ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to assess the extent of foetal losses due to the slaughtering of pregnant animals for meat in Aba and Umuahia main abattoirs in Abia State. The total of 17,489 cattle and 15,173 goats were slaughtered in the two abattoirs during the study period which lasted for 4 months. Out of these, 1963 cows, and 4669 does were slaughtered representing 11.22% and 30.17% for cattle and goat respectively. The total number of foetuses recovered in the two abattoirs was 628 and 3518 in cattle and goat respectively. An average of one foetus was recovered in 3 cows or 1 doe slaughtered at Umuahia abattoir, the corresponding ratios for Aba abattoir were 4:1 and 1:1 for cow and doe slaughtered respectively. More fetuses were recovered at Umuahia during the rainy season in cattle. The highest recovery of foetus was made during the rainy season in goat. The annual loss estimated as a result of foetal waste ranged between 5.34 million and 6.59 million naira for cattle and between 3.52 and 5.27 million naira for goat in the two abattoirs as a result of indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant animals in both Umuahia and Aba abattoirs. The continuation of this act will have fir reaching implication on income to the livestock producers and will impede progress on national fbod security policy.