FOETAL WASTAGE IN KANO CENTRAL ABATTOIR AND ITS IMPACT ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

Abstract

The study examined the incidence of bovine feotal wastage and its economic impacts in Kano central abattoir. Daily visits were made to the slaughter slab and recorded the total cattle slaughtered, number of bulls and cows slaughtered and number of condemned foetuses for 30 days. The results revealed that 11,930 cattle’s were slaughtered during the study period with average daily slaughter of 385. About 64.28% of slaughtered bovine were cows out of which 7.5% were pregnant. Averagely, 8 pregnant cows were slaughtered daily at the ratio of 1:33 foetus to cow slaughtered. These wastages may lead huge depletion of future reproductive stock which is disastrous to the future of livestock industry in meeting beef and milk demand of the teaming population. The estimated financial losses accrued in the Kano central abattoir was ₦3,944,000.00 monthly translating to annual loss of ₦47,280,000.00. The finding urges for urgent action to be put in place to checkmate the marketing and slaughter of pregnant cattle in the State.