspection of she sheep carcass done in meat inspection?
- Check for contamination in pelvic channel with faecal pellets as sheep not bunged
- Check lymph nodes for signs of infection
- Palpate for signs of C.ovis, peritonitis
- Check for signs of pleuritis and contamination
- Inspect kidneys
- Check neck for signs of contamination and C.ovis
- Check kidneys – if need to look at heart and has lost correlation, can reject carcass immediately
- Check carcass for signs of swelling, abnormal joints and contamination
- visual inspection of genitals except from penis
Is arthritis in sheep rejected?
Can be opened as sheep and pigs can do ankylosis where infection can be replaced by bone, so have to open to see if infected. Reject this part under category 2 and also question how was brought in without pain and inspection needed.
Is cysticercus ovis in the abdominal wall of a sheep rejected?
Can’t cut into spinal lumbar region where these normally are so can get a lot of these as you can only reject wat you can see. Reject affected parts under category 2 and check carcass for signs of generalised infection
Is generalised lymphadenitis rejected in sheep?
Every LN enlarged = systemic infection = reject whole carcass under category 2
Is an emaciated sheep rejected?
Emaciated animal with oedema s didn’t undergo rigamortis – systemic disease so unfit for human consumption under category 2
Is a sheep with wool pull rejected?
Grabbed fleece, monitored in abattoirs, not like a normal bruise as it is capillary tearing rather than rupture so does not change colour over time so cannot age. Painful for sheep and must be trimmed in abattoir to remove and quality goes done and down due to petechial haemorrhaging throughout, so have to cut a cut hole in the side of the carcass.
Reject affected part under category 3 - aesthetic
List 7 differences between game meat inspection to that of cattle and sheep.
- No veterinary treatment
- Consumer expectations different in what constitutes fit to eat
- Antemortem not by veterinarian but trained hunter
- Gralloching and ABP disposal
- Game larder does not have to chilled
- You may not see the offal
- Pathogenic conditions in wild game are Cat 1
When should fresh game meat be declared unfit for human consumption?
Contains foreign bodies, except, in the case of wild game, material used to hunt the animal
Which wild animals are killed for human consumption?
Deer species
Wild boar
Rabbits, hares
Pheasants, partridge, grouse, pigeon, duck
Park game - if they are there and the meat is a byproduct, they are wild. If they are bred for meat, they are farmed
What is the hunter’s definition of wild game meat?
- Killed by hunting (by legal means in the allocated season)
- The mammals or birds are from a disease free area - not subject to Animal Health Restrictions
- The meat is prepared and handled in a hygienic manner
How are wild deer processed?
- Antemortem by trained hunter not by vet
- Gralloched – removal of green offal. Makes it lighter and easier to cool
Who must assess the game carcass?
1 member of a hunting team should have sufficient knowledge and training to undertake an initial on-the spot examination. This person is referred to as the Trained Person
If the hunter is not trained, communicated to the trained person. The carcass with offal must then be presented to the trained person
What is the issue with gralloching wild game?
In an abattoir, animal by-products must be categorised and stained and have permitted disposal routes for each category. But for wild game, can be left out for scavengers to each and parasites and diseases to spread.
Describe game larders.
Hygienic, vermin and fly-proof conditions and allow initial cooling.
Carcasses still have fur on
What is the protocol at game handling establishments?
- Where OV is - vet may not see the offal
- Meat of large wild game must be transported to a GHE as soon as possible after the examination by the hunter
- Large wild game may be transported to the GHE unskinned and with the head and viscera removed if it is accompanied by the declaration provided by the hunter
What is an anatomical difference in deer offal anatomy?
All cervids lack a gall bladder
What are the post mortem conditions of wild game?
Tuberculosis - unfit
Yersinosis - unfit
Contamination
Trauma Ectoparasites
Endoparasites
Brain abscesses
Describe the post mortem inspection of a deer with TB.
Often extensive spread throughout the body as they do not have treatment
How is visible contamination dealt in wild game?
- Gross contamination warrants rejection of the carcass
- Slight contamination should be trimmed never washed off
- Most commonly due to rupture/puncture of the alimentary tract during evisceration by poor technique or poor shot position
Why are most game species shot in the anterior thoracic cavity?
To get the heart. Want to keep heads and chest stays still as head moves up and down from prey species checking surroundings constantly, hydrostatic blood pressure that ruptures vessels in the heart with pressure. Exit shot always bigger than entry, this are must be rejected for human consumption
Are wild game RTAs fit for human consumption?
RTA are not killed by hunting so are illegal
What is the pathogenesis of ixodes ricinus in wild game?
Transmits lyme disease, tick pyaemia, tick paralysis and babesiosis
At GHE, all deer in chiller will have fur on. Ticks react to CO2, heat and movement. If you go into the chiller, you are the only thing that provides these things so will move very quickly to you (eject anaesthetics so won’t find them until later).
What is the pathogenesis of lipoptena cervi/deer ked?
When host deer found wings drop off and becomes permanent ectoparasite
What are the possible endoparasites found on wild game at post mortem?
Lungworm:
- Muellerius capillaris – shot like nodules in the lungs. Very common in sheep lungs
- Dictyocaulus viviparus areas of pneumonia
Canine tapeworm cysts:
- Cysticercus tenuicollis – forms on abdominal organs and forms fluid filled clear cysts with 1mm diameter white head
- Hydatid
Trematode:
-Fasciola hepatica – liver fluke
- Paramphistomum cervi – rumen fluke (deer have rumen)
Which game species are brain ancsesse common?
Deer, common in males, tends to be seasonal, coinciding with antler shedding and rutting season. Injury near pedicles leading to extended infection
What are the 3 slaughter options with religious stunning?
- Slaughter without pre-slaughter stunning for religious reasons
- Slaughter without pre-slaughter stunning for technical or economic reasons
- Slaughter with pre-slaughter stunning
What is halal slaughter?
Muslim slaughterman bleeds the animal whilst reciting a prayer
Some are not stunned in halal but legally they are allowed to do this
What is shechita?
- Takes 5 years to train and 3 years of this is how to keep the knife insanely sharp, make sure there are no knicks between each animal
- A kosher species must be slaughtered by a schochet, a ritual slaughter, since Jewish law prohibits causing any pain to animals, the slaughtering has to be effected in such a way that unconsciousness is instantaneous and death occurs almost instantly
- If pleurisy, don’t strip it out and pass carcass, but reject whole thing
Define trief, terefah and porging?
Trief – the Yiddish word for any form of non-kosher food
Terefah – a member of a kosher species of mammal or bird , disqualified from being considered kosher, due to pre existing mortal injuries or physical defects
Porging – it is forbidden to consume certain parts of the animal, such as certain fats and the sciatic nerves from the legs
According to the Qur’an, what can Muslim followers not consume?
- Pork or pork by products
- Animals that were dead prior to slaughtering
- Animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah
- Blood and blood by products
- Alcohol
- Carnivorous animals
- Birds of prey
- Land animals without external ears
What stunning methods are used in halal in the UK?
Captive bolt used on halal cartilage in UK
Head only electrical stunning in sheep
Why do we restrain animals?
To make sure what is being done is being done accurately and for health and safety of staff. With non-stun slaughter of cattle, neck restraint so as to no put head down when bleeding to rub cut parts together
What are the issues with restraining animals in halal?
- Injurious or stressful
- How long is the animal restrained before either stunning and/or slaughter?
- Where the animal is not stunned, does any physical activity of the animal whilst conscious cause pain, fear or distress
What is the EU and UK legislation around inverting cattle?
EU legislation allows inversion and UK do not allow inversion of cattle. UK require someone to bleed animal as soon as possible, as the longer it is in the box, the more stressful it will be. Plate touching the belly of the animal, start to fight this and get stressed. If any animal is not losing consciousness quick enough, will shoot
What happens in halal after stunning, if this done?
- Cattle cannot be inverted
- Operator must be ready to make the cut immediately
- Must have a belly plate to support the animal
- Animal must not be released until unconscious
- Cattle – minimum 30 seconds post cut (may (may not be long enough)
- Sheep/goats – minimum 20 seconds post cut
Is the cut pmade in halal painful?
Slaughter by ventral neck incision, without stunning, is painful
In cattle, this can be as long as 60 seconds or more
What are the times of loss of cortical responsiveness in slaughter and religious slaughter?
Thoracic stick = 17s
Ventral neck cut = 14s
In religious slaughter:
Thoracic stick is 17s
But beck stick has an average of 55s
Why does it take so long for cattle to die in bleeding in religious slaugher?
Takes so long in cattle due to vertebral arteries, as these continue up into the brain to the circle of willis in cattle, so blood flow changes and goes up through vertebral arteries to supply the brain for longer, neck holder to prevent blood going up to the brain by keeping head up. If they put head down, sheath can clot and continue to allow blood flow upwards
Why can’t you cut the vertebral arteries?
Vertebral arteries are not cut with neck sticking because they are protected by the vertebrae
