The histology of blood splash in lamb

Ecchymosis (blood splash), can occur in the carcasses of animals that have been stunned electrically or shot with a captive bolt. While blood splash presents no health hazard, it is likely to detract from the acceptable appearance of the meat. Based on light and electron microscopic studies, ecchymosis has been shown to be due to the localised discharge of blood from ruptured blood vessels into the surrounding muscle tissue. A small proportion of muscle fibres in a splashed region were distorted (∼ 5 %) with irregular zones of high shortening interspersed with zones of lesser shortening. Such 'supercontracture' and its associated blood splash was markedly reduced by neuromuscular blocking agents. It is proposed that through supercontracture of some fibres, a severe strain is placed on adjacent blood vessels, occasionally leading to their rupture and hence to haemorrhaging.