Production animals condemned at antemortem inspection should be humanely destroyed and disposed of (see Disposal of Carcasses and Disinfection of Premises). Carcasses condemned at postmortem inspection must also be humanely disposed of.
Necropsy photograph showing extensively metastasized melanoma in a market hog (pig). The carcass was condemned at postmortem inspection.
Courtesy of Dr. Kathryn Polking.
Certain parts of all carcasses—including lungs, lactating mammary glands, laryngeal muscles, and thyroid glands—are considered inedible and must be disposed of. Brains, cheek meat, and head trimmings from animals that were stunned by lead, sponge iron, or frangible bullets, as well as carcasses containing drug or other residues, are also unacceptable.
To eliminate the threat of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the food supply, certain specified risk materials from cattle are disposed of as well. These include the tonsils and distal ileum of all cattle, as well as the brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, vertebral column, and dorsal root ganglia of cattle that are ≥ 30 months old.
Necropsy photograph of a bovine kidney with swelling and petechial hemorrhage, commonly referred to as a "turkey-egg" kidney. This animal also had multiple abscesses in the liver. Histological examination supported a diagnosis of septicemia, and the animal was condemned.
Courtesy of Dr. Eric Streif, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Inspectors examine carcasses for contamination throughout routine inspection procedures, and their examination at the final carcass inspection station is very careful. Slaughter establishments (abattoirs) must handle carcasses in a sanitary manner to prevent contamination with fecal material, urine, bile, hair, dirt, or foreign material. Any contamination must be promptly removed by trimming or another method satisfactory to the inspector.
Carcasses and parts of animals tagged as suspect on antemortem inspection, or found to have lesions or clinical signs of disease during routine postmortem inspection, are retained for further examination by a veterinarian. The veterinarian thoroughly examines the carcass and parts, using their own professional knowledge and judgment to make a justifiable final decision.
Necropsy photograph showing a subcutaneous melanoma in a market hog (pig). If this is a single lesion, the carcass may be trimmed and allowed to pass inspection.
Courtesy of Dr. Kathryn Polking.
Although certain disease conditions carry specific inspection requirements, two general principles apply to these assessments: acute disease conditions are typically of greater concern than chronic ones, and generalized conditions are of more concern than localized lesions.
Carcasses with generalized conditions or diseases (including cancers) that have so altered the normal characteristics of the meat as to make it inedible or unfit for food should be condemned (see and images).
Localized conditions that do not affect the wholesomeness of the entire carcass (such as an abscess or a single, benign tumor) should be removed by trimming and the remainder of the carcass passed (see , , and images).
Necropsy photograph showing intestinal emphysema in a market hog; note the bubble-pack appearance of the gas-filled cysts in the mesentery and intestine. The etiology of this condition is poorly understood, and the lesions are an occasional, incidental finding at slaughter. This animal was inspected and passed.
Courtesy of meat inspector John Johansen, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Necropsy photograph showing severe, chronic pericarditis in a bovine. If this is the only lesion present, the carcass might be passed after the removal of all affected tissue. If this lesion is combined with other signs of inflammation, the carcass might be condemned.
Courtesy of meat inspector John Johansen, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
If there is reason to suspect that a carcass contains residues of an antimicrobial, other drug, or other compound that might be injurious to human health, the veterinarian may retain the carcass and parts, collect samples, and test for such residues.
Carcasses of animals tagged as suspect, found to have an injection site lesion, or originating from farms previously cited for residue violations are all candidates for such testing. Animals shown in exhibitions may be randomly tested as well.
Veterinarians may use additional diagnostic methods, such as collecting samples for histological evaluation, to aid in making a final determination.
Special Considerations for Tuberculosis in Production Animals
Eradication efforts have greatly decreased the presence of tuberculosis in production animals. However, continued surveillance for this disease during slaughter inspection remains an invaluable tool for detecting positive herds.
Cattle moving to slaughter from known tuberculosis-positive herds are subject to expanded antemortem and postmortem inspection procedures, carried out by the veterinarian. Such procedures include complete physical examination of live cattle, palpation and incision of additional tissues, and collection of specimens for laboratory evaluation.
Only cattle that have not been identified as tuberculin reactors and are found to be free of tuberculosis lesions on postmortem inspection may be passed without restriction for human consumption. Carcasses of sheep and goats must also be free of tuberculosis lesions to be passed without restriction.
For all species, the entire carcass should be condemned when there is evidence of generalized tuberculosis, including any of the following circumstances:
An active lesion is present.
The animal is cachectic.
A lesion is present in muscle, intermuscular tissue, bone, joint, abdominal organs other than the GI tract, or a lymph node associated with these parts.
Extensive lesions are present in the thoracic or abdominal cavity.
Lesions are multiple, acute, and actively progressive.
The nature or extent of lesions does not indicate localization.
An organ or part should be condemned when it or its corresponding lymph nodes contain lesions (see and lymph node tuberculosis lesion images).
Necropsy photographs of mediastinal lymph nodes from adult Angus (A) and Jersey (B) cows, showing the typical appearance of tuberculosis. These lesions are microscopically compatible with bovine tuberculosis, composed of granulomatous inflammation, with the presence of acid-fast bacteria and Mycobacterium bovis confirmed by culture.
Photo and diagnostic information courtesy of USDA-APHIS. Used with permission.
Necropsy photograph of bovine liver and hepatic lymph nodes, showing lesions typical of tuberculosis. These lesions are microscopically compatible with bovine tuberculosis, composed of granulomatous inflammation, with the presence of acid-fast bacteria and Mycobacterium bovis confirmed by culture.
Photo and diagnostic information courtesy of USDA-APHIS. Used with permission.
When lesions in swine are localized and are found at only one primary site of infection, such as the cervical lymph nodes, the unaffected parts may be passed without restriction after condemnation of the affected organ or part. For cattle, sheep, and goats with localized lesions, the unaffected portion of the carcass may be passed for cooking.
For More Information
Post-Mortem Dispositions for Public Health Veterinarians - Revision 1. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA. FSIS Directive 6100.6. Issued March 14, 2019.
Monlux WS, Monlux AW. Atlas of Meat Inspection Pathology. US Government Printing Office; 1972.
Inspection, Sampling, and Disposition of Animals for Tuberculosis (TB) - Revision 2. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA. FSIS Directive 6240.1. Issued June 8, 2015.
Tuberculosis. Code of Federal Regulations: 9 CFR Section 311.2. Last amended July 20, 2026.
