Retrospective study of cattle fetal wastage at Hadeja abattoir, Jigawa State: Economic implication and seasonal variation

Abstract

Fetal wastage usually occurs due to indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant cows without proper ante mortem assessment of the pregnancy status prior to slaughter in most of the abattoir in Jigawa state. Therefore, the current retrospective study was aimed to determine the extent of cattle fetal wastage and its economic implications for a period of 6 years (2016-2021) in Hadeja abattoir Jigawa state. The total number of cows slaughtered in Hadeja abattoir and the fetal wastage were evaluated. Variation in the number of fetal wastages during dry season and rainy season were determined. Economic implications of fetal wastage were evaluated. The results revealed the number of fetuses wasted were 3,763 within a six-year period. The highest number of fetal wastages 2777 (73.8 %/) were recorded in the dry season with (P < 0.05), compared to the number of fetal wastages 986 (26.2 %) recorded in the rainy season. The financial losses due to fetal wastages was estimated at ₦2,162,160,000 with an annual loss of ₦ 360,360,000. The yearly average fetal wastage across the study period was 627 (16.7 %). Large number of fetal wastages were recorded during the dry season with significant economic losses. Hence, effective ante mortem inspection and pregnancy diagnosis in cows is necessary in order to avert this problem at the abattoir. Similarly, reinforcement of legislation law against indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant cows should be enforced at the abattoir.