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 The objectives of meat inspection program are two-fold:

MEAT SCIENCE AND TEHNOLOGY
Antemortem and Postmortem
Examination
DR. M. TARIQ JAVED
Department of Pathology,
Faculty of Veterinary Science,
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Web: https://sites.goocities.ws/mtjaved
Email: mtjaved@uaf.edu.pk
1. To ensure that only apparently healthy animals are slaughtered
for human consumption
2. To ensure that meat from animals is free from disease,
wholesome and of no risk to human health
 These objectives are achieved by ante-mortem and postmortem
inspection procedures and by hygienic dressing with minimum
contamination
 Whenever appropriate the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
(HACCP) principles should be used: The inspection procedures
should be appropriate to the spectrum and prevalence of diseases
and defects present in a particular class of livestock being
inspected using the principles of risk assessment

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Antemortem Inspection
 Some of the major objectives of antemortem inspection are as
follows:
ANTEMORTEM AND POSTMORTEM ◼ To screen all animals destined to slaughter
◼ To ensure that animals are properly rested
INSPECTION OF FOOD ANIMALS ◼ Proper clinical information, which will assist in the disease
diagnosis and judgement, is obtained.
◼ To reduce contamination on the killing floor by separating the
dirty animals and condemning the diseased animals if required
by regulation

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◼ To ensure that injured animals or those with pain and suffering

 Both sides of an animal should be examined at rest and in motion
receive emergency slaughter and that animals are treated
humanely  Antemortem examination should be done within 24 hours of
◼ To identify reportable animal diseases to prevent floor slaughter and repeated if slaughter has been delayed over a day
contamination
 Animals affected with extensive bruising or fractures require
◼ To identify sick animals and those treated with antibiotics, emergency slaughter
chemotherapeutic agents, insecticides and pesticides
 Animals showing clinical signs of disease should be held for
◼ To require and ensure the cleaning and disinfection of trucks
veterinary examination and judgement, and should be separated
used to transport livestock.

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 The disease and management history should be recorded and  The inspection is done in adequate lighting, animals can be
reported on an A/M inspection card observed both collectively and individually, at rest and motion
 Other information should include:  The general behavior, nutritional status, cleanliness, signs of
diseases and abnormalities should be noted
1. Owner's name
 Some abnormalities checked on antemortem examination include:
2. The number of animals in the lot and arrival time
1. Abnormalities in respiration (frequency)
3. Species and sex of the animal
2. Abnormalities in behavior
4. The time and date of antemortem inspection
 Walking in circles or show an abnormal gait or posture
5. Clinical signs and body temperature if relevant
 Pushing its head against a wall
6. Reason why the animal was held
 Charging at various objects and acting aggressively
7. Signature of inspector
 Showing a dull and anxious expression in the eyes

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3. Abnormalities in gait
5. Abnormalities in structure and conformation
 Pain in the legs, chest or abdomen
 Swellings (abscesses, tumors)
 Indication of nervous disease
 Enlarged joints
4. Abnormalities in posture
 Umbilical swelling (hernia or omphalophlebitis)
 Tucked up abdomen
 Enlarged sensitive udder -- mastitis
 The animal may stand with an extended head and stretched out
 Enlarged jaw (“lumpy jaw”)
feet
 The animal may also be laying and have its head turned along  Bloated abdomen
its side

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6. Abnormal discharges or protrusions from body openings

6. Abnormal odour
 discharges from the nose, excessive saliva from the mouth, etc.
 odour of an abscess, medicine, stinkweed (several scented
 protruding from the rectum (prolapsed rectum)
plants – datura, cannabis, etc.) or acetone odour of ketosis
 protruding from the vagina (prolapsed uterus)

 growths on the eye

 If abattoirs have no accommodation station or yards for animals, then
 bloody diarrhoea antemortem judgement must be performed at the time of admission
7. Abnormal colour of animals to be slaughtered
 red areas on light coloured skin (inflammation),

 dark blue areas on the skin or udder (gangrene)

 Yellow discoloration of mucus membranes (Jaundice)

 Red discoloration of the skin (Porphyria, etc.)

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Postmortem inspection
 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
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5. Coordinating all the components of antemortem and
postmortem findings to make a final diagnosis.
6. Submitting the samples to the laboratory for diagnostic
support, if abattoir has holding and refrigeration facilities for
carcasses under detention
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 Professional and technical knowledge must be fully utilized by:
1. Viewing, incising, palpation, etc.
2. Classifying the lesions into acute or chronic.
3. Establishing whether the condition is localized or generalized,
and the extent of systemic changes in other organs or tissues.
4. Determine 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
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Acute versus chronic conditions
Acute
 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
 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.
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Chronic
 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 whole carcass.
 If generalized necrotic tissue is associated with previous infection,
carcass must be condemned.
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◼ Some of the signs of a generalized disease are:
1. Generalized inflammation of lymph nodes including the
lymph nodes of the head, viscera and/or the lymph nodes of
the carcass
2. Inflammation of joints
3. Lesions in different organs including liver, spleen kidneys
and heart
4. 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.
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Localized versus generalized conditions
 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.
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 Trimming or condemnation may involve:
1. Any portion of a carcass or a whole carcass that is abnormal or
diseased
2. Any portion of a carcass or a whole carcass affected with a
condition that may present a hazard to human health.
3. Any portion of a carcass or a whole carcass that may be
repulsive to the consumer.
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HEAD
 Lymph Nodes: Submaxillary, parotid,
◼ Multiple incision or slicing
GUIDELINES FOR MINIMUM POSTMORTEM  Tongue: View and palpate
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS  The oesophagus of all cattle and calves should be separated
from its attachment to the trachea and viewed.
 Cattle and calves over the age of 6 weeks for Cysticercus bovis,
the muscles of mastication should be viewed, and one or more
linear incisions made parallel to the lower jaw into the external
and internal muscles of mastication

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VISCERA Liver
Lungs  View and palpate entire surface.

 View and palpate: the bronchi should be opened  View the gall bladder.

up by a transverse incision across the  For cattle over 6 weeks of age, incise as deemed appropriate to
diaphragmatic lobes detect liver flukes. Open large bile ducts.
 Bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes: incise  For sheep, pigs and game, incise as deemed appropriate for

Heart Bronchial left (No. 1) and right (No. 2)

parasite.
 View after the removal of the pericardium
and mediastinal (No. 3) lymph nodes  Lymph nodes: Portal (hepatic), view and incise

 Lengthwise incisions (minimum four) from base to

apex into the heart muscles
 The heart of all cattle and calves over the age of 6
weeks should be inspected for Cysticercus bovis
 Observe cut surfaces portal (hepatic) lymph nodes (No. 1) and opened large bile duct (No. 2)

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Spleen CARCASS
 Palpate. General
Gastrointestinal tract  Examine carcasses (including musculature, exposed bones, joints,
 View rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum tendon sheaths, etc.) to determine any signs of disease or defect.
 Mesenteric lymph nodes , view and incise  Attention should be paid to bodily condition, efficiency of
bleeding, colour, condition of serous membranes (pleura and
Kidneys peritoneum), cleanliness and presence of any unusual odours
 View and Incise.
Uterus
 adults, view

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Lymph nodes
 Superficial inguinal (male) - Palpate
 Supramammary (female) - Palpate
 External and internal iliac - Palpate
 Prepectoral - Palpate (Brisket)
 Popliteal - Palpate (knee pit)
 Renal - Palpate or incise if disease is suspected.
 Prescapular & prefemoral - Palpate

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