Abattoir Practices and Animal Products Technology

ROUTINE POST-MORTEM INSPECTION OF BOVINES - ORGANS

Post-mortem inspection of a beef carcass and its organs should proceed in the following order, which should always be adhered to:

Head

• The outer surfaces and eyes are to be examined initially. The gums, lips and tongue for foot and mouth disease, necrotic and other forms of stomatitis, actinomycosis and actinobacillosis are to be inspected. The tongue is palpated from dorsum to tip. Incisions of internal and external masticatory muscles for cysticercus-bovis are made parallel to the lower jaw.
• Retropharyngeal, submaxillary and parotid lymph nodes are incised for T.B. lesions. Roaring in cattle is associated with enlargement of retropharyngeal lymph nodes and about 50 per cent roaring is due to T.B. or encapsulated abscesses. The tonsils of cattle and pigs frequently harbour T.B. bacilli and should always be examined and removed as unfit for food, even though apparently normal.
• In young unthrifty cattle showing symptoms of cerebral disturbances or incoordination of movements, the brain should be exposed and search made for tuberculous meningitis, for evidence of tubercles in the brain substance or T.B. of the spinal cord.

Lungs

• The bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes are to be incised for T.B. and the lungs substances should be exposed by a deep long incision from the base to the apex of each lung. If there is an adhesion in the chest cavity it indicates some form of lung or peritoneal disease. If the lung tissue is of a grayish or yellowish appearance and in masses or nodules it indicates tuberculosis.
• A healthy lymphatic gland is of a pale brown colour throughout and tuberculosis lymph glands contain small white nodules and or a semisolid cheese like grayish white or yellowish mass.
• Visual examination followed by palpation should be carried out for pleurisy, pneumonia, tuberculosis, fascioliasis, hydatid cysts, etc.

Heart

• Pericardium should be examined for traumatic or T.B. pericarditis.
• While incising the heart ventricles attention is to be paid to petechial haemorrhages on the epicardium or endocardium or for cysticerci or hydatid cysts in the myocardium is often associated with septic conditions in the cattle.

Liver

• A visual examination is to be made for fatty changes due to actinobacillosis, abscesses and parasitic infections such as hydatid cysts, Cysticercus bovis, fascioliasis and the larval stages of oesophagostomum.
• A routine incision should be made in the thin left lobe for fascioliasis. The portal lymph nodes should be incised.

Stomach and intestines

• The serous membranes of these organs may show evidence of T.B. or Actinobacillosis.
• Anterior aspect of reticulum may show evidence of penetration by a foreign body.
• Mesenteric lymph nodes should be incised for T.B. (or Linguatulae nodules).

Spleen

• The surface and substances should be examined for T.B, anthrax, heamotomata or the presence of infarcts.

Uterus

• Has to be opened and examined for septic conditions, evidence of pregnancy or of recent parturition in a well bled and well-set carcass are of no significance.

Udder

• Should be carefully examined by multiple deep incisions about 2 inches apart, for mastitis or abscesses, supramammary lymph nodes even in dry cow should be incised for evidence of T.B.