The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-17
MEAT INSPECTION.
How the Government Inspects AMI
mails Before SlauglIter-RelatiOn to
the Shipper aHd Producer.

All farmers and others who raise or
handle cattle, sheep, hogs, or goats
which are marketed for food purpos-
es should know something of the
general rules under which the de-
partment conducts the inspection of
animals to be slaughtered.
When such animals are forwarded
to public stOckyards or to establish
ments where Federal meat inspection
is maintained they are inspected alive.
This inspection is known as the ante
mOrtem inspection and is done in the
stockyards or in the pens of the es-
tablishment. When conducted in the
public stockyards the ante mortem in
spection is usually made at the
scales when the animals are weigh
ed. The chief requirements for the
disposal OF animals upon this inspec-
ton are as follows: Those animals
which do not plainly show, but are
suspected of being affected with, any
disease or condition which may cause
condemnation in whole or in part at
the time Of slaughter, are marked
with a serially metal tag
which bears the legend ~. $. Sus-
pect." All animals which are thus
marked as suspects are held apart
and slaughtered separately from 9TH
er animals, the only exception to this
rule being those held for advanced
pregnancy or on account OF having
recently given birth to young, and
which have not been exposed to any
infections or contagious disease. Such
animals, together with their young,
may be released for breeding or dairy
purposes, and when so released they
must be promptly removed from the
stockyards or premises of the estab-
lishment where inspected.
Some animals are condemned out
right upon the ante-mortem inspec-
ton. For instance, all hogs which
plainly show that they are affected
with either hog cholera or swine
plague are marked "U. S. Condemn
ed" Further, if a hog is one of a
lot in which there are symptoms of
hog cholera or swine plague and the
animal has a temperature of LOG de-
grees F. or higher, it is condemned.
All animals thus marked are destroy
ed. They can not be taken into the
establishment to be slaughtered or
dressed, but must be disposed of in
tanks so as to prevent their use for
food purposes. In case of doubt as to
the cause of the high temperature the
animal may be held under the in
spector's supervision for further ex-
animation and taking of temperature
Immature animals offered for ante
mortem inspection at any of the
places specified in the regulation are
required to be condemned outright;
likewise all animals showing symp.
toms of rabies, tetanus, milk fever
or railroad sickness.
Besides this ante-mortem inspection,
the carcasses are thoroughly inspected
at the time of and after slaughter,
and the meat and products are also
inspected in the various stages and
processes of preparation.
The losses caused through the con-
demnation of animals which are un-
ut for food affects directly or indi-
rectly the price which the producer
receives for his live stock. The pur-
chasers OF animals for slaughter not
lnfrequently trace diseased shipments
back to their origin where disease is
harbored. and thereafter decline to
take animals from infected farms and
localities except under an arrange
ment which will insure them against
loss.