An official website of the United States government.
This research project aims to develop guidance to improve the cleanliness of cattle hides at the point of slaughter.
<p>The point of entry of livestock to the abattoir has been identified as a critical control point in slaughterhouses.
<p>The objective of this research is to examine the principal processes that may be used by farmers in order to achieve visibly clean slaughter cattle and to assess their effect on faecal and the hide-borne microbiological load.
<p>The results will allow the Agency to formulate precise, science-based advice to the livestock industry on the optimal methods for reducing the visible dirtiness and pathogenic microbiological contamination of finishing cattle, thus reducing the risks of contamination of their carcasses.
<p>The information from this and previous projects will be used to develop an on-farm technology transfer event.
The results generated by this project have been used to produce a booklet and poster series, aimed at cattle producers, which contain guidance on best practice for the production of clean cattle for slaughter.
<p>Technology transfer in the form of information days, open days and press launches were also organised to disseminate information to the farming community.
<P>
The final report, "<a href="http://www.foodbase.org.uk/results.php?f_report_id=60" target="_new">Farm Management Practices to Improve the Visible and Microbiological Cleanliness of Cattle Hides at Slaughter</a>" is available at Foodbase, an open access repository of the <acronym title="Food Standards Agency">FSA</acronym>.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.