Microbiological contamination of sheep carcases in Finland by excision and swabbing sampling

► Microbiological contamination of sheep carcases in Finland was studied. ► Sampling by excision gives higher bacterial counts than sampling by swabbing. ► No Salmonella spp. was recovered on the carcases sampled. ► Swabbing with gauze can be used as an alternative sampling method to excision. ► E. coli can be used as alternative indicator bacterium for process hygiene by swabbing.