Injury and condemnation data of pigs at slaughterhouses with federal inspection in the State of Paraná, Brazil, as indicators of welfare during transportation

ABSTRACT: Pigs transportation is a critical stage for their welfare and can directly influence the rates of carcass condemnation. The objective of this research was to study the injuries and condemnation data recorded in the Federal Inspection System (SIF) as potential welfare indicators during pig transport. In federally inspected slaughterhouses in the State of Paraná, Brazil, from january 2011 to December 2016, 1.4% (602,006) of carcasses were condemned, 15.0% (90,426) as a result of injuries related to transportation. From total condemnation cases, 12.1% (72,759) were due to traumatic injury, 2.5% (15,144) to PSE, 0.4% (2,327) to dead on arrival and 0.03% (196) to other transportation welfare indicators. There was no correlation between the condemnation rates and the meteorological data. The results exposed the need for improvement in pig transport conditions. In addition, this study allowed us to point out possible improvements in the collection of nosographic data into the SIF’s Management Information System (SIGSIF), such as inclusion of other injuries associated with welfare restrictions, standardization of the terms that already exist in the system, improvement in the indicator measurements, development of regulations and training for professionals involved. Results suggested that SIGSIF data are useful for monitoring the welfare of pigs during transportation, with potential for refinement from improvements in data recording.

Hydatidosis, cysticercosis, and tuberculosis rates in bovine slaughtered under state sanitary inspection in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

ABSTRACT This study sought to evaluate the occurrence of lesions suggestive of hydatidosis, cysticercosis, and tuberculosis in animals slaughtered under sanitary inspection of the Divisão de Inspeção de Produtos de Origem Animal (DIPOA), in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Condemnation data between the years 2009 and 2017 were obtained from Secretaria da Agricultura Pecuária e Irrigação (SEAPI) and presented according to the administrative regions established by SEAPI. In that period, 7,509,544 cattle were slaughtered and condemnations occurred in all regions of the state at varying levels. The mean condemnation values showed the presence of hydatidosis in 523,399 (6.97%), cysticercosis in 92,277 (1.23%), and tuberculosis in 10,595 (0.14%) cattle carcasses. The mean values of hydatidosis diagnoses were higher in the regions of Alegrete (14.19%), Bagé (19.62%), and Pelotas (17.71%). The regions of Osório (1.86%), Santa Maria (2.10%), and São Luiz Gonzaga (1.83%) had highest rates of cysticercosis condemnations. All regions maintained an average bovine tuberculosis diagnosis rate of less than 1% and Estrela region had the highest index (0.70%). Results showed that the three diseases occurred in all regions of the state, the average prevalence rates in each region are variable, and distribution seems to be regionalized. This knowledge contributes to the plans for controlling these diseases, which are zoonoses that cause economic losses to the productive sector.

Assessment of Several Algorithms for Outbreak Detection using Bovine Meat Inspection Data for Syndromic Surveillance: A Pilot Study on Whole Carcass Condemnation Rate

Slaughterhouses are a potential source of data which is under-used for cattle health monitoring. The objective of this work was to assess the performance of several algorithms for outbreak detection based on weekly proportions of whole carcass condemnation. Data from 177,098 cattle slaughtered in one French slaughterhouse from 2005 to 2009 were used. The Shewart p chart, one-sided confidence interval of a negative binomial regression model, and EWMA and CUSUM on residuals of a negative binomial model were investigated. The highest sensitivity was obtained using negative binomial regression and the highest specificity using CUSUM or EWMA.

Swine Carcass Condemnation in Commercial Slaughterhouses

ABSTRACTObjective. The research was conducted to evaluate the main causes of carcass condemnation, as well as the financial loss caused by it, at a commercial slaughterhouse located in Dourados, MS, Brazil. Materials and methods. The data related to carcass condemnation, for the years 2007 to 2009 was obtained from a commercial slaughterhouse, located in the city of Dourados, MS, Brazil, and turned into a percentage of the total number of animals slaughtered during that period. The most frequent causes of carcass condemnation (total or partial) were grouped into classes (pleurisy + pneumonia; enteritis; arthritis; abscesses; fractures/hematomas + contusions + death). The financial loss by the slaughterhouse was estimated using the condemnation data. Results. The total rate of carcass condemnation was low and tended to stability (<0.45%). The most prevalent causes of condemnation during the study period were abscesses and death in the transport, which together accounted for approximately 40% of all condemnation. The condemnation due to health problems tended to decrease or to be stable over the years. However, the condemnations caused by management problems (abscesses, fractures, contusions and death) showed a significant increase. The average loss to the integrative company according to the carcasses condemnation was exceeding U$1,600,000.00 in the years studied. Conclusions. The main causes of carcass condemnation come from management failure. The annual loss by the company can be invested in the training of manpower in order to reduce the rates of carcass condemnation.

A retrospective study of the prevalence and seasonal variation of Fasciola gigantica in cattle slaughtered in the major abattoirs of Zimbabwe between 1990 and 1999

A retrospective study covering a period of 10 years (1990-1999) was conducted using post mortem meat inspection records of the Veterinary Department Information Management Unit at Harare to determine the prevalence and seasonal variation of bovine fasciolosis in Zimbabwe. Records of monthly and annual returns from five major abattoirs were examined in regard to total cattle slaughtered and the corresponding number of livers condemned due to Fasciola gigantica infection. Prevalence of fasciolosis was calculated as the number of cattle found to be infected with F. gigantica, expressed as a percentage of the number of cattle slaughtered. Seasonal variations in the prevalence were examined by pooling respective monthly condemnation data over a 10-year (1990- 1999) period. A total of 2 474 232 cattle were slaughtered during this period and 917 565 (37.1 %) of these cattle were infected with F. gigantica. The pattern of distribution of F. gigantica was significantly higher in cattle originating from catchment areas of high rainfall than in those of relatively low rainfall, and in those slaughtered during the wet season than those slaughtered during the dry season (P < 0.05). Based on the study findings a control programme for the disease in Zimbabwe is suggested.

A bivariate autoregressive model for estimation of prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle

Fasciolosis is a serious economic disease of cattle and sheep with a worldwide distribution. In the annual control of the disease, it is vital that the issue of specific veterinary advice on the strategic use of control measures should be based on precise estimates of the levels of risk of the occurrence of the disease. This paper describes the construction of a mathematical model to forecast the level of risk of the disease in cattle in any year. The model has been developed in Northern Ireland using a computerized information database retrieval system for abattoir condemnation data. The information recorded by the system details the specific cause and location of all condemnations in cattle, sheep and pigs for all abattoirs in Northern Ireland. Analysis of a subset of these data (1976 to 1991) for cattle resulted in a univariate time series model for the recorded prevalence of condemnations due to fasciolosis in cattle livers. The overall mathematical forecasting model was constructed by regressing the residual terms of the univariate time series model with the corresponding time series of all the key meteorological variables. The best model (R2 =0·8) was obtained using the mean air temperature for the period fune to August inclusive. The model could be adopted for use in any region of the world where relevant abattoir condemnation and meteorological data are available.

Time series analysis of the prevalence of Ascaris suum infections in pigs using abattoir condemnation data

In most regions of the world, condemnations of porcine livers are almost always due to parasitic Ascaris suum infections. Thus, accurate data for all abattoirs in a region will reflect the prevalence of this disease in the pig population of that region. In Northern Ireland, a computerized information database retrieval system for abattoir data has been available since 1986. The information recorded by the system details the specific cause and location of all condemnations in cattle, sheep and pigs for all abattoirs in Northern Ireland since 1969. In this paper, results of analysis of a subset of these data (1969 to 1989) for pigs is presented and a univariate time series model identified for the recorded prevalence of condemnations due to cirrhotic lesions in pig livers. The results of the analysis demonstrate a very highly significant upward trend in the occurrence of Ascaris suum infections. The residual terms for the model were correlated with the corresponding time series of all the key meteorological variables. The association between the level of lesions and the mean level of air temperature over the early summer period is highlighted. The overall proportion of variation accounted for in the time series of the annual level of cirrhotic condemnations was 96%.