Assessment of causes of organ condemnations, financial losses and foetal wastage in cattle slaughtered at Bukoba Municipal abattoir, Kagera, Tanzania

Abstract

Retrospective and prospective studies were carried out at Bukoba Municipal abattoir, Tanzania to identify causes of cattle organs condemnation and assess financial implications and magnitude of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers. A retrospective study which retrieved and used data from 2011 to 2013 found that a total of 13,970 cattle were slaughtered and inspected. The prevalence of liver fasciolosis was 28.5%, lung congestion 10.2%, emphysema 5.1%, kidney haemorrhages 7.7% and hydronephrosis 4.3%. During a prospective study carried out in January 2014, post-mortem inspection of 692 cattle was done. The prevalence of liver fasciolosis was 37.6%, flabby heart 11.3%, emphysema 11.0% and lung congestion (6.6%). Value of condemned organs in one month of January 2014 was estimated to be Tanzanian shillings (TZS) 7,351 000 equivalent to US$ 4,595. Estimated total of TZS 6,174 600 (US$ 3,860) resulted from liver condemnations and TZS 6,092 400 (US$ 3,808) from liver fasciolosis which is 82.9% of the total financial losses. Of all the 480 cows and heifers slaughtered, 75 (15.6%) were found to be pregnant. The high condemnation rates led to financial losses and some of the conditions are of zoonotic importance. The indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant animals is against animal welfare. Therefore, diseases surveillance and control measures need to be strengthened, and enforcement of legislation governing animal welfare to curb the slaughter of pregnant animals.

Keywords: Condemnation, financial losses, fasciolosis, abattoir, Kagera.