ABSTRACT
With the aim of evaluating the presence of microorganisms in bovine carcasses and the influence of refrigeration on the contaminating microbiotics, some samples were collected from the outer surface of half-carcasses in these regions (rump, loin and rib), after washing and after 24 hours under refrigeration. The average of the mesophilic heterotrofic, psychrotrofic andStaphylococcusmicroorgarnisms, obtained immediately after the carcass washing were respectively 1.8 x 10, 6.4 x 10 and 3.5 x 10 CFU/cm2, while for the samples collected after refrigeration these values were 1.3 x 10, 1.6 x 102 and 5.2 x 10 CFU/cm2. The populations were considered low due to the hygienic practices during the slaughter process, and the differences observed between the averages of the two groups of samples were not statistically significant, leading to the conclusion that that was not an increase of the microorganism population, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the refrigeration process after the slaughter.
KEY WORDS
Bovine carcass; indicator microorganisms; Staphylococcus sp.; refrigeration