Assessment of fetal wastage in pigs slaughtered at Kumasi abattoir, Ghana

Abstract

There had been dearth of information on the level of fetal wastages in slaughtered pigs in West African countries other than Nigeria. This study evaluates the fetal losses due to slaughtering of pregnant pigs at the Kumasi abattoir in Kumasi, Ghana. The ages of the fetuses were estimated using standard technique with the influence of sex, age and breed of pig on fetal loss being evaluated. Data were subjected to descriptive and quantitative analysis. 2817 pigs were slaughtered during the period of the study with a monthly average of 563.1739(61.73%) were sows and 430(29.27%) were pregnant. 141(28.20%) sows were slaughtered in January, constituting the highest throughout the period of the study with corresponding fetal loss of 616(76.60%). Most of the fetuses wasted in this study were recorded in the second and third trimester (83.51%). The percentage of fetal wastage (the total number of fetuses wasted divided by the total number of pigs slaughtered) was 2117(75%) in this study. The results revealed high incidence of fetal losses at the Kumasi abattoir. There is need to advocate for routine veterinary checks and interventions in order to reduce the high level of fetal wastage which call for strategic planning and decision-making on animal food security in Ghana.

Keywords: Abattoir, Fetal wastage, Slaughtered pigs, Ghana