PRELIMINARY STUDY ON OCCURRENCE OF POLYTHENE BAGS AND OTHER FOREIGN BODIES: RELATED COMPLICATION IN SHEEP AND GOAT ASSOCIATED WITH POOR WASTE DISPOSAL IN DAMATURU TOWN, YOBE STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted at Damaturu ultra-modern abattoir in Yobe state from August November,2014. Total of 7916 sheep and goats were recorded in the abattoir before slaughter. The overall prevalence of polythene bags was n= 1685 (21.21%) and n= 158 (1.99%) for other foreign bodies which include ropes, leather, sacks, hair and threads. The frequency of occurrence of polythene bags and other foreign bodies was 42.32% in sheep, 57.27% in goats and 27.22% in sheep and 72.78% in goats respectively. The study also revealed a higher presentation of female goats 461(27.36%) and 331(19.64%) of female sheep than male goats 191(11.34%) and 146(8.66%) of male sheep at 3-4 year of age. This also indicated that, sex and age have interaction in ingestion of these materials. The present study revealed that presence of polythene bags and other foreign bodies are higher in female sheep and goats at the age of 3-4 years. This may be as the result of high nutritional demand during pregnancy, lactating and period prior to mating