Authors : A.Y. Adenkola, I.I. Luga, O.O. Agbede and J. Okpe
Abstract: The study was conducted with the aim of assessing the impact of harmattan season on the quality of beef and chevon Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. About 88 samples consisting of 44 beef samples and 44 chevon samples were obtained between December 2010 and January 2011 which was considered the peak period of harmattan in Makurdi. Approximately 50 g of the meat sample was taken from each animal post slaughter into a sterile container where 10 g each from the meat sample was processed for determination of the pH values, total coliform count and anaerobic plate count. Approximately 5 mL of blood sample was also collected from each animal whose meat sample was collected. This was done during slaughtering and the blood was collected into a sample bottle containing 2 mg mL-1 of sodium salt of Ethylene Diaminetetra Acetic acid (NaEDTA) as an anticoagulant. The pH values of the beef samples ranged from 4.6-6.24 and the pH values of the chevon samples ranged from 5.0-6.5. The pH values of the beef samples were lower than that of the chevon samples. The total coliform plate count and anaerobic plate counts for the beef samples were higher than those of the chevon samples, indicating a higher contamination of the beef samples. The obtained PCV value of 33.78±0.83% in cattle was significantly (p<0.05) >27.24±0.89% recorded in goat while the haemoglobin concentration recoded in the goat was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the obtained value in cattle. Total erythrocyte count recorded in the goat was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that obtained in cattle. In conclusion harmatan season stressfully affects cattle and goat hence the quality of beef and chevon was compromised indicating that the goats were more stressed than the cattle during this season. It is therefore, recommended that minimal stress should be imposed on the animals intended to be slaughtered during this season in order to maintain the good and keeping quality of beef and chevron sample.
A.Y. Adenkola, I.I. Luga, O.O. Agbede and J. Okpe, 2011. The Quality of Beef and Chevon During Harmattan Season in Makurdi, Nigeria. Veterinary Research, 4: 117-120.