CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF THE OCCURRENCE OF DISEASES AND DISORDERS IN TRADE CATTLE SLAUGHTERED AT NSUKKA ABATTOIR, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluated the occurrence of diseases and disorders among trade cattle slaughtered between March
2012 and March 2013 at Nsukka abattoir, Enugu State, Nigeria. The study population was 8,296 cattle slaughtered during this study period, while the sample population evaluated in the cross-sectional survey was 567 cattle slaughtered on days of scheduled research visits to the abattoir, which was once in two weeks across the 13-month study period. Diagnosis of the diseases/disorders encountered during the study followed standard procedures. Results showed that out of the 567 cattle sampled, 82 (14.46%) had diseases/disorders, while 485 were apparently healthy. The occurrences of specific diseases/disorders were as follows: fasciolosis — 8.47%, tuberculosis — 1.76%, trypanosomosis — 1.41%, skin disorders — 0.88%, paramphistomosis — 0.71%, neoplasms — 0.18%, and cachexia of unknown aetiology— 1.06%. Among the 485 apparently healthy catile, 9 (1.59%) were found with foetus in their uterus at slaughter (pregnant). It was concluded that the occurrence of diseases/disorders in the cattle surveyed was 14.46%, and that fasciolosis topped the list as the disease with the highest occurrence.