Calf wastage through slaughtering of pregnant cows in Enugu abattoir, Nigeria

Abstract

Evaluation was done of the numbers of calves lost through slaughtering of pregnant cows in Enugu abattoir over a period of six years, to focus concern on this wastage especially in countries with increasing shortage of meat supply. The results showed that of 266,525 cattle slaughtered, 57,891 (21.72 p. 100) were females; 5,654 (9.77 p. 100) of the females were pregnant ; 2,394 (42.34 p. 100), 2,167 (38.33 p. 100) and 1,094 (19.35 p. 100) of the foetuses were 1-3 month, 4-6 month and 7-9 month old respectively. The total number of foetuses in second and third trimestres of pregnancy was 3,260 (57.66 p. 100) of total foetuses. Factors encouraging this situation were discussed. To prevent such tosses, it was suggested that pregnancy examination of cows by rectal palpation should become mandatory before sale of cows for slaughter in the country. Conversely only cows that have passed their maximum age of fertility of nine years should be slaughtered.