Hygienic Assessment Of Mutton Intended For Export From Elkadaro Export Slaughter House

Abstract

This study is a trial to evaluate the hygienic quality of mutton intended for export at Elkadaro slaughter house on basis of surface bacterial contamination. The implementation of good hygienic meat control practice in production in Elkadaro slaughter-house were assessed i.e. ante-mortem and post mortem . Seventy five samples were used, these sample were collected in five visits, every visit comprises fifteensamples, five samples were collected from the slaughter hall, the slaughter house chiller and the refrigerated vehicle in the airport after unloaded. A metallic triangle was used as a template from which swabs were taken; bacterial counts were made, the results of the bacterial count revealed higher counts but no critical contamination levels were recorded. Total viable cell counts results in this study ranges between 1×10 3 , 6×10 6 colony forming units /cm2. Thesalient features of the ante-mortem record were that: the average number of the animals entering the slaughter house was 417, while the average number of the accepted animals was 406, average number of rejected animals was 3. the major causes for rejection in the ante-mortem were lameness, tick infestation swelling of the lymph nodes , sheep pox and emaciation. Most of the popular breedsof sheep in the Sudan were brought to the slaughter house (Hamari, Kabashi, Butana). In the post mortem the average number of carcases accepted was 402. The average number of un accepted carcases was 4. The causes of un acceptance were Jaundice, hydatidoses, bruises, lymph nodes infection, haematomas and abscessations. The hygiene condition was good and average temperature in the slaughter hall was 34°C. The chiller showed good hygiene. Average temperature was -0.9, and the average chilling time was 13 hours. The average holding time in the refrigerated vehicle was 5 hours mean while the average carcase temperature was 0.02 °C . The hygiene in the vehicle was good since neither rancidity nor dripping was observed.