Which of the following is NOT one of the ante-mortem removal criteria?

• A. Hypothermia
• B. Dead
• C. Moribund (dying)
• D. Pyrexia (temp > 106 F)

Answer: (A)

Ante-mortem removal criteria are signs observed before slaughter that indicate an animal is not fit for human consumption and should be removed from the line. Dead animals and moribund (dying) animals clearly fall into that category because they cannot be considered healthy and represent a risk to meat safety. Pyrexia, or fever, signals a systemic illness and also warrants removal before slaughter due to the potential for verspredding infectious material and poor meat quality. Hypothermia, however, is simply an abnormally low body temperature and can result from environmental factors or handling; by itself it does not indicate an unfitness for consumption, so it is not used as an ante-mortem removal criterion.