The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Berkshire Boy on May 16, 2012, 09:12:33 am
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I'm having a grey moment ;) and can't remember the test that sows have to have at slaughter, also at what age do they have to have it. Thanks
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is that the triganol test this is usually only done on the first pig you send to a new slaughter house but wild boar are tested at each slaughtering :farmer:
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Here's some info BB ;)
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/trichinellatestingwildboar.pdf (http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/trichinellatestingwildboar.pdf)
Impoertant to note that they say the samples should not be frozen - this is because freezing the meat destroys it ;)
HTH
Karen :wave:
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Thanks for that.
From what I can remember sows over a certain age have to be tested at the abattoit, no pig has ever tested possitive but they have to test. I can't remember if it is sows over a certain age or all sows.
I will have to phone the abattoir and find out.
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our delilah was blood tested for trichilnella by the abattoir when she was sent away at 18mths or so.
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It's Trichinella spiralis - "muscle worms". They are round worms which cause cysts and, if pork isn't properly cooked, they can be passed on to humans. That's the reason for the test. They start off in the intestine, then move into the muscles.
What it means in practical terms is that the abattoir may take longer to release your carcass, depending on how quickly the vet can do the inspection.
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My big Tamworth sow that went off last year was held for inspection and testing for about 9 days.
TBH I was not too distressed - I needed a week to recover from loading her before tackling butchery. Quarter of a ton of pig is a serious workout.