Some diseases associated with carcass condemnation in tamale abattoir, northern Ghana

Abstract

There is dearth of information on occurrence of various diseases associated with carcass condemnation in countries other than Nigeria within West Africa. Hence, this study was conducted to identify the common disease conditions that results in carcass condemnation of food animals in Tamale, northern Ghana and the hub of cattle production of Ghana. Data obtained from abattoir records of diseases and lesions observed in food animals slaughtered in Tamale abattoir for a period of two years were analyzed. The disease conditions observed include Tuberculosis 14.3%, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia 27.5%, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia 1.6%, Lumpy Skin Disease 1.3%, Mastitis 1.1% and others. This showed that zoonotic and pneumonia associated transboundary diseases are the most important diseases in food animals in Ghana. Hence proper meat inspections should be conducted in abattoirs and good record keeping of disease conditions of food animals should be maintained for adequate surveillance of livestock diseases. Sustainable disease control planning should be enhanced in Ghana.

Keywords: Abattoir record, Animal disease, Lesion, Tamale, Ghana