Poultry Slaughtering Practices in Rural Communities of Bangladesh and Risk of Avian Influenza Transmission: A Qualitative Study

Slaughtering sick poultry is a risk factor for human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza and is a common practice in Bangladesh. This paper describes human exposures to poultry during slaughtering process and the customs and rituals influencing these practices in two Bangladeshi rural communities. In 2009, we conducted 30 observations to observe slaughtering practices and 110 in-depth and short interviews and 36 group discussions to explore reasons behind those practices. The villagers reported slaughtering 103 poultry, including 20 sick poultry during 2 months. During different stages of slaughtering, humans, the environment, healthy poultry, and other animals were exposed to poultry blood and body parts. Women performed most of the slaughtering tasks, including evisceration. Defeathering required the most time and involved several persons. During festivals, ceremonies, and rituals, many people gathered and participated in the slaughtering of poultry. Exposure to poultry slaughtering created numerous opportunities for potential avian influenza transmission. Strategies that can be further tested to determine if they reduce the risk of transmission include skinning the carcasses of sick poultry, using hot water for defeathering and cleaning, using a bucket to contain slaughtering blood and carcass, burying the offal and encouraging handwashing.     

Religious slaughtering: Implications on pH and temperature of bovine carcasses

The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of different types of slaughtering on the variations of pH and temperature. Ninety entire male beef cattle, belonging to the Charolais breed, were distributed in three groups based on method of slaughtering. A total of 30 subjects (group K) were slaughtered without stunning, according to the Koscher rite; thirty bovines (group T) were stunned with a captive bolt gun, following the common slaughtering reported by Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009; other thirty animals (group H) were slaughtered without stunning, based on Halal procedures. The temperature and pH values of carcasses were determined at 3, 6 and 24 h post-mortem, respectively. At 24 h post-mortem of the 30 carcasses evaluated for each group, muscle temperature decreased in all three types of slaughtering. In particular, the average temperature was 4.0, 4.9 and 3.0 °C for traditional, Halal and Koscher slaughtering, respectively. Moreover, at the same time step (24 h post-mortem), muscle pH decreased showing values equal to 5.72, 5.83, 5.81 for traditional, Halal and Koscher slaughtering, respectively. The findings of the present study may be useful to highlight the influence of slaughtering method on pH and, more generally, on meat quality. Additionally, our results show that, in slaughtering carried out without prior stunning, the carcass could be more susceptible to alterations because of the high pH values.     

2D DIGE/MS to investigate the impact of slaughtering techniques on postmortem integrity of fish filet proteins

Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) was applied to investigate the impact of slaughtering on the postmortem integrity of muscle tissue proteins in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Three different slaughtering techniques were evaluated: asphyxia in air (AA), asphyxia in ice (AI), and spinal cord severance (SCS). Principal components analysis (PCA) revealed a significant divergence of SCS samples, whereas AA and AI samples, although grouped separately, were less divergent and could be included in a single asphyxia cluster. In terms of single proteins, the most significant impact was seen on nucleoside diphosphate kinase B, which was consistently less affected when fish were slaughtered by SCS as compared to asphyxia. Integrity of the sarcomeric proteins myosin heavy chain and myosin binding protein C and of the cytosolic proteins fructose biphosphate aldolase, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and enolase 1 was also better preserved upon SCS slaughtering. Most interestingly, the influence on muscle protein integrity could be detected since the early postmortem phase. In conclusion, slaughtering by SCS preserves protein integrity better than death by asphyxia, either in ice or in air. Both asphyxia conditions are comparably more adverse than SCS to muscle protein integrity, although a general trend favoring AI over AA is observed.     

The Prevalence of Toxoplasma Antibodies in Swine Sera in Finland

A total of 1847 swine sera obtained from the 10 largest abattoirs slaughtering swine in Finland were examined by ELISA for toxoplasma antibodies. The sample represented 0.64 % of the total number of swine slaughtered in these abattoirs over a period of 2 months. The prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies in swine sera was 2.5 %.     

Motivation and Characterization of Finnish Meat Inspection Veterinarians

A questionnaire survey on the factors affecting the motivation and work attitudes of Finnish veterinary meat inspectors was conducted. Traditional meat inspection on the slaughtering line and in the emergency department took up most of the weekly work time (15.8% and 15.8%, respectively). Emergency slaughtering (29%) and general hygiene control (29%) were considered the most important tasks of veterinary meat inspectors. Assurance of meat safety (68%) was cited as the most important single reason for meat inspection. Veterinary meat inspectors were of the opinion that they do not play an important role in the training of slaughterhouse personnel, although they considered training to be a very important means for promoting hygienic work methods among workers. Three orientations of the respondents toward meat inspection and slaughterhouse operations were revealed from the survey: hygiene, education, and emergency slaughter work orientation. Meat inspection veterinarians may feel isolated from the other personnel responsible for maintaining quality and hygiene. The orientation and possible isolated position of veterinary meat inspectors should be given more attention in both the basic undergraduate and postgraduate training of veterinary meat inspectors.     

Investigations on Genetically Modified Maize (Bt-Maize) in Pig Nutrition: Fattening Performance and Slaughtering Results

A grower finisher performance trial with forty-eight pigs was designed to compare the growth performance of pigs fed diets containing either genetically modified (GM) Bt-maize (NX6262) or its parental maize (Prelude) line. During the experiment, the pigs were fed with a grower and a finisher diet both containing 70% maize investigated in a previously study which showed that they contained similar ME values and digestibility of crude nutrients. The pigs with an initial live weight of 23.9 ± 3.0kg were allotted to single boxes. During a 91 days growing period the pigs of both groups recorded equal performance in daily weight gain ( j W) 815 ± 93 vs. 804 ± 64g/d depending on equal amounts of feed intake 1.95 ± 0.15 vs . 1.94 ± 0.15kg/d (parental vs. transgenic). The results confirm equal performance among growing-finishing pigs fed parental or genetically modified maize containing diets. For slaughtering the pigs were divided into 4 groups with a different duration of the finishing period. After slaughtering the carcass characteristic were registered.     

Salmonella on pig carcasses: positive pigs and cross contamination in the slaughterhouse

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella in pigs at the moment of slaughter and in the slaughterhouse environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, five different commercial slaughterhouses were sampled during eight slaughterhouse visits. Carcass swabs, colon content and mesenteric lymph nodes were taken to reflect the animal status and from the slaughterhouse environmental samples were taken. Salmonella was isolated from 37% of the carcass samples as a mean value. High variations were noticed between different slaughterhouses (between 0 and 70%) and sampling days in the same abattoir (between 3 and 52%). A correlation was found between the carcass contamination and the status of the delivered animals (P=0.01675). Cross contamination was estimated to account for 29% of the positive carcasses. The slaughterhouse environment was highly contaminated; before starting the slaughtering activities 25% of the samples were positive on average. The most prevalent serotypes isolated at the slaughterhouse environment and from the colon content were S. Typhimurium, S. Livingstone and S. Derby. On carcasses S. Typhimurium was predominately isolated (71%). The biggest variability of serotypes was found in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Serologically 56.3% of the pigs were found positive for Salmonella using a cut-off level of the optical density percentage higher than 10 (O.D.% > or = 10). While on individual pig level the correlation between the bacteriological and serological data was poor, because of recent Salmonella infections, a better correlation was found at the herd level on the moment of slaughtering. CONCLUSION: A high degree of carcass contamination is noticed after slaughtering. This contamination resulted from the delivery of Salmonella-positive pigs and cross-contamination from the slaughterhouse environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In pigs, Salmonella carriage is high, but it is obvious that slaughterhouse hygiene is a determinative factor for managing carcass contamination.     

Perinatal development of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activities in pig liver

The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FDPase) was determined in the homogenate of the liver of 69 pig fetuses during the last third of gestation (80th to 114th day), 47 piglets from birth to 4 weeks old (suckling period) and to slaughter pigs. G6Pase is evident in fetal liver at an early date and raises steadily during gestation. In newborn piglets, the enzyme activity increases rapidly during the first hours of life and remains at this high level during the first week of life. Afterwards the enzyme activity returns to birth level, which exists also in pigs at slaughtering. The activity of FDPase is constant during the fetal period. After birth enzyme activity rises at a lower rate than the G6Pase during the first week of life. This level remains constant during the suckling period and increases thereafter until the time of slaughtering of pigs. The role of hormones in the perinatal development of these enzymes is described. Probably, thyroxine causes the prenatal increase of the activity of both the enzymes. The rapid postnatal rise of G6Pase activity may be induced by the high level of hydrocortisone at parturition, and furthermore, glucagon may have a permissive effect.     

肉鸡屠宰加工中的微生物控制技术研究进展

为了解肉鸡屠宰加工过程中胴体的微生物污染情况,综述了肉鸡屠宰各环节中微生物的污染来源及菌群变化,同时探讨了相应的减菌措施,对在线控制各环节胴体表面细菌交叉污染和提高鸡肉产品的安全性、食用性和经济性有着重要的意义。     

Pasteurellosis in Reindeer in Northern Norway

Lung inflammations in reindeer caused by Pasteurella multocida were reported from Scandinavian countries already at the beginning of this century. Several outbreaks have been recorded in reindeer herds in Norway. Observations made at the fall reindeer slaughtering, and in reindeer herds in Finnmark seem to indicate an endemic state of this infection with subclinical carriers. Predisposing factors and lowered specific immune status may probably play important roles when fatal outbreaks occur.     

Anaerobic digestion of organic solid poultry slaughterhouse waste--a review

This work reviews the potential of anaerobic digestion for material recovery and energy production from poultry slaughtering by-products and wastes. First, we describe and quantify organic solid by-products and wastes produced in poultry farming and poultry slaughterhouses and discuss their recovery and disposal options. Then we review certain fundamental aspects of anaerobic digestion considered important for the digestion of solid slaughterhouse wastes. Finally, we present an overview of the future potential and current experience of the anaerobic digestion treatment of these materials.     

Handling and Welfare of Bovine Livestock at Local Abattoirs in Bangladesh

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) allows rope casting and the tying of legs for nonhuman animal slaughter without stunning. The handling and welfare of bovine livestock (Bos indicus and Bubalus bubalis) were studied in 8 local abattoirs in 5 districts of Bangladesh. A total of 302 animals were evaluated. At the local abattoirs, approximately 1/3 of the cattle and water buffalo were either emaciated or injured/sick. The size and vigor of the animals determined the casting method. Small and weak animals were cast on concrete floors by lifting a foreleg followed by pushing, or simply by twisting the head of the animal and then binding the legs with rope. Vigorous animals such as buffalo were cast using ropes and human force. Bleeding was slow and flaying was sometimes initiated before the animals were unconscious. Pulling and tearing of the trachea and pouring of water into the exposed trachea shortly after cutting were also observed in some cases. The overall animal handling was unnecessarily rough and the OIE standards were not implemented. Animals are subjected to considerable mistreatment, and there is an urgent need for the training and education of the staff in abattoirs concerning humane slaughtering practices as well as a need to build modern slaughtering plants in Bangladesh.     

Genotyping of thermotolerant Campylobacter from poultry slaughterhouse by amplified fragment length polymorphism

AIM: To examine the occurrence, diversity and transmission of Campylobacter in a poultry slaughterhouse. METHODS AND RESULTS: During a 4-week period, a slaughterhouse was sampled alternately during slaughtering and the following mornings post-disinfection. Samples were taken from poultry at six stages in the slaughter process and from 25 environmental sites. For positive broiler flocks slaughtered on one occasion, 92% and 48% of the environmental sites were positive during slaughter and post-disinfection, respectively. For positive laying hen flocks slaughtered on three occasions, 8-56% and 12-20% of the environmental sites were positive during slaughter and post-disinfection, respectively. Genetic fingerprinting by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) of the 109 isolates obtained resulted in 28 different AFLP clones. Five AFLP clones were present for more than 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: Slaughtering of Campylobacter-positive broilers resulted in extensive contamination of the slaughterhouse, including the air. A high proportion of the laying hen flocks were Campylobacter positive, but these caused less environmental contamination than the broilers. This, together with the freezing of all layer carcasses, results in a lower public health risk from laying hens, when compared with broilers. Significance and Impact of the Study: When slaughtering Campylobacter-positive broilers, the implementation of preventive measures is important to reduce contamination of negative carcasses and to protect the workers against infection.     

Salmonella in horses: a source of contamination of horsemeat in a packing plant under federal inspection.

Cecal samples from 270 slaughter horses revealed that 41 samples (15.1%) contained Salmonella. Of 233 horsemeat samples tested, Salmonella was isolated from 62 samples, or 26.6%. Only 2 of 158 human stool specimens from the plant workers revealed Salmonella. Predominant serotypes isolated from the horsemeat were Salmonella enteritidis Good and Anatum, whereas the serotypes Agona and Derby predominated the horse cecal isolates. Preliminary data indicate that the high percentage of meat contamination is surface contamination due to poor slaughtering technique.     

澳大利亚萨福克羊及无角陶塞特羊对新疆的生态适应性及杂交后代利用研究

测定分析了新疆地区引入澳大利亚萨福克羊及无角陶塞特羊的体温、脉搏、呼吸频率、血清T₃、T₄含量、繁殖率、总适应能力及杂一代公羔的育肥屠宰性能.结果表明,萨福克羊及无角陶塞特羊繁殖率及体重接近或超过原产地澳大利亚的生产水平.萨福克羊总适应能力为98.80%,无角陶赛特羊为98.74%.杂一代公羔日增重、饲料转化率、净肉重较哈萨克羊高,而尾脂重低于哈萨克羊.     

澳大利亚萨福克羊及无角陶塞特羊对新疆的生态适应性及杂交后代利用研究

测量分析了新疆地区引入澳大利亚萨福克羊及无角陶塞特羊的体温、脉搏、呼吸频率、血清T3、T4含量、繁殖率、总适应能力及杂一代公羔的育肥屠宰性能,结果表明,萨福克羊及无角陶塞特羊繁殖率及体重接近或超过原产地澳大利亚的生产水平,萨福克羊总适应能力为98.80%,无角陶塞特羊为98.74%,杂一代公羔日增重、饲料转化率、净肉重较哈萨克羊高,而尾脂重低于哈萨克羊。     

Effects of farm management practices and transport duration on stress response and meat quality traits of suckling goat kids

Studies aimed to assess up to what extent farming and transport previous to slaughtering might affect physiology and meat quality in young goat kids are needed, with the ultimate purpose of promoting practices that minimize stress in these animals. In this regard the effects of on-farm management and transport duration on some physiological responses and meat quality parameters in goat kids were assessed. Two farms representing ‘high’ and ‘low’ welfare-friendly management practices were selected. In total, 32 suckling kids were withdrawn from each farm, transported by road for 2 or 6 h, and then slaughtered. Blood samples were collected both on-farm and in the slaughterhouse, and biochemistry, cell counts and haematocrit were determined. After slaughtering, carcass quality parameters were measured. Longissimus dorsi muscle was dissected and pH, colour parameters, water holding capacity and shear force were measured throughout 8-day ageing period. Results indicate that, regardless its duration, transport caused significant effects on some blood parameters suggesting stress in live animals, like glucose, cortisol or creatine kinase. Despite the marked stress status in animals, this condition was not decisively reflected on L. dorsi quality parameters, but some effects were observed regarding fat cover in carcasses and colour parameters. The results suggest that postmortem changes throughout ageing were more decisive in terms of meat quality than stressful management either on-farm or during transport.     

Energy requirements and efficiency of Alpine goats in early lactation

Dairy goats may rely heavily on body fat and protein reserves in early lactation. Therefore, we aimed to determine the energy requirement and estimate the efficiency of utilization the nutrients of tissues mobilized in the first 8 weeks of lactation for milk production using the comparative slaughter technique. The average initial body mass of 51 multiparous goats was 57.19 ± 8.38 kg and a body condition score of 3.0 ± 0.5. Three goats were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment to serve as baseline animals to estimate initial empty BW and initial body composition. We used a complete randomized design in which the factor was the day of lactation for slaughtering (the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 35th, 42nd, 49th and 56th day), with six repeats, totalling 48 goats. No fasting before slaughtering. All animals received a single experimental diet. The efficiency of transferring energy from body reserves to milk was estimated using a multiple linear regression equation yielding a value of 0.76. The total energy stored in the empty body decreased over the eight lactation weeks, from 726.47 ± 26.19 to 316.18 ± 49.21 MJ, a 56.47% reduction, mainly because of a reduction in the energy from internal fat of 3.96 ± 1.98 MJ/day. In conclusion, the net energy required for maintenance is 60 ± 30 kJ/BW^0.75 per day, and the net energy required for lactation decreases 70 ± 30 kJ/day during the first eight lactation weeks.     

A model for ovine brucellosis incorporating direct and indirect transmission

In this work, we construct and analyse an ovine brucellosis mathematical model. In this model, the population is divided into susceptible and infected subclasses. Susceptible individuals can contract the disease in two ways: (i) direct mode - caused by contact with infected individuals; (ii) indirect mode - related to the presence of virulent organisms in the environment. We derive a net reproductive number and analyse the global asymptotic behaviour of the model. We also perform some numerical simulations, and investigate the effect of a slaughtering policy.