“Ante-mortem inspection of poultry should only be carried out by qualified veterinary surgeons.” Discuss the reasons and provide evidence against this statement.
Ante-mortem inspection of poultry is carried out:
i. as it is required by legislation
ii. to identify animals that may be injured or sick
iii. to identify zoonotic diseases or Class A and Class B diseases which are notifiable
iv. to determine whether any test should be carried out in relation to disease diagnosis or for the detection of residues of veterinary medical products
v. to determine whether animal welfare has been compromised
vi. to ensure that there is traceability
Current legislation on the matter is conveyed in Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption. This legislation states that only an Official Veterinarian can carry out certain inspection tasks, of which ante-mortem inspection is included. It states that health marks should be applied by, or under the responsibility of the Official Veterinarian when they do not identify any reason to warrant the meat unfit for human consumption. It is then also the responsibility of the Official Veterinarian to communicate the results of their inspection and make decisions concerning live animals, their welfare and their entry or not into the food chain. As the legislation stands, Official Auxiliaries may assist the Official Veterinarian carrying out official controls and tests but they must have undergone specific training, they must act independently of production staff and must report any deficiency directly to the Official Veterinarian. (Food Safety Authority Ireland, 2018)
Annex 1, Section 2 of this same regulation outlines the specific procedure which must be carried out by the Official Veterinarian when conducting the ante-mortem examination of poultry. It states that the Official Veterinarian is to carry out an ante-mortem inspection of all animals before slaughter, which must be undertaken within 24 hours of arrival of the flock at the slaughterhouse and within 24 hours of their slaughter. In addition to routine ante-mortem inspection the Official Veterinarian is to carry out clinical examinations of any animals which an Official Auxiliary may have flagged. (Food Safety Authority Ireland, 2018)
From the relevant legislation, it is clear that the Official Veterinarian is responsible for safeguarding the food chain and ensuring that only clean, healthy animals enter it. The reasoning behind this is that they are the most qualified professionals when it comes to animal health and disease, especially in relation to Public Health. Within their 5 years of education they learn about the aetiology and epidemiology of a multitude of diseases which may affect animals, and most importantly the zoonoses which have the potential to causes disease in humans as well. They are trained to recognise signs and symptoms of disease, and can use their clinical knowledge to decide what tests to carry out to support a tentative diagnosis and possible ruling of the carcase out of the food chain. The in depth knowledge of diseases also allows the Veterinarian to deduce risks; they should recognise signs that would require an individual animal to be ruled out, a flock to be ruled out or the line stopped immediately. As a Veterinarian, they are also required to stay up to date with current disease patterns of spread and distribution. This is of particular importance in poultry as wild birds can carry diseases into Ireland and into poultry flocks via their flight paths. A Veterinarian who is in tune with current poultry diseases should be the person best equipped to detect specific signs and symptoms of specific diseases. Therefore, it makes sense that they have the final decision regarding the passing or failing of an animal following ante mortem inspection and health marking in order to ensure that no diseased animals enter the food chain.
Furthermore, as Veterinarians are required to take an oath to do their upmost to protect animals and keep them from suffering they are also the best person to safe guard animal welfare and detect any discrepancies in animal welfare among presented flocks to the slaughterhouse. Detection of animal welfare discrepancies is one of the many reasons to conduct ante mortem tests of poultry flocks and it cannot be forgotten. This is another reason why Veterinarians are the most appropriate professionals to conduct the ante mortem examination.
However, that is not to say that it makes sense for the Official Veterinarian to have to carry out each individual ante-mortem test. As mentioned above, it is within regulation to appoint qualified Official Auxiliaries to assist the Official Veterinarian with their inspection duties. An Official Auxiliary is a person qualified, in accordance with this Regulation, to act in such a capacity, appointed by the relevant authority, and working under the authority and responsibility of an Official Veterinarian. This Official Auxiliary could carry out ante-mortem tests at flock level, hold any animals that are showing even the slightest sign disease or unfitness for slaughter, and have the Official Veterinarian conduct a clinical exam on these animals. The Official Auxiliaries can be trained to check vital parameters and basic signs of health in the poultry flocks and report back their results to the Official Veterinarian. This system would require in depth training of the Official Auxiliaries (which is a necessary investment) and close monitoring by the Official Veterinarian but on the whole it makes sense, as it would free up a lot of the Official Veterinarian’s workload and allow the whole process to run more efficiently and economically which benefits the Vet, the farmer, the animals and the slaughter house.
Allowing the Official Veterinarian to have assistance from Official Auxiliaries gives the Vet the opportunity to act in a more managerial role and focus entirely on decision making regarding the passing of animals into the food chain. The additional help to the Official Veterinarians benefits the farmer and their animals because it allows the animals to be processed more quickly and reduces the amount of time that animals are being held in holding areas. This furthermore improves animal welfare in the slaughter house and also ensures adherence to the legislation which states that all animals must undergo ante mortem testing within 24 hours of arriving and within 24 hours of slaughter. The slaughter house also benefits as the more animals they can process per day, and the more Official Auxiliaries they can hire rather than Vets the better it is for their profitability.
In conclusion, the role of the Veterinarian in public health especially within the slaughter house is very important. They are the protectors of both the food chain and animal welfare. Their role within the slaughterhouse could never be replaced, however, it can be made more efficient with the addition of Official Auxiliaries working under their authority to conduct ante mortem inspections of poultry flocks, and thus allowing the Official Veterinarian to carry out their role in more of a decision-making capacity.