THE CONCEPTS OF ANIMAL WELFARE AND ITS CURRENT SITUATION IN TRADE CATTLE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA: AN OVERVIEW

Résumé

Animal welfare has arisen in society to express ethical concerns about the quality of life experienced by animals, particularly animals used in production agriculture.Although animal welfare studies originate more in developed countries, the topic is also emerging in developing nations. Animal welfare could be determined in terms of biological functioning that measures reactions to stress, including plasma levels of glucocorticoids, catecholamines, prolactin and endorphins, as well as heart rate and brain levels of neurotransmitters. Geographical and human conditions in sub-Saharan Africa suggest the welfare of trade animals for slaughter are negatively affected and that this also negatively affects meat quality and hence have economic impact. Nigeria has a Criminal Code which includes regulations on animal protection, that regulat markets bodies and road check points to monitor the welfare of trade cattle. Field reports indicate that these regulations are rarely – if ever – enforced.