Post-mortem Inspection

POST-MORTEM INSPECTION

        Post-mortem inspection is defined as examination of dressed carcass, their organs including blood immediately after slaughter to produce wholesome meat, in a hygienic manner under adequate amount of light by a qualified meat inspector.

Points do be followed while conducting post-mortem

  • Slaughtering is limited to certain specified hours, which will be convenient to the Inspector, butcher and purchasing public.
  • There should be sufficient time and light for inspection after slaughter.
  • Slaughtering should be done as far as possible in the presence of the Inspector by any of the popular methods.
  • The animal is bled, skinned (the preliminary portion only done in cattle), the feet removed, the carcass is hauled up, off the ground and further skinning carried out
  • The abdomen is then incised and the abdominal organs allowed falling in front for the Inspector to inspect them.
  • The organs are then received into a handcart and wheeled to a little distance on one side.
  • Uniform procedure to be followed.  The outline of the total procedure should be drawn and should be followed step by step. 
  • Never skip any step.
  • Record the age, sex, and give a number to the animal (Carcass).
  • While inspecting an organ, always look for the associated lymph nodes and look for abnormalities.  
  • Post-mortem inspection is the examination of the carcass after dressing is completed and done as early as possible.
  • If the examination is delayed, particularly in beef and pork carcasses, which set rapidly the examination of the carcass lymph nodes is more difficult. 
  • The main purpose of post-mortem examination is to detect and eliminate abnormalities, including contamination, thus ensuring that only meat fit for human consumption is passed for food. 
  • The other subsidiary important aspects are checking the efficiency of slaughter and carcass dressing techniques and diagnosis of disease conditions for disease control purpose.
  • Many abnormalities, which may not be evident on ante-mortem examination affecting the animals, may be detected at post-mortem inspection.
Last modified: Wednesday, 12 October 2011, 9:40 AM