This study was conducted to investigate the causes and the effects of breed, gender and season on carcass condemnations post-mortem in a large South African abattoir. Condemnation of carcasses as a results of animal diseases and conditions has been identified as a problem in the South African beef industry, but the causes and extent of carcass condemnations have not been studied in detail. The importance of cattle management during transportation and pre-slaughter is generally appreciated, but a better understanding of the influence of breed, gender and season on the prevalence of carcass condemnations can help to improve slaughter management at large abattoirs. Diseases and conditions evaluated during this study were parafilaria, bruising, soiling, fever, peritonitis and pleuritis, abscesses, measles, oedema and intramuscular haemorrhage. Breeds of cattle slaughtered were Friesland, Bonsmara, Brahman, Angus, Afrikander, Hereford and Nguni cattle, grouped as males and females, and the seasonal effects investigated were confined to Autumn, Winter and Summer combined with Spring as it was not easy to distiquish between the two. Data was collected in a Grade A abattoir in South Africa in 2010. The experimental design involved 42 combinations based on their effects and interactions namely 7 breeds x 2 genders x 3 seasons. The model used in this procedure was based on the presence of conditions = (Intercept) x i x j x k where i~breed, j~gender and k~season. The binary response variable was the presence (value = 1) or absence (value = 2) of the respective condition. Overall, the significant order and extent of causes of bovine carcass condemnations evaluated in this particular abattoir during the period of study were peritonitis and pleuritis at 2.49%, soiling 2.33%, bruising 2.10%, parafilaria 0.54%, while other conditions had a negligible effect. Almost half of these carcass condemnations were due to soiling and bruising, which can be addressed by implementing better abattoir management and better management during transportation. Peritonitis and pleuritis were prevalent to a greater degree in Autumn, Soiling in Summer, bruising in winter and parafilaria more prevalent in Summer as well. Bonsmara bulls were more affected by peritonitis and pleuritis, soiling, bruising and parafilari compared to other breeds.. Overall breed, gender and season influenced carcass condemnations in large South African abattoir It is suggested that proper dehorning should be done at an early stage, especially in bulls of breeds like Bonsmara, Nguni, Friesland and Hereford, which predispose cattle to bruising which increases the number of carcass condemnations. Steps should be taken (i.e. proper handling techniques should be applied) to avoid injuries which may lead to internal bleeding, and eventually bruises (most probably due to fighting during transportation or in lairage), that can be avoided by using improved and upgraded facilities which include enough space per animal. In case of soiling, well-trained slaughter personnel, cattle handlers and cleaners should be hired to prevent bile and soil contamination during evisceration and to avoid mud or manure contamination durinmg lairage. It is recommended that employees be trained to help reduce the high rate of carcass condemnations. Breeds like Bonsmara and Brahman were more susceptible to peritonitis, pleuritis and parafilaria, so treatrment programmes are advisable for these breeds, especially those from regions where these conditions or diseases are more prevalent. / Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

Submitted by TACIANA APARECIDA DIESEL null (taciana@zootecnista.com.br) on 2016-03-02T14:22:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Taciana_Aparecida_Diesel.pdf: 1587902 bytes, checksum: aa49b26ef9f2ab9e698dcd9e3c0cc3c2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-03-04T13:14:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 diesel_ta_dr_jabo.pdf: 1587902 bytes, checksum: aa49b26ef9f2ab9e698dcd9e3c0cc3c2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-04T13:14:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 diesel_ta_dr_jabo.pdf: 1587902 bytes, checksum: aa49b26ef9f2ab9e698dcd9e3c0cc3c2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-03 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Esse trabalho avaliou a incidência de suínos NAI (non-ambulatory injured), NANI (non-ambulatory non-injured) e mortos no transporte e de condenações de carcaças suínas por fraturas, fraturas sacrais e hematomas; quantificou o impacto econômico causado por esses problemas e identificou os fatores responsáveis pela ocorrência deles em condições comerciais brasileiras. Foram avaliados 37.962 suínos oriundos de 60 granjas, transportados em 307 viagens, e destinados ao abate em três diferentes frigoríficos. Ao todo foram selecionadas 96 variáveis explicativas relacionadas ao ambiente, às instalações, ao manejo dos animais na granja, no embarque, no transporte, no desembarque e no período de descanso no frigorífico e à tipificação de carcaça. Os dados foram analisados por meio de modelos de regressão logística, utilizando-se o método stepwise para seleção dos fatores de risco e considerando o número de animais com problema em relação ao número de animais que foram embarcados em cada viagem. As perdas totais durante o transporte foram de 0,71% o que resultou na perda estimada de US$ 0,29 por animal abatido. A incidência de suínos NAI foi de 0,21%, e NANI de 0,37%. Das carcaças avaliadas, 0,83% foram totalmente condenadas e 3,71% foram parcialmente condenadas, sendo que as fraturas, fraturas sacrais e hematomas representaram, respectivamente, 0,47, 1,83 e 0,14%. Essas condenações representaram a perda média de 140 g de carcaça e US$ 0,25 por animal abatido. A inclinação, a largura e a localização do embarcadouro, a largura do corredor, o número de suínos, a densidade nas baias, a entalpia e o manejo no embarque, a temperatura, o tempo, a distância e a densidade no transporte, a espessura muscular e o peso médio de carcaça foram identificados como fatores de risco para as perdas no transporte ou para as condenações de carcaças. Portanto, alguns desses fatores estão sob o controle dos produtores e das agroindústrias e podem ser resolvidos com a aplicação de esforços conjuntos. / This study evaluated the incidence of NAI (non-ambulatory injured), NANI (non-ambulatory non-injured) and mortality on the pig transport and carcass condemnation by fractures, sacral fractures and bruise; quantified the economic impact of these problems and identified the factors leading to it in Brazilian commercial terms. We evaluated 37.962 pigs from 60 farms, transported in 307 trips and slaughtered at three different slaughterhouses. In all, were selected 96 explanatory variables linked to the environment, facilities and handling of animals on the farm, loading, transportation, unloading, the lairage period and carcass typification. Data were analyzed with logistic regression models, using the stepwise method for selection of risk factors and considering the number of animals with problem regarding the number of animals that were loaded on each trip. The total transport losses were 0.71%, resulting in an estimated loss of US$ 0.29 per pig slaughtered. The incidence of pigs NAI was 0.21%, while of NANI was 0.37%. In the total of carcasses assessed, 0.83% had total condemnation and 3.71% partial condemnation, the fractures, sacral fractures and bruises represented, respectively, 0.47, 1.83 and 0.14%. These condemnations represented an average loss in terms of 140 g carcass and US$ 0.25 per animal slaughtered. The slope, width and location of the ramp, the corridor width, the number of pigs and density at the pens, the enthalpy and handling at loading, the temperature, time, distance and density during transport, the muscle thickness and the carcass weight, were identified as risk factors for transport losses or carcass condemnations. Therefore, some of these factors are under the control of producers and agribusiness companies and could be solved with the application of joint efforts.