LESIONS IN THE CARCASSES AND VISCERA OF VERY YOUNG SLAUGHTER CALVES CONDEMNED AT POSTMORTEM MEAT INSPECTION

The carcasses of 370 very young slaughter calves condemned for various diseases and defects at routine post-mortem meat inspection were subj ected to further and more detailed macroscopic examination as well as histopathological examination of some tissues. Of the carcasses examin ed, 138 were condemned for ''navel ill'', and in the majority of these cases the lesions extended beyond the umbilicus, particularly involvi ng the umbilical vein and the urachus. Enzootic pneumonia was the most common cause of pleuritic lesions in the carcass, and 75 carcasses we re condemned for this lesion. Arthritis, whether localised or involvin g a number of joints, was the primary lesion in 32 carcasses. Focal in terstitial nephritis was observed in the kidneys of 36 carcasses, whil e 23 carcasses were condemned for wounds and bruising. A number of oth er miscellaneous diseases and defects, including generalised peritonit is, jaundice, hepatic abscesses and ''fever'', were observed at low ra tes in condemned carcasses. Resolution or localisation of lesions had occurred at the time of slaughter on average in 35% of the condemned c arcasses and the judgment of total condemnation was difficult to justi fy on a scientific basis and would not have been applied to other clas ses of slaughtered livestock. In the case of wounds and bruising, 95.6 % of the carcasses could have been trimmed. There was also considerabl e variation in the likely pathogenesis and systemic effects of the dis eases and defects observed. A need for clear and specific judgment cri teria to be applied to the carcasses of very young slaughter calves at post-mortem meat inspection was identified.