Factors affecting penetrating captive bolt gun performance.

Captive bolt stunning is used for rendering livestock insensible at slaughter. The mechanical factors relating to performance of 6 penetrating captive bolt gun (CBG) models were examined. The Matador Super Sécurit 3000 and the .25 Cash Euro Stunner had the highest kinetic energy values (443 J and 412 J, respectively) of the CBGs tested. Ninety percent (27/30) of CBGs held at a government gun repository (United Kingdom) were found to have performed at a normal standard for the model, while 53% (10/19) of commercial contractor CBGs tested were found to underperform for the gun model. When the .22 Cash Special was fired 500 times at 4 shots per min, the gun reached a peak temperature of 88.8°C after 2.05 hr. Repeat firing during extended periods significantly reduced the performance of the CBG. When deciding on the appropriate CBG/cartridge combination, the kinetic energy delivered to the head of the nonhuman animal, bolt penetration depth, and species/animal type must be considered. It is recommended that CBGs are routinely checked for wear to the bolt and barrel if they are repeatedly fired in a session.

Salmonella contamination risk points in broiler carcasses during slaughter line processing.

Salmonella is one of the foodborne pathogens most commonly associated with poultry products. The aim of this work was to identify and analyze key sampling points creating risk of Salmonella contamination in a chicken processing plant in Costa Rica and perform a salmonellosis risk analysis. Accordingly, the following examinations were performed: (i) qualitative testing (presence or absence of Salmonella), (ii) quantitative testing (Salmonella CFU counts), and (iii) salmonellosis risk analysis, assuming consumption of contaminated meat from the processing plant selected. Salmonella was isolated in 26% of the carcasses selected, indicating 60% positive in the flocks sampled. The highest Salmonella counts were observed after bleeding (6.1 log CFU per carcass), followed by a gradual decrease during the subsequent control steps. An increase in the percentage of contamination (10 to 40%) was observed during evisceration and spray washing (after evisceration), with Salmonella counts increasing from 3.9 to 5.1 log CFU per carcass. According to the prevalence of Salmonella -contaminated carcasses released to trade (20%), we estimated a risk of 272 cases of salmonellosis per year as a result of the consumption of contaminated chicken. Our study suggests that the processes of evisceration and spray washing represent a risk of Salmonella cross-contamination and/ or recontamination in broilers during slaughter line processing.

Effect of electrical and mechanical stunning on bleeding, instrumental properties and sensory meat quality in rabbits.

Different voltage and frequency (T-1=49V, 250Hz; T-2=130V, 172Hz; T-3=22V, 833Hz) combinations of electrical stunning and cervical dislocation (T-4) were studied in 101 commercial rabbits in an industrial abattoir. Electrical stunning accelerated the early muscular acidification, providing lower pH-45 and pH-2h values on Longissimus dorsi and Biceps femoris and higher pH-24h on Biceps femoris than cervical dislocation (P<0.02). Furthermore, meat from rabbits stunned with electrical methods showed more redness (a* with mean values 1.17-1.30 vs. 0.66, P<0.02), although this cannot be associated to low exsanguination levels because electrical methods tend to produce even higher bleeding percentage than mechanical stunning (P=0.063). Haematin content in muscle, water-holding capacity and cooking losses were similar in all treatments. Shear force did not change because of the stunning methods, but the members of experienced panel found the meat coming from electrical stunning T-1 (with intermediate voltages and frequencies) tougher and less juicy than the meat obtained with other electrical applications or with cervical dislocation (P<0.05).

Nitrogen removal in a SBR operated with and without pre-denitrification: effect of the carbon:nitrogen ratio and the cycle time.

The effects of cycle time (CT) (8, 12 and 16h) and C/N ratio (3, 6 and 9) on nitrogen removal efficiencies in a bench top sequencing batch reactor treating slaughterhouse wastewater were investigated under different operating conditions: in condition 1, the reaction comprises an aerobic/anoxic phase and in condition II, the reaction comprises anoxic I/aerobic/anoxic II phases (with pre-denitrification). The greatest percentages of nitrogen removal were obtained in the CT range from 12 to 16 h and C/N ratios from 3 to 6, with mean efficiency values of 80.76% and 85.57% in condition I and 90.99% and 91.09% in condition II. Although condition II gave a higher removal of total inorganic nitrogen (NH4+ - N + NO2- - N + NO3- - N) than condition I, only condition I showed statistically significant and predictive regression for all the steps of nitrogen removal.

Treatment of slaughterhouse wastewaters using anaerobic filters.

In this paper, a laboratory-scale experimentation allowed comparing the performances of two upflow anaerobic packed-bed filters filled with different packing materials and operating at mesophilic conditions (30 degreeC) for treating slaughterhouse wastewaters. Methane production was experimentally evaluated considering different volumetric organic loading rates as well as feeding overloading conditions. Although filter performances declined with loading rates higher than 6 kg CODin m-3 d-1 , the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency remained always above 60%. The experimental results allowed for determining kinetic parameters for bacterial growth rate and methane production, following Monod and Chen-Hashimoto models, respectively. Results demonstrated that the reactors reached a cellular retention time significantly greater than the hydraulic retention time. The kinetic parameter values (Ks, l/max) revealed the low microorganisms' affinity for the substrate and confirmed the moderate biodegradability of slaughterhouse wastewater. The kinetic analysis also allowed the comparison of the filters performances with another anaerobic system and the assessment of the parameters useful for real-scale plant design. The system design, applied to a medium-sized Argentinean slaughterhouse, demonstrated to (i) be energetically self-sufficient and (ii) contribute to the plant's water heating requirements.

Combined steam and ultrasound treatment of broilers at slaughter: a promising intervention to significantly reduce numbers of naturally occurring campylobacters on carcasses.

Steam or hot water decontamination treatment of broiler carcasses is hampered by process limitations due to prolonged treatment times and adverse changes to the epidermis. In this study, a combination of steam with ultrasound (SonoSteam®) was investigated on naturally contaminated broilers that were processed at conventional slaughter speeds of 8,500 birds per hour in a Danish broiler plant. Industrial-scale SonoSteam equipment was installed in the evisceration room, before the inside/outside carcass washer. The SonoSteam treatment was evaluated in two separate trials performed on two different dates. Numbers of naturally occurring Campylobacter spp. and TVC were determined from paired samples of skin excised from opposite sides of the breast of the same carcass, before and after treatments. Sampling was performed at two different points on the line: i) before and after the SonoSteam treatment and ii) before the SonoSteam treatment and after 80 min of air chilling. A total of 44 carcasses were examined in the two trials. Results from the first trial showed that the mean initial Campylobacter contamination level of 2.35 log10 CFU was significantly reduced (n=12, p<0.001) to 1.40 log10 CFU after treatment. A significant reduction (n=11, p<0.001) was also observed with samples analyzed before SonoSteam treatment (2.64 log10 CFU) and after air chilling (1.44 log10 CFU). In the second trial, significant reductions (n=10, p<0.05) were obtained for carcasses analyzed before (mean level of 2.23 log10 CFU) and after the treatment (mean level of 1.36 log10 CFU). Significant reductions (n=11, p<0.01) were also found for Campylobacter numbers analyzed before the SonoSteam treatment (2.02 log10 CFU) and after the air chilling treatment (1.37 log10 CFU). The effect of air chilling without SonoSteam treatment was determined using 12 carcasses pre- and postchill. Results showed insignificant reductions of 0.09 log10 from a mean initial level of 2.19 log10 CFU. Numbers of TVC before treatments ranged between 3.47 and 4.79 log10 CFU. In all cases, TVC was significantly (p<0.001, n=45 in each trial) reduced by approximately 0.7 log10 CFU. An authorized sensory panel at the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration concluded that broiler carcasses treated with SonoSteam were acceptable for purchase. These conclusions were based on organoleptic differences (smell, skin/meat consistency, texture and color) of treated vs. untreated carcasses. Results obtained from this study suggest that steam-ultrasound treatment of carcasses at broiler processing plants can significantly reduce numbers of Campylobacter on naturally contaminated broilers.

Desempenho de bovinos Tabapuã e seus cruzados em pastagens de braquiária no estado da Bahia / Performance of straightbred and crossbred Tabapuã cattle on brachiaria pasture in Bahia state

Comparou-se o desempenho de bovinos de diferentes grupos genéticos quanto a algumas características produtivas da desmama até o abate. Os dados são referentes a 827 bovinos machos oriundos do cruzamento de vacas Tabapuã com touros Tabapuã (TAB), Red Angus (REDTAB), Santa Gertrudis (STATAB), e das fêmeas TabapuãxRed Angus com touros Santa Gertrudis (STAREDTAB) (nascidos entre 1999 e 2001 e criados em pastagens de braquiária, no Estado da Bahia). Foram analisados o peso à desmama ajustado aos 205 dias (PD205), o peso ao abate (PA), o ganho médio diário da desmama ao abate (GMD) e a idade ao abate (IA). O grupo contemporâneo (GC), o grupo genético (GG) e a interação entre GC e GG influenciaram as características avaliadas (P<0,05). O REDTAB apresentou superioridade entre os GG para GMD no primeiro ano do GC (1GC), com média de 0,552kg (P<0,05). Os cruzados STATAB e STAREDTAB não apresentaram diferenças significativas para as médias de GMD (P>0,05); entretanto, apresentaram médias inferiores às do grupo REDTAB e TAB. Em condição de ambiente mais favorável, o REDTAB pode ser mais precoce, obtendo maior GMD e PA com menor IA, sendo superior ao Tabapuã e aos cruzados da segunda geração (F2). Os cruzados F2 não demonstraram vantagem em relação ao cruzado F1 e à raça pura.

The aim of this study was to compare the different genetic groups performances from weaning to slaughter. The d ata are referred to 827 male calves of Tabapuã c ows crossed with Red Angus (REDTAB) and Santa Gertrudis sires and from Tabapuã x Red Angus cows crossed with Santa Gertrudis sires , born from 1999 to 2001 and raised in Brachiaria pastures, in Bahia state , Brazil. The w eaning weight was adjusted to 205 day s (WW205), slaughter weight (SW ), average daily gain from weaning to slaughter (ADG) and age slaughter (AG), were analyzed. The contemporary group (CG), genetic group (GG) and the interaction between CG and GG influenced the parameters (P<0.05). The REDTAB showed superiority between GG for ADG in 1CG, with an average of 0.522 kg (P<0.05). The cro s sbreed STATAB and STAREDTAB weren 't different to ADG (P>0.05), however, ha d lower averages than REDTAB and TAB. In more favorable environment al conditions, REDTAB s hould get higher ADG and SW and lower AG , being superior than Tabapuã and to the second generation's crossbr ed (F2). The crossbr ed F2 show ed no advantage over F1crossbr ed and straightbred.

Determination of impact parameters and efficiency of 6.8/15 caliber captive bolt guns.

While the morphological appearance of injuries due to powder-actuated captive bolt stunners has been extensively investigated, medicolegal literature contains, except for one work by Nadjem and Pollak (Arch Kriminol 203:91-102), no further investigations into the physical impact characteristics of these sharp-edged circular punching tools. However, basic physical parameters, such as bolt velocity, momentum, kinetic energy, and energy density, play a crucial role in the medicolegal and traumatological assessment of captive bolt stunners and the related injuries. And also, regulatory bodies demand a reliable and repeatable measurement test set-up for the determination of captive bolt stunners' impact characteristics. Therefore, it is the aim of this work to design and describe a test set-up based on one single photoelectric light barrier and to determine the impact parameters for a series of newly developed cal. 6.8/15 stunning devices. We found that bolt velocity ranges from v = 42 to 54 m/s, while momentum ranges from p = 11 to 14 Ns, and kinetic energy reaches values from E = 224 to 369 J. The efficiency of the captive bolt stunner, defined as the ratio of the kinetic energy of the stunner's bolt to the potential energy of industrial blank cartridges, also described in this work for the first time, was found to vary between 36 and 46 %.

Isolamento de Toxoplasma gondii em tecidos de ovinos destinados ao abate em um matadouro sem fiscalização sanitária do estado do Rio de Janeiro / Isolation Toxoplasma gondii in sheep tissues destined for slaughtering in a seaghterhouse without sanitary inspection in Rio de Janeiro / Aislamiento de Toxoplasma gondii en tejidos de ovinos destinados al masacre en un matadero sin vigilancia sanitaria en el estado de Rio de Janeiro

O principal objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença do Toxoplasma gondii em tecidos de ovinos destinados ao abate sem fiscalização sanitária, por meio do teste molecular, determinando assim a porcentagem da infecção nos ovinos e o melhor órgão para o diagnóstico molecular. As amostras foram coletadas em um matadouro sem fiscalização sanitária localizado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. No momento do abate foram coletados fragmentos de cérebro, coração, fígado, rim, pulmão e musculatura esquelética de 25 ovinos, totalizando 150 amostras para a análise molecular e histopatológica. Para verificar a associação entre os resultados obtidos, o teste de McNemar foi utilizado. Dos ovinos avaliados pela PCR, 64% (16/25) apresentaram DNA do agente parasitário em pelo menos um tecido avaliado. Além disso, nenhum tecido avaliado mostrou equivalência (P<0,05), ou seja, as variações existentes entre as marcações desses órgãos em relação à classificação geral do animal foram aleatórias, podendo ser usado qualquer tecido avaliado neste estudo para o diagnóstico molecular de T. gondii. Não foi possível encontrar parasitos de T. gondii nos tecidos avaliados pela histopatologia, porém as lesões microscópicas encontradas são sugestivas da infecção. Conclui-se que o consumo de carne e vísceras ovina crua ou mal cozida, devem ser consideradas como importantes fontes de infecção para os humanos, pois os resultados deste estudo demonstraram um nível elevado de infecção por toxoplasmose em ovinos abatidos sem fiscalização no RJ. Ainda, para diagnóstico de T. gondii pela PCR poderia ser escolhido um único órgão para representar o animal, evitando assim, gastos desnecessários.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in tissues of naturally infected sheep sent to slaughter without prior sanitary inspection, by means of molecular testing to determine the percentage of infection in sheep and the best organ for molecular diagnosis. Samples were collected from a slaughterhouse without sanitary inspection located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. During slaughtering, fragments of brain, heart, liver, kidney, lung and skeletal muscle from 25 sheep were collected, resulting in a total of 150 specimens for molecular and histopathological analysis. McNemar test was used to identify the existence of an association among the results obtained. Sixty-four percent (16/25) of the sheep evaluated by PCR presented DNA from the parasitic agent in at least one of the tissues evaluated. However, none of the evaluated tissues presented equivalence (P<0.05), i.e., the existing variations in the markings of these organs in terms of the animal’s general classification were random, and any tissue evaluated in this study can be used for molecular diagnosis of T. gondii. T. gondii parasites were not detected in the tissues subjected to histopathological examination, but microscopic lesions found could be considered suggestive of infection. It is concluded that the consumption of raw or undercooked mutton meat and offals should be considered as an important source of infection for humans, since the findings of this study demonstrated a high level of toxoplasmosis infection in sheep slaughtered without prior sanitary inspection in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, it is suggested that, for PCR detection of T. gondii, a single organ can be chosen to represent the animal, thus avoiding unnecessary expenses.

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue evaluar la presencia de Toxoplasma gondii en tejidos de ovinos destinados a matanza sin fiscalización sanitaria, por medio de prueba molecular, determinando así el porcentaje de infección en los ovinos y el mejor órgano para el diagnóstico molecular. Las muestras han sido colectadas en un matadero sin inspección sanitaria ubicado en el Estado de Río de Janeiro. En el momento del abate se ha colectado fragmentos de cerebro, corazón, hígado, riñón, pulmón y músculo esquelético de 25 ovinos, totalizando 150 muestras para el análisis molecular e histopatológica. Para verificar la asociación entre los resultados obtenidos, se utilizó la prueba de McNemar. De los ovinos evaluados por PCR, 64 % (16/25) presentaron ADN del agente parasitario en al menos un tejido evaluado. Además, ningún tejido evaluado mostró equivalencia (P<0,05), es decir, las variaciones existentes entre las marcas de esos órganos en la clasificación general del animal fueron aleatorios, pudiendo ser utilizado cualquier tejido evaluado en este estudio para el diagnóstico molecular de T. gondii. No fue posible encontrar parásitos de T. gondii en los tejidos evaluados por histopatología, pero las lesiones microscópicas encontradas son sugestivas de infección. Se concluye que el consumo de carne y vísceras ovinas crudas o poco cocidas, deben ser consideradas como importantes fuentes de infección para el hombre, ya que los resultados de este estudio demostraron un alto nivel de infección de toxoplasmosis en ovinos sacrificados sin inspección en el Estado de RJ. También, para el diagnóstico de T. gondii por PCR podría ser elegido un solo órgano para representar el animal, evitando así, gastos innecesarios.

Aspergillus fumigatus from normal and condemned carcasses with airsacculitis in commercial poultry / Pesquisa de Aspergillus fumigatus em carcaças de frango de corte normais e condenadas por aerossaculite

Carcass inspection is important for the detection of certain diseases and for monitoring their prevalence in slaughterhouses. The objective of this study was to assess the occurrence of aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in commercial poultry, through mycological and histopathological diagnosis, and to verify the causal association between the aspergillosis diagnosis criteria and condemnation due to airsacculitis in broilers through a case-control study. The study was carried out with 380 samples. Lungs were collected from broilers that were condemned (95) or not condemned (285) due to airsacculitis directly from the slaughter line. Forty-six (12%) lung samples were positive for A. fumigatus in mycological culture. Among all samples, 177 (46.6%) presented histopathological alterations, with necrotic, fibrinous, heterophilic pneumonia; heterophilic pneumonia and lymphoid hyperplasia being the most frequent. Out of the 380 lungs analyzed, 65.2% (30) showed histopathological alterations and isolation of fungi. The statistical analysis (McNemar's chi-square test) indicated a significant association between the presence of histopathological lesions and the isolation of A. fumigatus. Mycological cultivation and histopathological diagnosis increase the probability of detecting pulmonary alterations in birds condemned by the Final Inspection System, which suggests that such diagnostic criteria can improve the assessment and condemnation of birds affected by airsacculitis.

Nos abatedouros, a inspeção das carcaças é fundamental para a detecção e monitoramento da prevalência de certas doenças. Os objetivos do trabalho foram avaliar a ocorrência de aspergilose causada por Aspergillus fumigatus em aves comerciais através do diagnóstico micológico e histopatológico e verificar a possibilidade de associação causal entre os critérios de diagnóstico de aspergilose e condenação por aerossaculite em frangos de corte através de um estudo de caso-controle. O estudo foi realizado com 380 amostras. Foram coletados pulmões de frangos condenados (95) e não condenados (285) por aerossaculite, diretamente na linha de abate de um frigorífico. Quarenta e seis (12%) amostras de pulmão foram positivas na cultura micológica. Do total de amostras, 177 (46,6%) apresentaram alterações histopatológicas, sendo os mais frequentes pneumonia fibrinoheterofílica necrótica, pneumonia heterofílica e hiperplasia linfóide. Do total de 380 pulmões analisados, 65,2% (30) apresentaram alterações histopatológicas e isolamento fúngico. A relação entre a presença de lesões histopatológicas e isolamento de A. fumigatus testada por McNemar indicou que houve associação significativa entre a presença de alterações histopatológicas e o isolamento de A. fumigatus. O cultivo micológico e o exame histopatológico aumentam as chances de se detectar alterações pulmonares em aves condenadas pelo Sistema de Inspeção Final do que nas aves normais, sugerindo que tais critérios de diagnóstico são eficazes para aprimorar a avaliação e condenação de aves por aerossaculite.

Multilocus sequence typing and biocide tolerance of Arcobacter butzleri from Danish broiler carcasses.

BACKGROUND: Arcobacter spp. have in recent years received increasing interest as potential emerging enteropathogens and zoonotic agents. They are associated with various animals including poultry and can be isolated from meat products. The possibilities of persistence and cross-contamination in slaughterhouses during meat processing are not well established. We have evaluated the occurrence and persistence of Arcobacter spp. in a Danish slaughterhouse and determined the sensitivity of isolates to sodium hypochlorite, a commonly used biocide. RESULTS: Arcobacter contamination was examined in a broiler slaughterhouse by selective enrichment of 235 swabs from the processing line during two production days and after sanitizing in between. In total 13.6% of samples were positive for A. butzleri with the majority (29 of 32 isolates) originating from the evisceration machine. No Arcobacter spp. was isolated after cleaning. A. butzleri isolates confirmed by PCR were typed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) resulting in 10 new sequence types (STs). Two sequence types were isolated on both processing days. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to sodium hypochlorite was determined to 0.5% hypochlorite biocide (500 ppm chlorine) for most isolates, which allows growth of A. butzleri within the working concentration of the biocide (0.2 - 0.5%). CONCLUSIONS: A. butzleri was readily isolated from a Danish broiler slaughterhouse, primarily in the evisceration machine. Typing by MLST showed high strain variability but the recurrence of two STs indicate that some persistence or cross-contamination takes place. Importantly, the isolates tolerated sodium hypochlorite, a biocide commonly employed in slaughterhouse sanitizing, at levels close to the disinfection concentration, and thus, A. butzleri may survive the disinfection process although this was not observed in our study.

Evaluation of management techniques to conserve water in a mechanical head wash blood removal system.

This research objectively evaluated methods to conserve water in a mechanical beef head wash system. Digital images of pre-wash and post-wash beef heads were analyzed to quantify the percentage change in red saturation of the image, which was used as an objective measure of cleanliness. Three types of nozzles (fan, three-hole, venturi) and three water pressures (344, 516, 689kPa) were evaluated in a two-way treatment structure. An interaction (P=0.07) was observed between water pressure and nozzle type; the change in red saturation increased as pressure decreased for fan and three-hole nozzles which contrasted with venturi nozzles. The fan nozzle×516kPa pressure treatment used 25L of water per head washed and was used to evaluate the effect of three water temperatures (15, 38, 57°C). Water temperature did not impact (P=0.21) change in red saturation. Reducing water wastage and minimizing the use of heated water could have positive economic benefits to the beef processor.

Saponification pretreatment and solids recirculation as a new anaerobic process for the treatment of slaughterhouse waste.

Different configurations of anaerobic process, adapted to the treatment of solid slaughterhouse fatty waste, were proposed and evaluated in this study. The tested configurations are based on the combination of anaerobic digestion with/without waste saponification pretreatment (70 °C during 60 min) and with/without recirculation of the digestate solid fraction (ratio=20% w/w). After an acclimation period of substrate pulses-feeding cycles, the reactors were operated in a semi-continuous feeding mode, increasing organic loading rates along experimental time. The degradation of the raw substrate was shown to be the bottleneck of the whole process, obtaining the best performance and process yields in the reactor equipped with waste pretreatment and solids recirculation. Saponification promoted the emulsification and bioavailability of solid fatty residues, while recirculation of solids minimized the substrate/biomass wash-out and induced microbial adaptation to the treatment of fatty substrates.

Comparison of aerial counts at different sites in beef and sheep abattoirs and the relationship between aerial and beef carcass contamination.

The study examined and compared levels of aerial contamination in commercial beef and sheep plants at four sites, i.e. lairage, hide/fleece pulling, evisceration and chilling. Aerial contamination was determined by impaction and sedimentation onto Plate Count Agar to enumerate Total Viable Counts, MacConkey Agar to enumerate coliforms and Violate Red Bile Glucose Agar to enumerate Enterobacteriaceae. AS I cannot see any difference in the text here - I am not sure what the change is?. The levels of aerial contamination were similar at equivalent sites in beef and sheep plants, irrespective of the sampling method or the type of organisms recovered. Mean log counts recovered on each medium in the chillers were generally significantly lower (P < .05) than the corresponding mean log numbers recovered at the other three sites. The relationship between impaction (air) and sedimentation (surface) counts could be described by the surface to air ratio (SAR) which in this study had an R(2) of 0.77. Further studies in an experimental plant compared counts recovered from the neck of beef carcasses with aerial counts determined by impaction and sedimentation onto agar and irradiated meat pieces. A relationship between counts on beef carcasses and in the air could not be established, irrespective of the method used to compare counts.

Aceitação sensorial e composição centesimal da carne de ovelhas abatidas em diferentes estágios fisiológicos / Sensorial acceptance and centesimal composition in the meat of ewes slaughtered in different physiological stages

Estudaram-se a composição centesimal do músculo Longissimuslumborum e a aceitação sensorial do músculo Longissimus thoracis, provenientes de ovelhas de descarte da raça Santa Inês, abatidas em distintos estágios fisiológicos. Foram utilizadas 21 ovelhas, distribuídas nos seguintes grupos: OL = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em lactação com seus respectivos cordeiros e que foram abatidas um dia após o desmame deles; OSC = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em lactação com seus respectivos cordeiros e mais um período aproximado de 30 dias sem os cordeiros e que, posteriormente, foram abatidas; e ONP = ovelhas que não pariram durante o ano. Os teores de proteína e de cinzas da carne ovina foram semelhantes entre os grupos experimentais, e os valores de umidade e de gordura da carne diferiram entre os grupos. Não houve diferença significativa na aceitação sensorial da carne, segundo os grupos. Concluiu-se que o abate de ovelhas de descarte em diferentes estágios fisiológicos promove alteração na composição centesimal, quanto ao teor de gordura e de umidade da carne, e que não há diferença da aceitação sensorial da carne, de acordo com os grupos experimentais.

The objective of this research was to know the centesimal composition of the Longissimus lumborum muscle and the sensorial quality of the Longissimus thoracis muscle, proceeding from Santa Inês discard ewes slaughtered in distinct physiological stages. 21 ewes were used, arranged into the following groups: EL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and slaughtered one day after weaning; EWL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs for one more period of approximately 30 days without the lambs and slaughtered afterwards; and ENC = ewes which did not give birth during the year. Protein and ashes contents of the sheep meat were close to each other among experimental groups; however, moisture and fat values of the meat were different among them. Significant difference was not found in the sensorial evaluation of the meat proceeding from the distinct groups. It is concluded that the slaughter of discard ewes in different physiological stages promotes alteration in the centesimal composition of the meat concerning its fat and moisture content and there is no difference in the sensorial quality of the meat in the distinct experimental groups.

Rationalization in meat cutting - consequences on physical workload.

Meat cutting is associated with several ergonomic risk factors and a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The development of new production systems points to an increased degree of mechanization; instead of subdividing split carcasses of pigs with a knife, the halves are trisected by an electrical saw into 'sixth-parts', resulting in shorter work cycles for the workers. Recently, machine-directed line-production systems have been implemented. This study evaluates differences in the physical workload between the production systems. The postures and movements (inclinometry and goniometry) and muscular load (electromyography) of workers in the split-carcass- (five subjects), sixth-part- (ten) and line-production systems (five) were recorded. Most measures showed a statistically significant trend of declining physical exposure with increasing degrees of mechanization. For example, movement velocities of the upper arm were higher in the split-carcass system (50th percentile: mean 209°/s) than in the sixth-part (103°/s) and line production (81°/s). However, the latter two were not statistically significantly different. A novel method for quantifying posture variation, based on inclinometry, showed that the split-carcass system implied the highest variation of the upper arm postures "within-minute" (i.e., a high range of motion each minute), but the lowest "between-minute" (i.e., a low variation during the course of the workday). In conclusion, the physical workload in the line-production system was significantly lower than in the split-carcass one, and tended also to be lower than in the sixth-part system. However, there may be disadvantages in line production, such as machine-directed work pace and shorter work cycles.

Restraining and neck cutting or stunning and neck cutting of veal calves.

Brain and heart activities were measured in 31 veal calves during restraining and rotating followed by neck cutting with or without stunning to evaluate welfare. After neck cutting correlation dimension analyses and %power of EEG beta wave fraction decreased gradually to lower values resulting in an induction of unconsciousness lasting on average 80s. Corneal reflex response ceased 135±57s after neck cutting. The CD scores and the %power of beta waves fell immediately after post-cut captive bolt and pre-cut electrical stunning to levels indicating unconsciousness. Heart rate in lairage increased upon entrance to the restrainer and again after rotation, heart rate variability decreased. Rotating the restrainer 90°, 120° or 180° compromised veal calf welfare and should be avoided. It is recommended to use post-cut captive bolt stunning or pre-cut electrical stunning inducing immediate unconsciousness.

Suicide with two shots to the head inflicted by a captive-bolt gun.

An exceptional case of suicide with two shots to the head inflicted by a captive-bolt gun is reported here. The pathophysiology observed, and related literature, indicate that the capacity of the victim to fire a second shot depended on the depth of skull penetration by the first shot and the extent of damage to nerve structures. In this case, an ante mortem multi-detector computed tomography was possible. From discussion with the radiologist and a 3D reconstruction, the two-shot suicide scenario could be confirmed.

Comparison of lipid oxidation, messenger ribonucleic acid levels of avian uncoupling protein, avian adenine nucleotide translocator, and avian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α in skeletal muscles from electrical- and gas-stunned broilers.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of stunning methods [electrical stunning (ES) vs. gas stunning (GS)] on lipid oxidation in broiler meat and to investigate possible mechanisms of lipid oxidation by measuring plasma variables, muscle reactive oxygen species (ROS), and TBA reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations, muscle fiber ratios, and mRNA levels of avian uncoupling protein (avUCP), avian adenine nucleotide translocator, and avian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (avPGC-1α). Arbor Acres broilers (n = 36) were not stunned (control) or were exposed to the following stunning treatments: 40% CO(2) + 21% O(2) + N(2); 60% CO(2) + 21% O(2) + N(2); 35 V, 47 mA, 400 Hz; 50 V, 67 mA, 160 Hz; and 65 V, 86 mA, 1,000 Hz. The ROS level in tibialis anterior (TA; P < 0.05) and the TBARS concentration in pectoralis major (PM; P < 0.01) were decreased in the GS groups compared with the ES groups at 45 min postmortem. However, the TBARS concentrations at 24 h postmortem in the PM and TA groups were not affected by stunning method (ES or GS). Compared with ES, GS caused greater expression of avUCP mRNA (1.47-fold in PM, and 2.41-fold in TA) and avPGC-1α mRNA (1.42-fold in PM, and 2.08-fold in TA). In conclusion, the upregulation of avUCP and avPGC-1α reduced ROS accumulation and lipid oxidation at 45 min postmortem in the skeletal muscles of broilers stunned with hypercapnic moderate oxygenation GS. However, these changes were not sufficient to cause a difference in meat lipid oxidation at 24 h postmortem between broilers stunned with hypercapnic moderate oxygenation GS and those stunned with low-current, high-frequency ES.