Dunka H I, Buba D M, Gurumyen Y G, Oragwa A O, Oziegbe S D and Patrobas M N
University of Jos, Nigeria
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Vet Med Surg
Meat consumption demand is increasing with the growing population in Nigeria. However, livestock fetal wastage in the abattoirs/slaughter slabs has been documented across the country. The trend of slaughtering pregnant animals is against the existing meat edict of 1968 and accounts for a decrease in livestock production and huge financial losses which invariably affects the livestock economy. Therefore, a five-year retrospective study (2012– 2016) was conducted to assess the level of economic (financial) implication of foetal wastages in cattle and goats slaughtered in Jos abattoirs. The data collected were analyzed using Microsoft excel, tables and graph charts. Appropriately, some values were expressed in percentages and averages wherever applicable. The total number of cattle and goat slaughtered and their foetuses were reported as documented in the abattoir records. A total of 26, 242 cattle and 4, 612 goats were slaughtered, representing a yearly 5, 250 and 922, monthly 437 and 77, and daily 15 and 2.6 averages, respectively. The corresponding cattle and goat fetal wastages were 1, 346 and 1, 044 representing a yearly 269 and 209, monthly 22 and 17 and a daily 0.75 and 0.6 fetuses, respectively. The prevalence of fetal wastage was 4.5% for cattle and 22.6% for goats. The economic cost of the total fetal wastages for cattle and goats in the present study was estimated at ΓΆΒ?Β¦174, 980, 000 ($571, 830.07; €495, 195.47) and ΓΆΒ?Β¦10, 044, 000 ($328, 235.29; €284, 139.63), respectively. The annual averages of cattle and goat fetal wastage are ΓΆΒ?Β¦34, 970, 000 ($114, 281.06; €98, 864.65) and ΓΆΒ?Β¦2, 090, 000 ($6, 830.07; €5, 908.70), respectively. It is therefore necessary to implement the law prohibiting the slaughter of pregnant animals through thorough ante-mortem meat inspection which will consequently improve the nation’s livestock economy.
E-mail:
dunkah@unijos.edu.ng