Thesis (MSc Food Sc (Food Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fresh ostrich meat competes in well regulated and competitive international markets; therefore food quality and safety are of the utmost importance. At the same time the production process must be well controlled to be cost effective. Losses in meat yield through bruising and the trimming thereof as well as a high initial microbial load that causes a decrease in shelf-life is thus undesirable. The main objectives of this study were firstly to investigate the expected prevalent microbial growth on ostrich meat as well as possible environmental contaminants to establish which bears the greatest risk. Secondly to establish the best practice of removing bruised areas from carcasses from both a microbiological and meat yield perspective. Lastly to investigate bruises on carcasses to predict the possible causes thereof so as to minimize bruising during transport and handling. From this study it was concluded that the prevalent growth on carcasses was predominantly Grampositive which increased ten fold from post-evisceration to post-chilling, this was also associated with a marked increase in Gram-negative organisms. The most dangerous vector for contamination was found to be standing water containing Gram-negative human pathogens including Shigella, Salmonella and E. coli. Bruises to the necks (52.58% of all bruises) were the most frequent, the high side railings on transport trucks the probable cause thereof. It was indicated that aerobic viable counts decreased after cold trimming, where the opposite occurred on warm trimmed surfaces, while the average loss in meat yield per bird due to bruising was smaller for cold trimming. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vars volstruisvleis kompeteer in goed gereguleerde en kompeterende internasionale markte; dus is voedselkwaliteit en –veiligheid baie belangrik. Terselfdertyd moet die produksieproses goed beheer word en koste effektief wees. Verliese aan vleisopbrengs as gevolg van kneusings en die verwydering daarvan, sowel as ‘n hoë inisiële mikro-organisme lading wat ‘n verkorte rakleeftyd tot gevolg het, is dus ongewens. Die hoofdoelwitte van die studie was eerstens om die verwagte mikro-organisme groei op volstruisvleis en op moontlike omgewings kontaminasie bronne te ondersoek om vas te stel watter bronne die grootste risiko dra vir besmetting. Tweedens om die beste praktyd vir die verwydering van kneusings van die volstruiskarkasse te bepaal uit beide ‘n mikrobiologiese en vleisopbrengs oogpunt. Laastens om die omvang en verspreiding van karkaskneusings te ondersoek om die oorsaak daarvan te probeer aandui en sodoende kneusings tydens vervoer en hantering te verminder. Uit die studie was die volgende duidelik; die mikrobiese groei op karkasses was hoofsaaklik Gram-positief, tellings het tienvoudig toegeneem vanaf ontweiding tot na verkoeling, met ‘n gepaardgaande merkbare toename in Gram-negatiewe organismes. Die gevaarlikste oorsaak van omgewingskontaminasie was staande water wat Gram-negatiewe menslike patogene (insluitend; Shigella, Salmonella en E. coli) bevat het. Nekkneusings (52.58% van all kneusings) was die algemeenste; met die hoogte van die kantreëlings van die volstruistrokke die moontlike oorsaak daarvan. Dit is bewys dat die aerobe mesofiele plaattelings afgeneem het na koue verwydering, maar dat die teenoorgestelde gesien is op warm gesnyde areas; die gemiddelde verlies in vleisopbrengs per volstruis as gevolg van kneusingverwydering is kleiner tydens koue verwydering.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Daniel U. Thomson / A series of studies were conducted in order to develop, test, implement, and utilize an objective and comprehensive gross pathology scoring system for cattle at slaughter. Individual lung, liver, and rumen gross pathology data was collected from 19,229 head of cattle and corresponding individual pre-harvest and carcass data for a subset of 13,226 head.. Across the entire population 22.6% and 9.8% of cattle displayed mild and severe lesions, respectively. Severe lung lesions at the time of slaughter were associated with a decreased ADG of 0.07 kg/ day and a carcass weight 7.1 kg less than that of their cohorts with no visible signs of pulmonary BRDC lesions (P < 0.01). Overall, 68.6 % of cattle observed had normal livers, free from abscesses and other abnormalities. Cattle with a severe liver abscess at the time of slaughter were associated with a 0.10 kg/day during the feeding period (P < 0.01). Of cattle severely affected by liver abscesses (A+, 4.6%), 14.9% also displayed severe BRDC lung lesions and 28.3 % of cattle displayed mild BRDC lung lesions. Rumenitis lesions were observed in 24.1% of the overall study population. Severe rumenitis lesions were associated with a significant decrease in average daily gain and carcass weight (0.03kg/day and 2.20 kg, respectively, P < 0.01). The system was also implemented on a population of cull cows at a commercial abattoir in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. (n=1,461; 87% Holstein, 13% other cows). Severe liver abscesses, were observed in 18.5% of cull cows at slaughter. Severe rumenitis lesions or rumenitis scars were observed in 10% and severe BRDC lesions were observed in 10.3% o of the population. A prospective study of a commercially available, direct fed microbial oral drench of Megasphaera elsdenii (NCIMB 41125) was conducted in 4,863 head of yearling feeder cattle. No significant effects of treatment were detected for final live weight (599 vs. 601 kg; P=0.79) or hot carcass weight (386 vs. 387 kg P=0.81) for Con and M.e., respectively. Fourteen point two percent and 14.0% of Con and M.e., respectively displayed a liver abscess of varying severity at the time of slaughter. Overall, 8.27 and 7.96% % of Con and M.e. cattle were observed with an altered rumen epithelial health status. The ordinal odds ratio of a M.e. treated animal having a more severe liver abscess score or rumen health score was not significant (Estimate: 0.96, 95% C.L. 0.733-1.259, P=0.771; Estimate: 1.01, 95% C.L. 0.625-1.63 P=0.96, respectively.) Comprehensive monitoring of gross pathology at slaughter is commercially plausible and provides valuable data for veterinarians, nutritionists and management personnel.