Veterinary meat inspection of bovine carcasses in the Czech Republic during the period of 1995-2002

Abstract

The results of veterinary meat inspection classification of 4 000 372 bovine carcasses reflect long-term aspects of health status in cattle herds and the quality of transport and handling of animals at slaughterhouses. Veterinary inspectors recorded the data obtained from meat inspection classification of bovine carcasses at slaughterhouses in the CzechRepublicduring the period of 1995–2002 together with the reasons for classification. The trends were evaluated by a comparison of two periods (Period I, 1995–1998, and Period II, 1999–2002) by means of calculating the indexes of values from Period II compared to those of Period I. Bovine carcasses classified as capable for human consumption (edible) were found in 87.87% of cases (88.83% during Period I and 86.58% during Period II, index 0.97), while those classified as capable for processing (conditionally edible) were found in 7.53% of cases (7.38% during Period I and 7.71% during Period II, index 1.04), and those condemned in 4.60% of cases (3.79% during Period I and 5.71% during Period II, index 1.51). The most important reason for classifying the carcasses as condemned was the finding of sensorial changes in meat, which occurred in 2.56% of cases (2.23% during Period I and 3.00% during Period II, index 1.35), followed by lesions due to non-infectious diseases – 1.00% (0.81% during Period I and 1.25% during Period II, index 1.53), added deleterious substances – 0.88% (0.60% during Period I and 1.27% during Period II, index 2.11), lesions due to respiratory infections – 0.03% (0.02% during Period I and 0.04% during Period II, index 1.74), and lesions due to miscellaneous infectious diseases – 0.10% (0.10% during Period I and 0.10% during Period II, index 1.05). Other reasons to condemn the carcasses included improper identification, lesions due to digestive infections, lesions due to tuberculosis, lesions due to paratuberculosis, lesions due to salmonellosis, leucosis and parasitic diseases. The occurrence of these conditions was on the level of mere hundredths of per cent. According to the results of meat inspection classification, the risk of food-borne diseases originating from bovine carcasses tends to be greater in the lesions due to non-infectious conditions with a long-term increasing trend. A considerable increase in the numbers of bovine carcasses condemned because of lesions due to paratuberculosis (index 4.62) represents an alarming finding with regard to potential food safety hazards.