Major diseases of export oriented livestock in export abattoirs in /around Ada Liben wereda, Debre Zeit

Abstract

The study was conducted from December to April 2007/ 2008 in Hashim’s Ethiopian Livestock and Meat Export (HELIMEX) abattoir at Debre Zeit, Luna and Modjo modern export abattoirs at modjo. The aim of this study was to identify and determine the major diseases of organ and carcass condemnation and to estimate the magnitude of the direct losses attributed to the condemned organs and carcasses from sheep and goats slaughtered in the abattoirs. Standard antemortem and postmortem inspection procedures were followed through out the study. Antemortem inspection was carried out in the lairage and abnormalities encountered were recorded, followed by postmortem examination through their identification number to detect gross abnormalities and aesthetic reasons that rendered each organ to be rejected from local and international market. During the study a total of 229 sheep and goats and 229 organs and carcasses were examined. The study revealed that 176 (76.8%) livers, 141 (61.5%) lungs, 47 (20.5%) hearts, 32 (27.5%) kidneys 27 (11.8%) brain and 28 (12.2%) carcasses were rejected due to various causes. Hepatitis (23.9%), pneumonia (43.2%), pericarditis (10%), nephritis (9.6%), oestrus ovis (8.3%) and bonny carcass (8.7%) were found to be the major causes responsible for rejection. of respective organs and carcass. The annual loss due to the rejection of organs and carcasses from the small ruminants slaughtered in the export abattoirs is estimated at approximately 152,173.125 USD. Conclusions and recommendations are forwarded regarding causes of organ/carcass condemnation and resultant economic loss.