Abstract:
The current study reviews a 3-year record of
slaughtered animals in Arusha abattoir to determine the causes
of carcasses and organ/offal condemnations. A total of
115,186 cattle, 61,551 sheep, 37,850 goats and 13,310 pigs
were slaughtered. Out of the slaughtered cattle, 8.6% were
pregnant. Up to 125 (0.108%), 39 (0.063%), 40 (0.106%) and
132 (0.992%) of all cattle, sheep, goats and pig carcasses,
respectively, were totally condemned. Cysticercosis was the
leading cause of total carcass condemnations in cattle
(0.051%) and in pig (1.397%), while emaciation accounted
for 0.045% and 0.074% of carcass condemnations in sheep
and goats, respectively. Livers and lungs were the most
condemned organs in all four animal species. The main cause
of condemnations of cattle livers was fasciolosis (8.6%), while
stilesiosis in sheep and goats accounted for 8.1% and 7.3%,
respectively. Ascariasis (4.03%) was the only cause of liver
condemnation in pigs. Pneumonia was the leading cause of
lung condemnations at the rates of 3.99%, 2.43% and 2.83%
in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. Because of their
zoonotic nature, occurrences of hydatidosis, cysticercosis,
fasciolosis and tuberculosis may pose a public health risk.
Thus, there is a need to introduce appropriate control
measures of livestock diseases to minimise the rate of
infection and reduce economic losses.
