Microbiological contamination of reindeer carcasses in different reindeer slaughterhouses

The microbiological contamination of reindeer carcasses was studied in 10 Finnish reindeer slaughterhouses. Six of the slaughterhouses were field slaughterhouses and four were plant slaughterhouses. In each slaughterhouse 11 to 30 carcasses were sampled, with abdomen, brisket, and foreleg as sampling sites. Sampling was performed immediately after slaughter, using a nondestructive swabbing method. The overall mean bacterial count of carcasses was 3.12+/-0.61 log CFU/cm2. The mean bacterial value of the carcasses and the bacterial counts of abdomen and brisket were significantly lower in field slaughterhouses than in plant slaughterhouses, suggesting that the controlled conditions of plant slaughterhouses do not necessarily improve the microbiological quality of reindeer carcasses. However, the highest bacterial contamination was found in a field slaughterhouse where the slaughter was performed after rain when the ground was without snow. Carcass contamination seemed to be increased by the use of an evisceration apron, the unnecessary washing of forelegs, and the unnecessary handling of carcasses with hands and arms.