Analysis of the most common causes of viscera condemnation in pigs (liver, kidney, heart), in a slaughterhouse of Costa Rica, and its economical implication

Abstract

This is an analysis of the causes and costs of rejection of viscera from the daily post-mortem meat inspection records from a slaughterhouse located in the Metropolitan area of the Central Valley. The records examined date from 2007 to the first semester of 2009. They were analyzed taking into consideration the following factors: month, year, affected organ and cause. The economical losses were calculated taking into account the quantity of organs rejected and averaging the weight in kilograms and the price by kilogram. During the recorded period, 562 843 animals were slaughtered. Kidney was the main viscera rejected. Cysts caused 48.9 % of the rejections, 22.2 % was because of contamination and 10 % due to nephritis. Some causes of liver rejection were milk spots (48.8 %), contamination (28.9 %) and congestion (9.3 %). Hearts rejection was due to pericarditis (35.6 %), contamination (32.2 %) and adhesions (24.5 %). There was no statistical difference in the lesion report rate or number of organs rejected during the different months and years. The direct financial loss from the viscera rejection during this period was $ 254 048.1. It is necessary to continue the studies looking for minimizing the factors contributing to viscera condemnation, with the aim of using this information as a diagnostic tool in preventive medicine.