Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Abstract

Bacteriological quality of 40 beef carcasses selected from a meat processing plant and the environmental samples surrounding the plant were assessed during the present investigation. The samples from each carcass were examined for the bacterial quality by estimating the total viable count (TVC), coliform count (CC), Escherichia coli count (ECC) and faecal streptococcal count (FSC). Statistical analysis of the data using paired t-test revealed a significant and positive association between the mean total viable count and faecal streptococcal count (P<0.05) of the samples. The samples of air, water, equipment and hand wash of personnel were also collected and the various bacterial loads of these samples were estimated. Highest mean total viable count was observed in pond water. The ice, pond water and tap water had contributed significantly in the contamination of beef carcasses. Only hand wash samples showed the presence of Escherichia coli count whereas coliform and faecal streptococcal count was also detected in samples collected from hand washes. Ice samples had a mean TVC of 3.20 ± 0.11 log10 cfu/ml. The coliform count in ice, pond, and tap water were 2.30 ± 0.08, 1. 39 ± 0.77 and 0.50 ± 0.21 log10 cfu/ml, respectively. Thus, it may be inferred that, hygienic quality of equipments and processing plant environment plays a key role in the production of good quality meat. The study points out that the equipment, environment and personnels contribute to the low quality of meat in the processing plant.