Veterinary Science & Technology

Major Cause of Organ and Carcass Condemnation in Apparently Healthy Small Ruminant Slaughtered at Addis Ababa Abattoir Enterprise, Ethiopia

Abstract

Dinku Assefa, Elias Gezaheng, Birhanu Abera, Eyob Eticha, Diriba Lemma and Tekle Hailemariam

Study was conducted from November 2008 to March 2009 to determine the major causes of organ and carcass condemnation and associated annual magnitude of financial loss at Addis Ababa abattoir enterprise. Out of 1052 examined sheep and goats 459 (43.6%) livers, 307 (29.18%) lungs, 130 (12.36%) Hearts, 108 (20.27%) kidney and 28 (2.66%) carcass were condemned. The major causes of condemnation were parasite 52.24%, cirrhosis (11.2%), hepatitis (9.2%) and mechanical damage (8.12%) for liver; pneumonia (32.2%), emphysema (19.5%) and hydatidosis (15.9%) for lung; pericarditis (43.07%), calcification (17.7), Abscess (5.4%), Cysticercus ovis (8.4%) and other (25.4%) for heart; nephritis (30.5%) for kidneys, abscess (50%), bruising (29%) and other causes for carcasses. Rate of condemnation due to hydatidosis was higher in the lungs (4.3% in sheep and 5.0% in goats) than in the liver (3.3% in sheep and 3.4% in goats) significant higher rate of liver, lung, heart, kidney and carcass condemnation were not observed between age groups (p>0.05), but significantly higher rate of organ and carcass condemnation were observed with in sex group of sheep (P<0.05). However significant difference in the rate of organ and carcasses condemned were not observed by species of the animals (p>0.05). Total annual loss due to organ and carcass condemnation was estimated one million Ethiopian Birr (90909.09 USD). Result of the present work warrant immediate need for the prevention of causes of organ and carcass condemnation and pathological abnormalities through development of and animal health delivery, enforcement of slaughter policy, education of sheep and goat traders, and training of slaughter house personnel on standard slaughter operations.