The clean livestock policy for sheep was introduced about a year ago but was slow to get up and running with plants enforcing to different degrees.
The fact that there was no visual aids to show animals falling into the three categories of A) Satisfactory; B) Unacceptable; and C) unacceptable also meant that it was harder for producers to become accustomed as to how sheep need to be presented for slaughter.
Policy document
The policy was developed by the Department of Agriculture following intensive consultation with a range of stakeholders - including farmer and industry representatives.
The document can be accessed on the Department website at the following link Clean Livestock Policy - Sheep (pdf 378Kb).
In summary the three categories are as follows:
The Department has a three-category system, requiring food business operators at slaughtering establishments to categorise sheep as follows:
Sheep that can be slaughtered, without an unacceptable risk of contaminating the meat during the slaughter process, by using the standard hygienic dressing procedures routinely employed by the plant.
Sheep that can only be slaughtered, without an unacceptable risk of contamination of the meat during the slaughter process, by putting in place additional interventions including extra defined dressing controls.
Sheep unfit for slaughter because of fleece condition.
These sheep must not be presented for ante-mortem in this condition and it is the responsibility of the Food Business Operator (FBO) to take the required remedial action.
The Teagasc guide advises farmers grazing fodder crops to consider crutching lambs to aid presentation at slaughter.
Visual aids
The Department has instructed all meat processing plants to exhibit posters in lairages that visually demonstrate sheep falling into the three categories.
Teagasc has also developed information leaflets that include these photos and this can be accessed by clicking on this link.
Teagasc has also developed a guide aimed at those transporting sheep as an issue that is responsible for sheep falling into the unacceptable category is fleece contamination during transport.
You can read more about that by clicking here.