Pre-slaughter mortality and post-slaughter wastage in bobby veal calves at a slaughter premises in New Zealand

Abstract

AIMS: To determine the reasons for pre-slaughter mortality and post-slaughter wastage in New Zealand bobby veal calves, and to assess compliance with the national animal welfare codes at a slaughter premises in New Zealand.

METHODS: The study was conducted at a single slaughter premises in Southland, New Zealand, during the 2011 bobby veal processing season. Calves that died during the pre-slaughter period underwent post-mortem examination to identify the reasons for death and notable secondary findings. Data from calves condemned at official post-mortem meat inspection were also analysed.

RESULTS: The mortality risk in the pre-slaughter period was 0.7% (288/42,494) and post-slaughter condemnation losses were 0.4% (180/42,206), resulting in a total loss to food production of 1.1%. Of the calves that were examined after dying in the pre-slaughter period (n=247), digestive tract disorders (41%) and omphalitis (23%) were the most common primary diagnoses. Secondary findings in these calves included absence of curd in the abomasum (25%), immaturity (21%) and emaciation (9%). Omphalitis (54%) and septicaemia (37%) were the most common causes of post-mortem wastage.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Digestive tract disorders, omphalitis and septicaemia were the most common reasons for pre-slaughter mortality and post-mortem wastage. Further investigation of pre-transportation husbandry and feeding practices is indicated to determine compliance with animal welfare codes by farmers that supplied calves that had no curd in the abomasum, or were immature or emaciated on arrival at the slaughter premises.

Keywords:

• Calf
• post-mortem
• pre-slaughter
• mortality
• veal

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the other veterinarians who performed post-mortem examinations (Reini Baer and Shen Hea) along with the staff of the slaughter premises and AsureQuality for their help and cooperation. The assistance of Terry Ryan with the statistics is gratefully acknowledged.

Notes

¹K O'Grady and R Wild, MPI Verification Services, Christchurch, New Zealand.

² N Georgios, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

³ G. Thomas, MPI Verification Services, Invercargill, New Zealand

Non-peer-reviewed