ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS AND DESTINATIONS OF CATTLE CARCASS IN BRAZIL - 2017 to 2019

Brazil is a major beef producer and exporter. However, carcasses with anatomopathological alterations can cause economic losses by being the target of some type of condemnation or being conditionally used. The objective of this research work was to analyze the anatomopathological changes and destinations of bovine carcasses in Brazil, from March 30, 2017, to December 31, 2019. Data were collected through the Management Information System of the Federal Inspection Service (SIGSIF), made available online by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). It was observed that 67,456,321 bovines were slaughtered, and 2.0% of the carcasses were condemned or conditionally used. The southern region of the country had the highest occurrence of anatomopathological alterations in the carcasses (4.5%), while the Northeast had the lowest (0.1%). The main criterion for judging carcasses in the country was partial condemnation, with 81.7% of judgments established. The main causes of condemnations and conditional use were contamination (31.5%), cysticercosis (21.2%), contusion (11.3%), adenitis (7.4%) and abscess (6.5%). It was noted that a standardization of records in the SIGSIF would be important for a clearer collection of information and for the recording itself by slaughterhouses. The importance of veterinary inspection to guarantee the commercialization of safe meats to consumers was evidenced.