The aim was to compare the effects of two evisceration methods under operational conditions, on the pelvic hygiene of sheep carcasses. Method 1: rectum sealed with plastic bag and pushed through the pelvic cavity. Method 2: rectum cut, placed back inside and pulled out from the carcass. The 18 largest Norwegian sheep abattoirs participated. Sampling areas were i) 400cm2 inside the pelvic cavity (n=623), ii) 100cm2 outside the circum-anal incision (n=622). There were pooled samples by swabbing the same area of five carcasses, representing totally 3115 carcasses. Mean E. coli results from Method 1: -1.61logCFU/cm2 inside and -0.25logCFU/cm2 for the outside area. Results from Method 2: -1.56logCFU/cm2 inside and -0.42logCFU/cm2 outside. There were no significant differences between the two methods. Both evisceration methods can produce carcasses that are of practically identical high hygienic quality.
Keywords: Bagging; E. coli; Lamb; Sheep; Slaughter.
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