The capacity of inspection on farm and at the abattoir to predict post-mortem outcomes in slaughter pigs: a study at animal level

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between ear, tail and skin lesions, hernias, bursitis and rectal prolapses at the abattoir and meat inspection outcomes in slaughter pigs, including carcass condemnations and trimmings, carcass weight and carcass quality. This was an observational study whereby pigs were managed according to routine practices in a single abattoir. Data were collected from 1816 pigs. The relationship between animal-based welfare and post-mortem outcomes were analysed using generalised mixed models (Proc Glimmix). Our findings showed that tail lesions were associated with entire carcass condemnations and trimmings P < 0.001), a reduction in carcass weight (P < 0.05) and a potential to impair carcass quality by reducing muscle pH (P < 0.05), especially in carcasses from male pigs (P < 0.05). Additionally, hernias were associated with viscera condemnation (P < 0.05) and a reduction in carcass weight (P < 0.05). Therefore, our findings confirm that ante-mortem inspection could be useful to predict post-mortem outcomes in the same pigs, especially in cases of tail lesions and hernia, which might trigger attention of the veterinary inspector in charge of the post-mortem inspection.