Analysis of Veterinary and Sanitary Inspection in Russian Federation Subjects

The paper represents the analysis of the key parameters specifying the food safety system in the Russian Federation as of January 1, 2020. Such issues as competence of the veterinary experts and laboratories in the field of veterinary and sanitary inspection as well as availability of the necessary equipment including equipment for radiometric tests were particularly considered. Implementation of the internal audit procedure by the veterinary and sanitary testing laboratories was assessed. Data on the availability of the slaughterhouses and slaughter units/facilities for emergency slaughter as well as their staffing with the veterinarians are demonstrated. The study results indicate that 39% of the laboratories are not equipped with the necessary laboratory equipment; 8% of the laboratories perform tests using non-calibrated laboratory equipment, and only 2/3 of the laboratories are covered by the regular internal audits. Evidence of insufficient control over the attestation of the veterinarians involved in the veterinary and sanitary expertise was identified. Moreover, insufficient number of slaughter facilities and veterinary and sanitary testing laboratories in the regions of the country was highlighted as well as inadequate staffing of the laboratories with the veterinarians responsible for the official control of the compliance with the veterinary rules and technical regulations and for the veterinary and sanitary inspections. Therefore, in some regions of the country the national veterinary services lack any capacities necessary to perform the emergency slaughter of the diseased and suspect animals in the isolated and controlled environment with the subsequent on-site storage and decontamination of the slaughter products or their disposal or destruction. The study results demonstrate a number of gaps in the veterinary and sanitary inspection system thus indicating the need for corrective actions to be taken both on the federal and local levels.

On-site veterinary and sanitary examination of emergency slaughtered poultry

The paper reports the veterinary culling rates and emergency slaughter statistics at poultry factories; it also analyses the veterinary and sanitary quality of carcasses of culled poultry in comparison to that of a healthy population. This analysis identifies organoleptic, physical, chemical, and microbiological differences between the two categories of meat. Finally, based on this data, the paper draws recommendations on the most optimal and safe use of meat produced by emergency slaughter.

Evaluation of muscle tissue and liver glycogen of cattle submitted to transport over long distances and subjected to emergency slaughter

ABSTRACT The study evaluated the effect of transportation over long distances on cattle muscle tissue of submitted to emergency slaughter in slaughterhouses in northern Tocantins, Brazil. The evaluations consisted in pH, muscle and liver glycogen, muscle histopathology and creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. Animals were placed into two groups: Experimental Group (EG), consisting of 19 bovines intended for immediate emergency slaughter, and Control Group (CG), composed of 24 bovines slaughtered in accordance with the normal flow. CK and ALT levels were high in EG. AST did not differ between groups. EG showed higher muscle pH and mean of degenerate fibers, mainly on the intercostal. However, muscle and liver glycogen did not differ between groups. In conclusion, cattle transported over long distances and subjected to immediate emergency slaughter showed markedly stress condition, with changes in biochemical parameters in the muscle tissue, determined by cellular degeneration.

Emergency slaughters in pigs in the CzechRepublic during the period of 1997–2002

The aim of the present work was to determine the most frequent causes of emergency slaughters in pigs and the trends of future development. Records from emergency slaughters of pigs all over the CzechRepublic were studied for the period of 1997–2002. The causes of emergency slaughters were divided into the following groups: infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, digestive diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, complications post partum, diseases of miscellaneous aetiology. The trends of future development were determined as an index equal to the ratio of relative occurrence of the findings during the period of 2000–2002 to the same figures from the period of 1997–1999. Musculoskeletal diseases were the most frequently found condition (42.39%) with stable figures in the long term (index 1.00). Neither any significant increase nor decrease in the occurrence of this type of diseases were found. Furthermore there was also high occurrence of the diseases of miscellaneous aetiology (29.51%), accounting in particular for the disease of the heart, liver and kidneys. There was a slightly increasing trend in this category of diseases (index 1.16), which was confirmed to be highly significant. The occurrence of respiratory diseases was also high (21.21%), showing the trend of slight decrease (index 0.88), which was nevertheless highly significant. The cases of emergency slaughter were reflected in the total number of condemnations in porcine carcasses (27.56%). This figure showed long-term increase (index 1.19), which was confirmed to be highly significant. It can be concluded that appropriate measures are necessary for the improvement of health status of pigs and reduction of numbers of emergency slaughters. Such measures should be in particular aimed at prevention of musculoskeletal diseases.

Emergency slaughter of pigs due to immobility

Immobility of pigs is a reason for emergency slaughter. The goal of this project was to determine the proportion of emergency slaughters due to immobility in pigs. In a selected pig slaughter facility, emergency slaughters were monitored in the period between 1997 and 2002 and the numbers of pigs slaughtered due to immobility reasons were monitored. The conclusion was that the proportion of sows slaughtered due to immobility reasons is high (31.3%) in comparison to other pigs (9.7%) and this difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01).  The objective of the project was also to determine the causes of immobility in emergency slaughtered pigs. Veterinary carcass, meat and organs inspections revealed that locomotor apparatus diseases (pelvic injuries, spinal contusion injuries or injuries of limbs, hind limb paresis, limb injuries, joint and claw inflammations) were more frequent causes of emergency slaughters due to immobility in pigs than general and other conditions (cachexia and gastrointestinal tract disorders, ataxia, tetany, circulation disorders including heart insufficiency, post-delivery complications, selection and others). In sows, the number of immobile animals with the diagnosis of locomotor apparatus diseases was high (90.0%) in comparison to the general condition and other disease diagnoses (10.0%); the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). In other pigs, the number of immobile animals with the locomotor apparatus disease diagnosis was particularly high (96.4%) in comparison to the general condition and other disease diagnoses (3.6%); the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). The results evidence that in sows as well as in other pigs, immobility necessitating emergency slaughters is due to unsuitable handling resulting in injuries and pareses of the locomotor apparatus rather than insufficient care leading to general conditions and other diseases.