Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Abattoir Surveillance of Meat Inspection Findings in Sheep and Goats: A Three-Year Study (2023–2026) in Qazvin, Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Amirhosein Fadaee 1
Ramin Khorrami 2
Ali Khanjari 2
Afshin Akhondzadeh Basti 2
Negin Noori 2
Samira Fayazfar 3
1 Dasht-e Bareh Slaughterhouse, Qazvin Veterinary Organization, Qazvin, Iran.
2 Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Food Hygiene, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22038/jnfh.2026.95954.1630
Abstract
Introduction: Abattoir inspection records provide valuable information on animal health and pathological conditions in food animals and can reveal seasonal patterns in slaughter activity and carcass condemnation. This study assessed meat quality parameters and post-mortem meat inspection findings in sheep and goats slaughtered in Qazvin, Iran, over a three-year period.
Methods: Data were obtained from routine meat inspection records at a slaughterhouse in Qazvin from 21 March 2023 to 20 March 2026 (1402–1404 in the Iranian calendar). Total slaughter weight, proportion of condemned weight, and frequency of major pathological findings were evaluated. Data were summarized by season and year using totals and percentages, and statistical comparisons were performed between species.
Results: Sheep accounted for most of the slaughter weight throughout the study period. Annual slaughter weights for sheep were 1,060,496, 757,255, and 821,633 kg, compared with 131,104, 79,609, and 80,342 kg for goats. Seasonal variation was observed in both species, with generally higher slaughter weights in summer and autumn. The proportion of condemned weight also varied across seasons, with higher values in spring for sheep and in summer for goats in some years. In sheep, the most frequent pathological findings were infectious diseases, jaundice, sarcocystosis, cachexia, and cysticercosis, whereas goat findings were less frequent and mainly included infectious diseases, cachexia, and sarcocystosis. The overall distribution of pathological categories differed significantly between sheep and goats ( , ).
Conclusion: These findings highlight the value of routine abattoir surveillance for monitoring seasonal slaughter patterns and post-mortem meat inspection findings in small ruminants in Qazvin.
Keywords
abattoir surveillance
sheep
goats
meat inspection
pathological diseases
Subjects
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Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 October 2026

  • Receive Date 25 May 2026
  • Revise Date 21 September 2026
  • Accept Date 29 September 2026