Authors : I.R. Muhammad , Ashiru Rabi and A.Y. Abdullahi
Abstract: The objective of the study is to determine the proportion of foetuses destroyed due to the slaughter of pregnant sheep and goats relative to the total number of small ruminants in urban abattoir. Two studies were conducted. In study one, 150 structured questionnaires were administered to butchers while study two, data were collected at the main Kano abattoir for 2 months. Result of the survey showed butchers vary in age (< 20 to above 51 years). Youth were the main source of labour. All the butchers were males and mostly married (76.67%), they had secondary education and were mostly engaged in evisceration activities (50%). The structure of sheep and goats slaughtered at Kano abattoir revealed significantly higher (p< 0.05) number of goats relative to sheep. Also, significantly higher (p< 0.05) number of in-lamb sheep were slaughtered compared to in-kid goats. The study showed 34.3% sheep and 26.1% of in kid goats was slaughtered daily in urban abattoir. One out of every 3 ewe or 4 does slaughtered was pregnant. The data estimated 0.26 million lambs and 0.21 million kids were being destroyed annually due to the slaughter of pregnant animals. Reasons for the slaughter of pregnant animals advanced by butchers were either due to poor economic status or ignorance of the physiological status of the animals. It is recommended therefore, that antemortem inspection be conducted to identify pregnant animals for restriction or advice against their slaughter. Legislation prohibiting the slaughter of pregnant animals should be enforced. Government agency, Cooperative or NGO could organize the purchase of potentially healthy pregnant animals for rearing.
I.R. Muhammad , Ashiru Rabi and A.Y. Abdullahi , 2007. Implications of the Slaughter of Pregnant Ewes and Does to Future Stock in the Semi Arid Urban Abattoir . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 819-822.