All hogs purchased by Indiana Packers Corporation are subject to government (USDA) inspection.  All trim loss and USDA condemnations (total and partial) will be considered producer losses.  Any hogs diagnosed, by the USDA, with tuberculosis will be considered condemned and of no value.  It is possible for an animal to be condemned for tuberculosis yet be "passed for cooking" however, Indiana Packers Corporation is not a cooking facility therefore it is considered a producer loss.

Producers need to continually gain knowledge regarding the causes of condemnations and take necessary precautions to prevent and or control any further losses.

Listed below are some of the most common conditions, which result in condemnation of the animal:

Tuberculosis:  Chronic (long standing) infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis.  Typically caused by Avian (bird) TB contamination of feed or bedding material.  Route is usually by mouth and found in tonsil and lymph nodes of head, neck and intestine.  Causes characteristic change and swelling of the lymph node seen only at slaughter.

Toxemia:  Damage to the carcass caused by the toxin that a particular bacteria produces during its active growth.  Examples: Clostridium, E. Coli.

Icterus:  All or part of carcass is colored yellow from excess bile pigments due to poor liver function.  Examples: cirrhosis of liver, roundworm liver damage, leptospirosis.

Septicemia:  Bacterial infection that is severe enough to enter the bloodstream and likely spread through the carcass.  Examples: Erysipelas, Salmonellosis.

Arthritis:  Joint infection and/or inflammation that is severe or in multiple joints.  Examples:  Mycoplasma hyosynoviae, Erysipelas, Strep suis.

Peritonitis: Infection and/or inflammation of abdomen that causes the intestine and usually other organs to become stuck together.  Examples: Trauma, H. parasuis, acute ileitis, torsion.

Pyemia:  Pus filled infection, usually in kidney or lung.  Example:  Abscess of kidney, liver or lung.

For additional information regarding swine diseases, consult your swine veterinarian and check out www.pighealth.com.

Back to Procurement Home Page