Partial condemnations of swine carcasses — a descriptive study of meat inspection findings at Southwestern Finland's Cooperative Slaughterhouse

Abstract

Meat inspection findings at Finland's largest abattoir, Southwestern Finland's Cooperative Slaughterhouse (LSO), are described with special reference to partial carcass condemnations (PCC). Of the 714 458 pigs slaughtered in 1991, 0.64% were totally and 3.62% partially condemned. Liver, and other organ condemnation percentages were 3.22% and 1.50%, respectively. Partial condemnations were mostly due to arthritis (50.0%) and abscesses (35.5%). Monthly indices created by time series analysis suggested the highest risk for PCC in October and May. The lowest indices were for December and August. The higheest risk for abscesses was in spring, and for joint infections in October. There were large variations in PCC percentage between the three slaughter plants of LSO as well as between the nine supply areas. The PCC percentage of the sampled all in-all out finishing units ( N=433 in 1990, N=442 in 1991) varied from 0 to 10%. Farm size had a statistically significant but, practically neglible association with PCC. A strong association between slaughter weight (analyzed on an individual level) and PCC percentage was found. The risk of PCC increased as the slaughter weight decreased. The average amount of meat wasted per partial condemnation was 4.11 kg in 1991. The direct costs of PCC were 27.12 FMK kg −1 condemned meat (1 FMK or 1 Finnish mark is equal to about US$0.2), 111,43 FMK per condemnation, 4.04 FMK per slaughtered pig, and totalled 2.88 million FMK. The average weight of totally condemned carcasses was 50.3 kg. Direct annual costs of whole carcass condemnations were estimated to be 3.86 million FMK in 1991. Price deductions due to liver condemnations were 0.17 million FMK, 7.43 FMK per rejection. Other organ condemnation costs were 0.37 million FMK, 34.21 FMK per rejection. An estimation of the direct costs of all condemnations was 10.20 FMK per slaughtered pig, and totalled 7.28 million FMK. All the other condemnations except liver condemnations were positively correlated with PCC. Mortality in the finishing unit was also positively correlated with PCC.