The development of a 'clean sheep policy' in compliance with the new Hygiene Regulation (EC) 853/2004 (Hygiene 2)

The aim of this research was to identify the risk factors associated with the transfer of bacterial contamination from the fleece to the ovine carcass thereby providing the scientific basis for the development and validation of a clean sheep policy. Two hundred sheep in lairage were graded into five categories each consisting of 40 sheep. The categories were as follows; (A) clean and dry; (B) clean and wet; (C) dirty and dry; (D) dirty and wet and (E) visible dags (dung-clotted tufts of wool) categorized by the chief veterinary inspector at the slaughter plant based on the visual inspection of the hygienic status of the fleece. Microbiological evaluations of the carcasses were conducted using swab sampling methods. Total viable counts (TVCs), Enterobacteriaceae and coliform counts were obtained from 40 animals per category at four separate sites (brisket, shoulder, flank and rump) immediately after pelt removal. Statistical analysis of TVC data obtained from the carcass indicated that the dirt level of the fleece had a significant effect on contamination levels when the fleece was dry. Enterobacteriaceae and coliform counts suggest that dirt was a contributing risk factor regardless of wetness or dryness of the animal. The clean sheep policy should therefore differentiate between clean and dirty sheep and mandate additional hygiene measures for the latter.