Indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria: Causes, prevalence, implications and ways-out

Abstract

Background The indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats (SPGs) undermines meat production and food security especially in developing countries. It also connotes animal cruelty, depletion of goat population and may enhance the spread of zoonotic pathogens inhabiting the female reproductive tract during carcass processing. Consequently, this study determined the causes and prevalence of slaughtering pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria. The study also estimated the economic losses associated with SPGs, discussed the negative public health consequences and suggested the ways-out. Methods Structured, validated and pilot-tested questionnaire was used to ascertain the reasons for SPGs for meat among 78 willing and randomly selected respondents. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the form of interview. Pregnancy statuses of the goats slaughtered were ascertained by visual inspection and palpation of the eviscerated and longitudinally incised uteri and the horns for macroscopic evidence of pregnancy. Ages of the dams were estimated by dentition method. Estimation of the gestational age was performed by crown-rump length method. The study lasted for six months, comprised of three months (December to March) during the dry/hot season and another three months (May to August) during the wet/rainy season. Economic loss estimation was based on the current monetary values of a matured (30 kilogram) goat and one kilogram of chevon in Enugu, Nigeria; which was determined through market survey. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to determine whether there were significant (P<0.05) statistical associations between SPGs and age and season. Results Major reasons adduced for SPGs were: economic hardship (41%), ignorance of the goat’s pregnancy status (21%), increased demand for chevon (13%) and feed scarcity during drought (11%). Of the 1,658 does examined during the six months study, 589 (35.5%) were pregnant. The majority (876/1658, 52.8%) of the female goats slaughtered were in their active reproductive age of ≤ 4 years, while 782 (47.2%) were aged > 4 years. Similarly, majority (1007/1658, 60.7%) of the does/nannies were slaughtered during the dry/hot season. A total of 907 foetuses at first (n = 332, 36.6%), second (n = 486, 53.6%) and third (n = 89, 9.8%) trimesters of gestation were recovered from the 589 PGs. Singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies were observed in 312 (53%), 236 (40%) and 41 (7%) PGs, respectively. About ₦34.44 million ($83,390) would have been earned if the foetuses were born alive and raised to maturity. Additionally, 19,136 kg of chevon, valued at ₦47,841, 000 ($115,838), which would have accrued from the wasted foetuses was also lost. Conclusion Considering the economic, zoonotic and livestock production implications of this work, frantic efforts to reduce SPGs in Enugu, Nigeria is imperative. This could be achieved through advocacy, goat farmers’ enlightenment, ante-mortem pregnancy diagnosis, provision of subsidized feed materials during the dry season and strict enforcement of the Nigerian Meat Edict law, which proscribes unapproved slaughter of gravid animals. These measures may improve food safety and security, improve goat reproduction and production, reduce protein malnutrition, limit dissemination of zoonotic pathogens during carcass processing and hence protect public health in Nigeria.

Pre-slaughter, slaughter and post-slaughter practices of slaughterhouse workers in Southeast, Nigeria: Animal welfare, meat quality, food safety and public health implications

“…Of concern also are the slaughter of pregnant cows and the consequent wastage of bovine foetuses which could have been raised to address the scarcity of AP in the country. If unchecked, these excessive wastages and wanton losses of animal resources may result in an acute shortage and diminution of meat in Nigeria, and concequently worsen the already precarious situation around AP supply in the country [26,117].…”

Fetal Wastages Among Food-producing Animals Slaughtered at ‎Maiduguri Abattoir: Prevalence, Causes and Economic Implications

“…Factors responsible for the slaughter of pregnant foodproducing animals Information on factors responsible for slaughter of pregnant food-producing animals was elicited through administration of a close-ended questionnaire across a randomly selected (n=120) slaughterhouse workers/butchers working at the Maiduguri abattoir. A close-ended questionnaire was adopted with slight modification from a similar previous study (Njoga et al, 2021;Ugwu et al, 2023). Oral informed consents were first obtained from the abattoir workers followed by briefing on the implications of the study.…”

“…The estimation of economic losses due to fetal wastage resulting from the slaughter of pregnant food-producing animals was estimated in monetary terms as revenues that would be realized from the sales of food-producing animals at maturity. The amount of meat that would have accrued from the wasted fetuses was estimated based on 63% (PennState Extension, 2021), 60.3% (Salehi et al, 2014), 56% (Mahgoub and Lodge, 1998) and 74% (Ugwu et al, 2023) carcass yields (inclusive of offals) for cattle, camel, sheep and goats respectively, and an average maturity live weight. The average weight was estimated at 200 kg, 200 kg, 50 kg and 30 kg for cattle, camel, sheep and goats respectively.…”

“…However, there was stable growth in food animals' demand, which increases the price of meat package; this resulted in unethical practices of slaughtering actively breeding livestock and pregnant animals in a significant number of Nigerian abattoirs (Ugwu et al, 2023). Therefore, in order to increase meat production, it is expedient to identify factors militating against meat production in Nigeria, one of which is the common and unhealthy practice of slaughtering pregnant livestock in abattoirs.…”

“…Though, it is most uneconomical to continue the practice of slaughtering pregnant food-producing animals, a situation that significantly posed a great threat to livestock population in Nigeria (Chama et al, 2019). Prevention of these negative practices of fetal wastages in various abattoirs in Nigeria may greatly increase the livestock population and ensure stable animal protein supplies to the populace (Ugwu et al, 2023). Awareness of the degree of livestock fetal wastage in the abattoir in the study area is necessary in decisionmaking.…”