Predictability of post mortem abnormalities in shipments of slaughter pigs as an aid for meat inspection

Summary

This paper reports on the predictability of post mortem abnormalities in individual deliveries of pigs, shipped from the fattening herd tot the slaughterhouse. The percentage of pigs in a delivery having post mortem abnormalities was expressed in a Meat Inspection Index. This index is based on data about relevant abnormalities, weighted on the specific significance of each for meat inspection. It was investigated whether Meat Inspection Indices of previous deliveries of pigs could be used for prediction of indices of future deliveries. Results suggest that the Meat Inspection Index cannot be used in such a predictive capacity, partly because of great variation among individual shipments.

However, a Meat Inspection Index could play a role in signalling farms that are likely to deliver pigs with a higher level of abnormalities. More attention could then be paid to animals coming from these herds.

Notes

Department of the Science of Food of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, P.O. Box 80175, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.