FOETAL WASTAGE IN RUMINANTS AND SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

¹Tizhe, M.A, ¹Kubkomawa, H. I., ²Waba, Y.E and ³Addass, P.A

¹Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Nigeria

²Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, College Of Agriculture, Maiduguri, Nigeria

³Department of Animal Science, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to ascertain the proportion of pregnant animals slaughtered in Mubi main slaughter house. This is with the view to contribute to the already published information from other parts of the world in order to create more awareness on the dangers of such practice on food security and the sustainable livestock sub- sector of the economy. Data used in this study were obtained from daily records on three classes of animals slaughtered at the Mubi main slaughter house for a period of four years (2005-2008). The number of pregnant animals slaughtered and foetuses wasted in year 2005, 2007 and 2008 did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from one another. However, year 2006 has significantly (P<0.05) higher number of pregnant cows, does and ewes slaughtered and foetal wastage encountered. The number of foetal loss encountered in the does and ewes surpassed that of dams due to twins and triplets recovered. Number of pregnant animals slaughtered and the foetuses wasted differ significantly (P<0.05) between seasons. The number of pregnant cows slaughtered and foetuses wasted were highest during the early dry season. The number of pregnant dams slaughtered and foetal wastage encountered tally because of single birth which is common in cows.  Pregnant does slaughtered during the early dry and late dry seasons did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). But fetuses recovered differ significantly (P<0.05) between the two seasons mentioned. Early dry season has the highest number of pregnant ewes slaughtered and foetuses recovered. Late wet season seems to have least number of pregnant animals slaughtered and fetuses wasted. The distribution of general slaughter of female animals on monthly basis revealed that more cows and does were slaughtered in the month of December which were the highest. Highest number of pregnant ewes slaughtered was in the month of November but foetal wastage was highest in the month of April. Slaughter of animals irrespective of specie differs significantly (P<0.05) between months. Abattoir foetal wastage is a monster eating silently and deeply into the life of livestock industry. Unless this bottle neck is checked and eliminated, the sustainability of the livestock industry will just be an illusion.

Keywords: Abattoir, Foetal Wastage, Ruminants, Sustainable, Livestock Industry