Foetal wastage in Cattle and Sheep at Pankshin Slaughter Slab, Plateau State, Nigeria (January–July 2024)

Abstract

Foetal wastage due to the slaughter of pregnant livestock is unethical and 
results in economic loss. This study assessed the incidence of foetal wastage 
among cattle and sheep slaughtered at the Pankshin slaughter slab, Plateau 
State, from January to July 2024. A total of 155 cattle and 1,139 sheep were 
slaughtered. From these number, 77(49.7%) and 777(68.2%) were males 
and 78(50.3%) and 362 (31.8%) were females. Of the 78 and 362 females 
slaughtered, 13(8.4%) and 141(12.4%) were pregnant respectively. The 
investigation also shows that most cattle were slaughtered in the month of 
April with 27(17.4%) while majority of sheep were slaughtered in January 
with 226(19.8%). The rate of foetal wastage recorded in this study could be 
due to lack of ante-mortem inspection and poor veterinary checks. 
Slaughtering of animals for meat purposes should also be checked to avoid 
foetal wastage, which is unethical and is contrary to the international 
Standard Rules of slaughter. It is recommended that pregnancy examination 
should be carried out by experts such as veterinarians before slaughtering. 
Therefore complete enforcement of animal legislation should be put in place 
to avoid foetal wastage in livestock.