Foetal wastage in goats slaughtered in Zaria abattoir, Northern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out with the aim of determining the age and percentage wastage of foetus due to the slaughter of pregnant does in Zango Abattoir, Samaru, Zaria. Out of a total of 680 female goats slaughtered during three months (January to March, 1998), 275 (40.44%) of the were pregnant. From the pregnant uteri, 460 foetuses were recovered and used for the study. Out of the recovered foetuses 41.09, 21.82 and 37.09% were twins, triplets and single respectively. The weight as well as the crown-rump of the foetuses were measured and the results obtained were used to determine their estimated ages. It was found that the highest percentage (46.2%) 0f the foetuses fell within the first trimeter of pregnancy, while the second and third trimesters had 30% and 23.8% respectively. The regression equations and the results of the correlation analysis showed that the gestational age of the local breeds of goats can be accurately estimated by crown-rump measurement. It was concluded that complete lack of pregnancy dignostic test on does before slaughtering in the abattoirs resulted in heavy losses of foetuses which call to question the role of the veterinary personnel at the abattoir with the consequence reduction in the availability of animal protein in the country. The study also gave an insight into the use of two easily measured variables: foetal weight (FW) and crown rump lenght (CRL) as a means for age estimates in goats.