Causes of Small Ruminants Liver Condemnation and Financial Loss at Abyssinia Slaughtering Service House, Bishoftu, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted from November 2017 to April 2018 on sheep and goats slaughtered at Abyssinia Slaughtering Service House with the aim of determining major causes of liver condemnation and to estimate the direct financial losses attributed to the condemned liver. Ante mortem and post-mortem inspection procedures were followed throughout the study and abnormalities encountered were recorded. A total of 520 sheep and 510 goats were examined at ante mortem and all were passed for slaughter. Out of 1030 sheep and goats slaughtered, 381 (37%) livers were totally condemned. The major causes of liver condemnation were due to hepatitis, calcification, cirrhosis, stelesia hepatica, C. tenuicollis, fasciola and adhesion. The principal causes of condemnation were hepatitis 56(10.8%), calcification 47(9.04%), Stelesia hepatica 47(9.04%) and Fasciola 37 (7.1%) in sheep and hepatitis 36(7.06%) and cirrhosis 33(6.5%) in goats. Hepatitis was highest contributor in both species while calcification and Stelesia hepatica in sheep and cirrhosis in goat were mostly contributed to liver condemnation. Comparison of liver condemnation rate was carried out for different age, animal origin and species of animals. However, statistically significant difference was observed only between species (P-value=.000). The direct financial loss due to liver condemnation was calculated to be 58,018.4 ETB or 2,148.8 USD per annum, rendering them unfit for local market on esthetic ground or considering their zoonotic risks to human beings. To this end, public education on the effects of animal disease, application of strict control measures accompanying epidemiological studies and exercising appropriate meat inspection procedures were forwarded to minimize liver condemnation and as well as to safeguard the welfare of the public.