Cattle slaughter

Vos, G., Hovens, J.PC., and Delft, W.V., Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in meat, livers and kidneys of cattle slaughtered in The Netherlands during 1980-1985, FoodAddit. Contam., 4, 73, 1987. 

If the feedstock is tallow from cattle slaughtering, the mixed fatty acids are based on mostly saturated fatty acids. On the other hand, if the feedstock is based on vegetable oil, the fatty acid product is produced from the hydrogenation of a mixture of fatty acids that contain unsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and linoleic acids). These unsaturated fatty acids (CIS unsaturated fatty acids) are converted to the saturated CIS fatty acid (stearic acid) through hydrogenation with a nickel catalyst. 

Stearic acid is derived from either tallow (from cattle slaughtering houses) or vegetable oil (which will require a hydrogenation process step to convert unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid into stearic acid). 

Spectinomycin 5 days prior to slaughter Cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry... 

Elliott et al. utilized a clenbuterol immunoassay to determine clenbuterol residues in cattle tissues and fluids. The LOD was 0.25 ug for liver. Animals were dosed with medicated feed (1.6 ug kg per day), and pairs were slaughtered during the medication phase and at 14,28, and 42 days after withdrawal. Clenbuterol concentrations in liver and retina/choroid samples were confirmed by GC/MS. Correlation coefficients between the ELISA and GC/MS were = 0.92 for retina/choroid samples and... 

Matsumoto et al. developed an immunoassay for the determination of clenbuterol in bovine and equine tissues and in bovine milk. The LOD of clenbuterol in milk, muscle, liver, kidney, small intestine, and adipose tissues was 0.1 qgkg Bovine tissue samples fortified wifh 1 qg kg of clenbuterol had recoveries that varied from 75 to 96%, but recoveries from milk samples were 99%. The authors utilized this method to estimate the clenbuterol withdrawal periods for cattle and horses. Cattle were treated with a bolus dose of either 0.3 or 0.6 qg kg body weight, by intravenous injection, and three animals were slaughtered at days 1, 6, and 9. Tissue clenbuterol levels were detectable only on day 1. Clenbuterol in milk was not detectable after a 2.5-day withdrawal period. Liver contained the highest clenbuterol concentration of the tissues measured, but this group did not measure eye tissues. 

The supermarket needs to offer organic meat at the same level every day of the year. Hunt (1989) mentioned that, as a supermarket buyer, he had been approached by several suppliers offering one tomorrow, one in two months time and two for Christmas . Safeway required ten cattle per week. To fit into Safeway s distribution system, these cattle would need to be processed through one abattoir, which should be Safeway and Soil Association approved. He believed it to be unlikely that one farmer could supply this number every week of the year. However, the example of Chisel Farm (see Chapter 10) has demonstrated otherwise. Hunt suggested that producer groups be set up in conjunction with a central slaughter point. This, however, would create the additional problem that the producers and the abattoir would have to be located so as to ensure that the transport of livestock... 

Famphur use on livestock is contraindicated for less than 3-month-old calves animals stressed from castration, dehorning, or overexcitement and sick or convalescent animals. Brahman and Brahman crossbreeds are less tolerant of cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides than other breeds, and Brahman bulls are especially sensitive and should not be treated with famphur. Cattle should not be slaughtered for at least 35 days after treatment with famphur. 

Outcome 2. Suppose, however, that risk attitude is the true driver behind a consumer s reaction to a food safety scare. In such a case, even if probabilities of being exposed to the risk are small, an effective communication of these probabilities will have little influence on a consumer s behavior. Instead, marketers will have to focus on ways to eliminate the risk. This may involve a total recall or an elimination of the risk (slaughtering of all potentially infected cattle or recall of all potentially tainted food). 

Konold T, Sivam SK, Ryan J, Gubbins S, Laven R, Howe MJ (2006) Analysis of clinical signs associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy in casualty slaughter cattle. Vet 1171 438 144. 

Milnes, A. S., Stewart, I., Clifton-Hadley, F. A., Davies, R. H., Newell, D. G., Sayers, A. R., Cheasty, T., Cassar, C., Ridley, A., Cook, A. J., Evans, S. J., Teale, C. J., et al. (2008). Intestinal carriage of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli 0157, Salmonella, thermophilic Campylobacter and Yersinia enterocolitica, in cattle, sheep and pigs at slaughter in Great Britain during 2003. Epidemiol. Infect. 136, 739-746. 

Cephalexin is quickly absorbed and metabolized to unidentified compounds in cattle, sheep, and swine. It is principally excreted in urine but small amounts are also excreted by liver in bile. No detectable residues (limit of detection 60 ppb) were found in cows, in sheep and swine slaughtered at 4 and 10 days, respectively, after receiving intramuscularly 7 mg cephalexin sodiurn/kg bw/day for 5 consecutive days. No detectable residues were found in sheep and swine slaughtered 3 and 2 days, respectively, after receiving 10 mg cephalexin sodium/ kg bw/day intramuscularly for 5 consecutive days. 

Cambendazole has been implicated in teratogenic effects in pregnant ewes. Hence, long slaughter clearance times of 21 and 28 days have been recommended for treated cattle and sheep, respectively. 

Progesterone is used primarily as a growth promotant in cattle in combination with estradiol or its esters. Administration is carried out by subcutaneous implant in the ear, which is subsequently discarded at slaughter. When administered exogenously, progesterone enters the same metabolic pathways and is indistinguishable from the endogenously produced compound. 

Nortestosterone and its derivatives are banned for use in livestock production within tlie European Union, but have been abused as growth promoters in cattle (17). Abuse can be detected by finding injection sites at slaughter and also by monitoring bile and urine for 17 -19-nortestosterone and/or its 17 -epimer, the major metabolite in cattle (18, 19). However, it is known that 17 -19-nortes-tosterone occurs naturally in pregnant cows (20), and 17 -19-nortestosterone is produced in boars (21) and stallions (22). To evade detection of injection sites at slaughter, some producers have used either multiple injections of small volumes at obscure sites or pour-on formulations. 

Because of its relatively short excretion time, xylazine produces residue concentrations below 0.1 ppm in all edible tissues of sheep and cows except the injection site, liver, and kidney, at 20 h after intramuscular administration (115). In addition, xylazine is not excreted with cow milk. Hence, only 2 days are recommended in Norway between treatment and slaughter of cattle or the delivery of milk for human consumption. However, liver and kidney should be discarded if slaughter has taken place less than 4 days after medication. 

Three decades ago, a survey of animals slaughtered in four US states indicated that 27% of the swine sampled were treated with antimicrobial drugs before slaughter. Some 10% of those cases resulted from lack of adherence to withdrawal periods or from exceeding the levels cleared for feeding of the antimicrobial substances. Among beef cattle, a total of 9% were found positive to antimicrobials with 2% attributed to penicillin residues. In veal calves, 17% contained antibiotic residues with 7% ascribed to penicillin. Twenty-one percent of the market lambs contained antimicrobial residues, 4% with penicillin residues. Chickens exhibited a 26% contamination by antimicrobials, 6% containing penicillin residues (1). 

A survey carried out in Austria between 1991 and 1993 demonstrated that the incidence of residues of veterinary drugs and hormones in edible tissues of slaughtered animals was almost negligible (7). In particular, urine samples obtained from calves, cows, and swine were tested for the presence of residues of stilbenes, zeranol, trenbolone and 19-nortestosterone. Blood samples were examined for 17- -estradiol and 17- -testosterone. Furthermore, urine samples from calves, beef cattle, and thyroid gland specimens were tested for the presence of -agonists and thyreostatic substances. None of the samples gave evidence of illegal use of these substances in Austria. 

Since over 60% of all antibiotics used in Japan for veterinary purposes are tetracyclines (35), targeted surveys of tetracycline residues in animal tissues have become of particular importance for public health agencies in Japan (36, 37). In 1991, a limited survey in the Aichi prefecture of residual tetracyclines in tissues collected from 64 cattle and 68 hogs of 1358 slaughtered animals that did not pass inspection at slaughterhouses due to presence of disease symptoms was conducted (38). Among 271 kidney, liver, and other organ samples, 49 (18.1%) were positive to oxytetracycline, 5 (1.8%) to chlortetracycline, and 5 (1.8%) to doxycycline, respectively. One cattle kidney sample was positive to both oxytetracycline and doxycycline, whereas tetracycline was not detected in any of the samples. 

Apart from edible animal products, urine samples from slaughtered animals were also screened for sulfonamide residues over the period 1986-1988. In 1986 and 1987, only 2 urine samples from swine of the examined 280 urine samples of slaughtered cattle and swine were found positive for sulfonamides. Thus, the 1988 survey was directed only to slaughtered swine. Results showed that only 8 of 278 urine samples were positive for sulfonamides. 

In Belgium, 0.1% of the slaughtered cattle and swine are screened for antibiotic residues each year. In the analytical strategy applied, meat samples are screened with a modified four-plate test followed by screening with a group-specific ELISA for the identification of the antibiotics and confirmation by specific LC methods. 

Cattle are processed at a fully certified abattoir near Toowoomba, Queensland, a distance of up to 1600 km for some partner properties. The transportation and slaughter processes are rigorously controlled to avoid contamination and ensure separation from non-organic stock. Specific standards were developed for transport and handling of the stock over this distance, and endorsed by NASAA. 

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