Prevalence and associated economic loss of fetal wastage in small ruminants slaughtered at Addis Ababa municipality abattoir, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study examined prevalence and economic implications of abattoir pregnancy/ fetal wastage in small ruminants. Survey was conducted on ewes (n=201) and does (n=183) slaughtered at Addis Ababa municipality abattoirs, during December 2017 and January 2018. Female reproductive tracts were examined for presence and types of pregnancy and/ or gross disorders. Net economic loss and net economic risk due to abattoir fetal wastage were calculated for each species after accounting for naturally expected abortion and neonatal losses, and domestic net market values. One hundred forty-two (37 %) animals were pregnant 131 (34.1 %) with single and 11 (2.9 %) with twin fetus. A total of 153 fetuses were recovered giving a fetal wastage prevalence of 39.8 %. More animals in the second trimester (25.5 %) were slaughtered than those in first (8.3 %) or third (3.1 %) trimesters (p < 0.05). Prevalence of pregnancy was 32.8 % in does and 40.8 % in ewes (p = 0.104). Prevalence of fetal wastage was 37.2 % (68 fetuses) and 42.3 % (85 fetuses) in goats and sheep, respectively (p > 0.05). Abattoir pregnancy prevalence showed variations relative to slaughter month in goat (p < 0.01) and body condition in sheep (p < 0.05). Observed abattoir pregnancy prevalence levels incurred net economic loss of 313.55 USD in sheep (per 201 ewes) and 315.4 USD in goats (per 108 doe). This translated to net economic risk of 1.7 USD per mature doe or ewe slaughtered for meat. Nine (4.9 %) does and 1 (0.5 %) ewe showed gross reproductive tract disorders (p < 0.05). Frequent female slaughter without efficient ante-mortem pregnancy screening predisposed significant proportion of small ruminants to pregnancy/ fetal wastage. Deeper investigations are needed to understand reasons behind pregnant small ruminant slaughter and to mitigate its negative impacts on sustainability of animal production. Evaluating and capacity building on alternative small ruminant pregnancy diagnosis methods requires due attention.