Abstract

A cross sectional active and retrospective abattoir survey was undertaken from November 2013 to April 2014, on cattle slaughtered at Dessie municipal abattoir with the aim of identifying the major causes of organ condemnation, risk factors for organ condemnation and estimating the financial loss attributed to the condemned organs in cattle slaughtered at Dessie municipal abattoir, North-East part of Ethiopia. Of the total 768 examined animals, abnormalities were detected in 82 (10.68%) during ante mortem inspection and 430 (55.99%) were animals from which organ condemned during postmortem inspection. From the total cattle slaughtered, 311 (40.49%) livers, 142 (18.49%) lungs, 39 (5.08%) kidneys, 34 (4.43%) hearts and 6 (0.78%) tongues were condemned due to various causes. Hydatidosis (22.13%), fasciolosis (20.18%) and cirrhosis (8.85%), hepatitis (4.43%), pneumonia (3.25%), abscess (2.6%), pericarditis (2.08%), edema (1.82%), hydronephrosis (1.43%), nephritis (1.04%) were the major identified causes from the lesions responsible for the rejection of organs. Statistically significant difference in organ condemnation rate was found between age (p = 0.000), body condition score (p = 0.000) and origin (p = 0.013) of animals. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two breeds although there was higher condemnation rate of organ in cross breed cattle. In the study, fasciolosis and hydatidosis were the major causes of organs condemnation. The direct financial loss from organ condemnation due to various reasons was estimated to be 122,617.70 Ethiopian Birr (6,288.08 USD) per annum. Hence, commencement and implementation of prevention and control measures are must so as to secure from the financial loss they cause.

Key words: Dessie, Ethiopia, Financial loss, major causes, organ condemnation.