Gross pathological conditions in eviscerated organs of cattle in Nsukka Slaughter Slab, Enugu State: The economic and public health implications

Gross lesions in cattle viscera result in loss of meat quality and condemnation during inspection. However, data on gross pathological conditions in cattle viscera are scarce in Nigeria. This study therefore was undertaken to determine the occurrence of gross lesions in cattle viscera during post mortem inspection at Ikpa Slaughter slab Nsukka and its economic and public health implications. Gross pathological lesions were found in all of the 545 cattle carcasses examined from May to August 2017. Lesions of fasciolosis, liver tuberculosis, Liver cirrhosis, lung tuberculosis, pneumonic lung, congested lung, blood retention in the heart, pimply gut and paramphistomosis were observed in 1 (0.18%), 33 (6.06%), 11 (2.02%), 216 (39.63%), 38 (6.97%), 501 (91.93%), 200 (39.69%), 545 (100%) and 545 (100%) of the slaughtered cattle, respectively. The rejection and condemnation of affected visceral organs loss estimate was N1,532,300.00. This unavoidable loss reduces profit and the absence of compensation policy encourages unwholesome practices by butchers and further exposes consumers to zoonotic disease infections. In the study, the eviscerated organs of cattle were unwholesome and unsafe due to some pathological and zoonotic conditions observed. There is need for government to make and implement zoonotic and economic disease control policies in livestock Nigeria.