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 malnutrition
6. 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