Abates de emergência em um estabelecimento com Serviço de Inspeção Federal (SIF) no estado de Mato Grosso

Abstract

Mato Grosso has established itself as the largest beef producer in Brazil, with a herd of 34.4 million cattle, playing a vital role in the country's economy. The beef production chain in Mato Grosso involves a series of rigorous stages. Proper management of the cattle, from breeding to slaughter, aims to ensure that the final meat product meets the sanitary and quality standards required by both consumers and health regulations. This study aims to identify the causes that led to Emergency Slaughters, as well as the postmortem findings recorded by the Federal Inspection Service (SIF), and to verify whether all the procedures adopted complied with legislation, between the months of May and July 2023 in a slaughterhouse with SIF in the state of Mato Grosso. During the described period, 34 animals, all female, were slaughtered in an emergency, 33 of which had fractures in one or two hind limbs, and one showed signs of fatigue. In all cases, the animals had difficulty walking due to trauma (which constitutes an immediate emergency), and immediate slaughter was carried out on-site with authorization from the Official Inspection Service. All procedures adopted, monitored, and recorded in the Emergency Slaughter Program (PAC BEA) by the establishment complied with the legislation. No lesions suggestive of infectious, parasitic, or neurological diseases were found, and therefore all carcasses presented traumatic injuries and were approved for in natura consumption after partial condemnation. The presence of fractures and traumatic injuries highlighted inadequate handling and transportation practices, compromising the welfare of the animals and resulting in losses, emphasizing the need for more careful handling and adequate training for operators to reduce the incidence of bruising and ensure the health of the animals.