Assessment of Fetal Wastage and its Economic Implication among Ruminant Animals Slaughtered at Kano Main Abattoir, North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to ascertain the impact of fetal wastage from the slaughter of pregnant ruminant animals at the Kano main abattoir, north-western Nigeria. The economic implications were also estimated. The study was carried out from May, 2023 to April, 2024. A total of 237,200 ruminant animals (cattle, sheep and goats) were slaughtered within the study period out of which 119771(50.5%) were males while 117,429(49.5%) were females. 17,506 fetal wastages were recorded from the slaughter of 117429 female ruminant animals slaughtered. There was an overall prevalence of 15.0 % with goats having the highest specie-specific prevalence of 25.0% (n=105710 followed by sheep 14.5% (n=1808) and cattle with the lowest 8.2% (n=5217). There was no statistically significant association between the occurrence of fetal wastages and the number of females animals slaughtered (p>0.05). There was a huge income loss of about ₦3.360 billion ($2.293 million) made up of ₦2. 435 billion ($1.662 million), ₦171.7 million ($117,242) and ₦753.2 million ($514,118) for cattle, sheep and goat that could have been saved if the foetuses were not wasted and were raised and allowed to reach market age. It is therefore necessary to bring all hands-on deck in order to find a lasting solution to this serious menace of slaughtering pregnant food animals generally through concerted efforts by governments and professionals aimed at educating and sensitizing livestock farmers, butchers, abattoir workers and livestock dealers on the dangers of this negative practice in order to protect and salvage the livestock industry and ensure sustainable food security.