Routine postmortem examination of a carcass should be carried out as soon as possible after the completion of dressing in order to detect any abnormalities so that products only conditionally fit for human consumption are not passed as food. All organs and carcass portions should be kept together and correlated for inspection before they are removed from the slaughter floor.
Postmortem inspection should provide necessary information for the scientific evaluation of pathological lesions pertinent to the wholesomeness of meat. Professional and technical knowledge must be fully utilized by:
- viewing, incision, palpation and olfaction techniques.
- classifying the lesions into one of two major categories - acute or chronic.
- establishing whether the condition is localized or generalized, and the extent of systemic changes in other organs or tissues.
- determing the significance of primary and systemic pathological lesions and their relevance to major organs and systems, particularly the liver, kidneys, heart, spleen and lymphatic system.
- coordinating all the components of antemortem and postmortem findings to make a final diagnosis.
- submitting the samples to the laboratory for diagnostic support, if abattoir has holding and refrigeration facilities for carcasses under detention.
Carcass judgement
Trimming or condemnation may involve:
- Any portion of a carcass or a carcass that is abnormal or diseased.
- Any portion of a carcass or a carcass affected with a condition that may present a hazard to human health.
- Any portion of a carcass or a carcass that may be repulsive to the consumer.
Localized versus generalized conditions
It is important to differentiate between a localized or a generalized condition in the judgement of an animal carcass. In a localized condition, a lesion is restricted by the animal defense mechanisms to a certain area or organ. Systemic changes associated with a localized condition may also occur. Example: jaundice caused by liver infection or toxaemia following pyometra (abscess in the uterus).
In a generalized condition, the animal's defense mechanisms are unable to stop the spread of the disease process by way of the circulatory or lymphatic systems. The lymph nodes of the carcass should be examined if pathological lesions are generalized. Some of the signs of a generalized disease are:
- Generalized inflammation of lymph nodes including the lymph nodes of the head, viscera and/or the lymph nodes of the carcass
- Inflammation of joints
- Lesions in different organs including liver, spleen kidneys and heart
- The presence of multiple abscesses in different portions of the carcass including the spine of ruminants
Generalized lesions usually require more severe judgement than localized lesions.
Acute versus chronic conditions
Acute conditions
An acute condition implies that a lesion has developed over a period of some days, whereas a chronic condition implies the development of lesions over a period of some weeks, months or years. A subacute condition refers to a time period between an acute and chronic condition.
The acute stage is manifested by inflammation of different organs or tissues, enlarged haemorrhagic lymph nodes and often by petechial haemorrhage of the mucosal and serous membranes and different organs such as heart, kidney and liver. An acute stage parallels with the generalized disease complex, when an acute infection tends to overcome the animal's immune system and becomes generalized.
Each case showing systemic lesions should be assessed individually taking into account the significance that these lesions have towards major organ systems, especially the liver, kidneys, heart, spleen and lymphatic system as well as the general condition of the carcass.
Chronic conditions
In a chronic condition, inflammation associated with congestion is replaced by adhesions, necrotic and fibrotic tissue or abscesses. The judgement in the chronic stage is less severe and frequently the removal of affected portions is required without the condemnation of the carcass. However, judgement on the animal or carcass judgement tends to be more complicated in subchronic and sometimes in peracute stages. If generalized necrotic tissue is associated with previous infection, carcass must be condemned.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE ON THIS LINK FOR MORE PROCEDURES