Prevalence and pathology of indigestable foreign bodies in rumen and reticulum of cattle slaughtered at Kombolcha Elfora Abattoir, north east Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October, 2015 to April, 2016 at Kombolcha ELFORA Abattoir, South Wollo Zone, Amhara National Regional State, with the objectives of determining the prevalence of foreign bodies in forestomach of slaughtered cattle, gross pathological lesions and associated risk factors for the occurrences of foreign bodies. Postmortem examination was employed to examine the foreign body from rumen and reticulum after slaughter. The study animals were selected by using systematic random sampling method. From the total of 700 cattle examined, 219(31.28%) were found positive for indigestible foreign bodies in rumen and reticulum. Sands (12.32%), clothes (10.50%), ropes (8.67%) and stones (8.67%), were the most common types of foreign bodies observed. The prevalence of foreign body in cattle was significantly associated with sex (χ 2 = 7.11, P 0.05) and origins (χ 2 =2.62; P>0.05). Abscess (60%) was the most common lesion encountered followed by hemorrhage (21.81%), ulcer (9.09%), ruminal atony (7.27%) and reticular fistula (1.81%). Most of the lesions (67 %) were caused by metallic foreign bodies compared to non-metallic foreign bodies. The study demonstrated that ruminants in the area ingest various types of indigestible foreign materials, which can hamper their health and productivity. To avert the problem, collaborative intervention schemes need to be applied involving professionals, policy makers, livestock keepers, and environmental activists Keywords: Abattoir, Cattle, Foreign body, Ethiopia, Reticulum, Rumen