FOETOMETRICS OF COWS SLAUGHTERED AT SOKOTO MODERN ABATTOIR

Abstract

Knowledge on the estimate cows slaughtered and foetal ages of slaughtered pregnant cows will go a long way to tracing the cause(s) of the slaughter and or foetal wastage and the possible means of addressing the menace. Thus, this study was carried out to assess average number of cattle slaughtered at Sokoto Modern Abattoir over a period of three months. Data was collected between April and June during which the abattoir was visited early in the morning (6 a.m) before slaughter activities commence. Foetuses removed from the pregnant cows by butchers during evisceration was collected, weighed and crown rump length was taken in centimeter with aid of a flexible measuring tape. The estimate gestation ages of the wasted foetuses were determined from the crown rump length measurements. A total of 9,716 cattle were slaughtered with an average of 2,429 weekly. Out of the total number slaughtered, 4872 were males while 4844 were females. From the number of female cattle slaughtered,129 foetuses were recovered, of which 0.7% of the foetuses were in the the first trimester of the dam pregnancy; 42.3% were in the second trimester while 57% were at the third trimester. The study concludes that sex ratio of the cattle slaughtered was approximately 1:1 (male:female). A total weight of 966.3Kg foetal wastage was recorded over the three months period. Pregnant cattle at the third trimester were the most slaughtered (57%).