Characteristics of cattle slaughtered in the municipal abattoir of Bafoussam and prevalence of Tuberculosis

Abstract

The study was carried out in June 2016 using a semi-structured questionnaire, interviews and direct observations at the municipal slaughterhouse of Bafoussam in the Western Region of Cameroon (NL 5˚27’58’’ and EL 10˚24’32’’). The objective was to determine the characteristics of cattle slaughtered and the prevalence of tuberculosis in that region. A total of 773 cattle were observed before slaughter and their carcasses subjected to a veterinary health ante mortem inspection. The animals (48.4 %) are mostly crossbreed, of male sex (61.2%) and aged 5-8 years (50.1%). The overall prevalence of tuberculosis was 6.9%. That prevalence was higher among white Fulani (9.0%), cows (10.3%), and animals older than 8 years (12.8 %). The general average carcass weight was 151.76 ± 23.03 kg. Crossbreeds animals recorded an average carcass weight of 154.43±20.92 kg which is not significantly different from those of other breeds. The bulls have the highest average carcass weight (157.64 ± 22.84 kg), which is significantly different from that of cows. The study therefore confirms that bovine tuberculosis is endemic in the Bafoussam slaughterhouse and suggests that systematic knowledge on epidemiology and control of the disease as well as the interrelationship between animal and human tuberculosis should be updated.

Keywords: Bafoussam, Carcasses, Characteristics, Cattle, Prevalence, Slaughterhouse, Tuberculosis