The Food (Meat Inspection) (Scotland) Regulations 1988

PART III Detailed Instructions

Bovine animals less than 6 weeks

1.  In the case of bovines less than 6 weeks old the inspection shall include in particular an examination of—

(a) the head, the throat, the surface of the tongue, the mouth and the fauces; the retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(b) the lungs, the trachea and oesophagus; the trachea and the main branches of the bronchi shall be opened lengthwise and the lungs shall be incised in their posterior third, at right angles to their main axes; save that these incisions are not necessary where the lungs are to be excluded from human consumption; the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(c) the pericardium, which shall be opened, and the heart; the latter shall be incised lengthwise so as to open the ventricles and to cut through the intra-ventricular septum;

(d) the diaphragm;

(e) the surfaces and substance of the liver and the hepatic lymph nodes; the liver shall be incised if an inspector considers it necessary; the hepatic lymph nodes shall be palpated and, if an inspector considers it necessary, examined in detail;

(f) the alimentary tract, the mesentery and the gastric, pancreatic and mesenteric lymph nodes; the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes shall be palpated and, if an inspector considers it necessary, examined in detail;

(g) the surface of the spleen;

(h) the kidneys which, if an inspector considers it necessary, shall be incised and the renal lymph nodes examined in detail;

(i) the pleura and the peritoneum;

(j) the umbilical region and joints which shall be palpated; where an inspector considers it necessary the umbilical region shall be incised, the joints shall be opened and the synovial fluid examined;

(k) the feet, if an inspector considers it necessary.

2.  Where evidence of tuberculosis is found, an inspector shall—

(a) split the carcase, examine the vertebrae, ribs, sternum, spinal cord and brain, incise the kidneys;

(b) examine in detail such of the following lymph nodes as he has not already so examined: superficial inguinal, prescapular, prepectoral, presternal, suprasternal, xiphoid, subdorsal, intercostal, iliac, sublumbar, ischiatic, precrural and popliteal, the lymph nodes least likely in the particular case to show evidence of infection being examined first.