Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
collect feet. As for by-product handling, gravity feeding of
hides and skins is easier if the slaughterhall floor is on a
higher level and connected with the various by-products
departments by stainless steel chutes.
stage and prior to final inspection, should not be allowed
to touch each other. If they are to be held for any period,
for example, pending laboratory examination, chilling
accommodation is necessary.
Good lighting which does not distort colours and is
of an intensity of not less than 540 lux is required. The
normal facilities of good drainage, easily cleaned
surfaces and adequate sterilisation and recording equip-
ment are also necessary. A 'rise and fall' platform or
elevated stand is required for detailed examination and
trimming of beef carcases. If this particular department
is situated adjacent to the meat plant laboratory or
sample storage room, this is an added advantage, since
microbiological, pathological, parasitological and
biochemical examinations, as well as photography, can
be more conveniently carried out. This room should be
enclosed and entry restricted to authorised personnel. It
must be lockable.
Gut and tripe room
The initial separation and emptying of stomachs and
intestines must be carried out in a separate room, the
gut and tripe room, unless hygienic operations can be
maintained by time separation. Usually, it is convenient
to have this room associated with moving-top tables,
with an arrangement for discharging to a macerator or
holding pending collection for composting, etc. Heavy
cattle stomachs should be handled either by mechani-
cal equipment or by suitable gradients. The cattle
paunch-emptying table should be at a convenient
height in relation to the moving-top table or be pro-
vided with a power-operated hoist for elevating
paunches to the higher level. The table must be fitted
with an 'umbrella' of spray rods for cleaning the inside
and the outside of the paunches.
The ruminal contents may be transferred via a rotat-
ing screw, which removes most of the water, into a skip.
Methods of disposal of rumen or paunch contents
include the following:
Condemned meat room
All too often, the condemned meat room does not receive
the attention it deserves at the planning stage of the
establishment, especially with regard to space. In order
to arrange for proper sorting and holding of materials
unfit for human consumption prior to dispatch into
their correct animal by-product category, adequate space,
refrigeration and drainage along with the supply of dura-
ble and lockable containers and weighing facilities are
essential. A suitable rail linkage with the detained meat
room and other means of handling materials complete
this important area, which must have lockable doors. The
condemned meat room should be so positioned as to
minimise the risk of cross-contamination by the material
having to cross through or under the slaughter line.
1
Landfill, which is an undesirable and uneconomic
approach and is becoming less common.
2
Spreading of untreated raw paunch manure directly
onto agricultural land is environmentally questiona-
ble but still a quite common approach.
3
Use of ensilaged/silaged paunch manure as a feed for
livestock has cost implications and the unfavourable
perception of feeding waste to animals.
4
Burning, which is not cost-effective.
5
Composting of paunch waste into an organic fertiliser.
This method of disposal is simple and part of the natu-
ral cycle of life, but it requires special equipment and
ample space to produce compost commercially.
Hide and skin store
Although primarily intended for the stacking and cool-
ing of hides and sheep skins awaiting collection, the hide
and skin store can conveniently be used for the reception
of cattle and sheep feet. Again, consideration needs to
be given at the planning stage to whether hides and feet
are to be considered edible or inedible. Cattle hides can
be used for the extraction of collagen, and feet may be
scalded, depilated, singed and marketed fit for food
following inspection.
Generally 'edible' hides are chilled, and inedible salted.
Careful thought should be given at the planning stage to
suitable arrangements for all areas where by-products are
held pending dispatch, not only in relation to their position,
size, layout, chute system with slaughterhall floor, etc. but
also in connection with the facilities for easy loading onto
vehicles. A system of handling hides and skins in palletised
containers is of value, as is gravity feeding of vehicles which
Ruminal contents should not be discharged to the
effluent collection system. In addition to the high oxygen
demand (COD > 100 000 mg/l), undigested solids are
not easily degraded in biological systems and tend to
build up as sludge in the system, thus reducing treatment
efficiency.
Subsequent processing of stomachs and intestines
should take place in a separate unit.
Red offal room
Offal such as liver, lungs and kidneys should be trimmed
and then placed in a chill or freezing room depending on
the ultimate system of disposal. Offal for edible purposes
should be held at a temperature not exceeding 3°C.
