Monitoring of bacteriological contamination and assessment of carcase surface growth by using direct and indirect contact examination techniques and various colony counting procedures.

Two hundred and sixty nine beef, 230 sheep and 165 pig carcase surface were examined bacteriologically. Direct and indirect contact examination techniques were utilised. Colony counts per cm2 were expressed in geometric progression. Counting procedures, direct and indirect contact examinations, and effects of chilling were considered. Subsequently, results from an additional 489 beef, 520 sheep, and 408 pig carcases were employed to illustrate a count classification arrangement against which bacteriological monitoring assessments could be measured.