PREVALENCE OF RUMEN IMPACTION IN RUMINANTS SLAUGHTERED AT SOKOTO MODERN ABATTOIR

Abstract

This study was conducted at Sokoto modern abattoir to assess the prevalence of indigestible rumen foreign body impaction and to identify the type of rumen foreign bodies in apparently healthy slaughtered cattle, sheep and goats. From the total of 535 ruminants [356 (66.5%) cattle, 119 (22.2%) sheep and 60 (11.2%) goats] examined within 3 days, 262 (49.0%) and 273 (51.0%) were males and females respectively, while 143 (26.7%) were found with rumen impaction. Polythene bags, rope, hair and paper were the various types of foreign bodies encountered. Polythene bags were the most commonly observed foreign body in all animals with positive cases. In both sexes the prevalence of rumen impaction was higher in females (65.7%) than in males (34.3%), it was highest in cattle (60.14%) and least in goats (11.19%). Findings of this work showed that the prevalence of rumen
impaction in ruminants is quite high. Therefore, concerned agencies should work against contamination of the environment with indigestible foreign bodies and livestock farmers in the study area should provide mineral lick and supplementary feed for their free ranging livestock.