Major Causes of Condemnation of Diseased Organs and its Economic Importance in Cattle Slaughtered at Arba Minch Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia

Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa. However, their potential uses were hampered by several animal diseases. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the major causes of organ condemnation and its economic importance in cattle slaughtered at Arba Minch municipal abattoir, Southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was employed to examine animals slaughtered at the abattoir with both standard ante-mortem inspection and post- mortem examination procedures were conducted throughout the study period. Ante-mortem inspection was carried out when the animals had arrived in the lairage, followed by post-mortem examination to detect gross abnormalities that rendered each organ rejected. A total of 384 cattle for condemnations of organs were examined. A total of 76(19.8%) lungs, 49(12.8%) livers, 25(6.5%) tongues, 25(6.5%) kidneys, 10(2.6%) hearts and 15(3.9%) spleens were rejected due to various pathological reasons. The diseases like CBPP 60 (17.2%), fasciolisis 27 (7%), cysticercosis 25(6.5%), calcification 19(4.9%), spleenomegaly 15(3.9%), hydatidosis 10(2.6%), nephritis 7(1.8%) and pulmonary emphysema 5(1.3%) were found to be the major causes. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between all causes of organ condemnation and the slaughtered male and female cattle. The annual loss due to the rejection of organs from the cattle slaughtered at the abattoir was estimated to be 187,890 ETB. As conclusion, the major causes of organ condemnation were parasitic diseases and other pathological conditions. Therefore, the veterinary authority should be carried out further surveillance on causes of organ condemnation observed at the slaughtered abattoirs and design its control strategic options in the site.