Cross sectional study was conducted from November, 2018 to March, 2019 to investigate the major causes of organs/carcass condemnation and to estimate the financial loss encountered in cattle slaughtered at Hirna municipal abattoir. Both Ante mortem and Post mortem examination were employed to detect any abnormalities on the animals during the study period. Accordingly, a total of 384 randomly selected slaughtered cattle were examined both during ante mortem and post mortem. Various physical abnormalities were observed in ante mortem examination, such as lameness 11 (2.86%), rough hair coat 9 (2.34%), traumatic injury 6 (1.56%), local swelling 6 (1.56%) and branding 3 (0.78%). During post mortem, inspection 57 (14.84%) liver, 42 (10.94%) lung, 22 (5.73%) carcass, 17 (4.43%) heart and 15 (3.91%) kidney were condemned. The major causes of liver condemnation were 22 (5.73%) fasciola and 19 (4.95%) hydatid cyst followed by 10 (2.60%) local calcification and 5 (1.30%) abscess. Hydatid cyst 25 (6.5%), emphysema 8 (2.08%) and abscess 7 (1.82%) were causes for lung condemnation and calculi 6 (1.56%), hemorrhage 5 (1.30%) and nephritis 4 (1.04%) were the causes for kidney condemnation. Hearts were also condemned due to 7 (1.82%) pericarditis, 6 (1.56%) hydatid cyst and 4 (1.04%) hemorrhages. Bruise 22 (5.75%) was the only cause of carcass condemnation in current study. The total annual financial loss from organs and carcass condemnation during the study period was estimated to be 152,504.4ETB and fasciolosis and bruise were the major causes that lead to huge economic losses. Regular animal deworming, proper handling of animals while driven to the market and abattoir, and appropriate disposal of condemned organs should be strongly practiced.

Keywords: Abattoir, carcass, cattle, condemnation, financial loss, Hirna, organ