Federal inspection of cattle: Procedures and outcomes

Abstract

Producers routinely cull breeding cattle from production herds; these animals are often sent to slaughter for human consump­tion. Federal inspectors assess each animal before and after slaughter for wholesomeness of the meat; animals and carcass­es with significant pathology or potential pharmaceutical resi­dues are inspected by a veterinarian. Animals and carcasses deemed unfit for human consumption are condemned by fed­eral veterinarians and removed from the human food chain, which can result in economic loss to the producer. This article presents a broad overview of federal inspection processes and the regulatory thought process utilized by federal veterinarians when assessing slaughtered beef carcasses.