Slaughter of pregnant Tanzania shorthorn Zebu cattle at Morogoro abattoir: Prevalence, fetal wastage, and placentome morphology

Abstract

The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) has approximately 33.94 million cattle herds ranking second for the highest cattle population in Africa and accounting for 1.4% of the global cattle population (URT 2021). Of the cattle population in Tanzania, indigenous cattle, mainly the Tanzania shorthorn zebu (TSHZ), account for 98% of the national herd and contribute significantly to most people's livelihood and food security (Msalya et al 2017). The human population in Tanzania is projected to increase rapidly in the next few years; 67 million in 2025, 77.5 million in 2030, and 89.2 million in 2050 (URT 2018). This projected human population increment will present important challenges to achieving food security. Notwithstanding the steady animal protein demand accentuated by population growth, illiteracy, and poverty, farmers sell off animals without considering their fertility stage, especially breeding stock and pregnant animals, followed by inadequate meat inspection practices (Delgado 2005; Thornton 2010; Robinson and Pozzi 2011). The slaughter of a pregnant animal is unethical, and uneconomic practice decreases livestock growth capacity and lower herd replacement rates at the country level (Maurer et al 2016; Kalu et al 2019; Mutwedu et al 2019). Furthermore, the slaughter of pregnant cattle enhances the dissemination of zoonotic pathogens such as Brucella, Listeria, and zoonotic Staphylococcus species through contamination of the meat, environment, or abattoir personnel, thus facilitating the cycle of zoonotic infections (Ekere et al 2018; Okoli et al 2018).To meet protein requirements for the global human population, fast-growing livestock production must have a healthy and normal placenta. The placenta is a principal feature of mammalian embryonic development, which serves as an organ of nutrient supply, waste-product elimination, insulation, and source of hormones and enzymes (Mossman 1987;Hoffmann and Schuler 2002). The bovine placenta is classified as an epitheliochorial placenta due to the occurrence of migration of fetal cells Abstract Slaughtering pregnant cattle for meat is unethical, impends food security, and brings animal cruelty. A six-month study spinning from June and December 2020 was carried out to determine the number of Tanzania shorthorn zebu (TSHZ) slaughtered cattle, level of fetal wastage, number, size, and morphology of placentomes and their relationship with fetal age, sex, weight, and location in uteri. Results showed that 15,239 cattle were slaughtered, of which 99% (n=15,087) were TSHZ aged above three years. 61.38% (n= 9,353) of slaughtered cattle were female cattle, of which 2,599 (27.79%) were pregnant at varied gestation periods, and only 5,886 (38.63%) were males. Recovered fetuses were 1,450 (55.79%) males and 1,149 (44.21%) females, with a total of 1,081 (41.59%), 919 (35.36%), and 599 (23.05%) recovered in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. Fetal ages varied from 2.2 to 8.9 months, with body length (crown-crump) ranging from 13.7 to 83.1 cm. Fetus weight ranged...

Colour and Morphometric Characteristics of Ukerewe and Bunda Indigenous Cattle Populations in the Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania

“…The observed highest correlation between heart girth and body weight in this study is in line with findings by Kashoma et al [22]. This also applies to correlation of body weight with withers height and body length, a point which was also observed by Mwacharo et al [21].…”

Heart girth best predicts live weights of market-age pigs in Tanzania

“…HG has also been reported to be a significant predictor of LW in other types of livestock, such as cattle [15,33,34] and goats [6,35,36].…”

“…Apart from inaccessibility, their use requires high input of time and labour, and can cause stress and injury to pigs and handlers [12,13]. Another drawback is the lack of technical skills in operating and maintaining the scales [14,15]. Due to the limitations, indirect methods of weight estimation present a better option, with the use of body measurements being the most common [11].…”