Economic impact of parasitic, bacterial diseases and other causes of organ condemnation of cattle slaughtered in abattoirs of Tigray region, Ethiopia

Zoonotic diseases and other abnormalities are considered to be major health problem and causing a huge economic loss. A cross sectional active abattoir survey was conducted from May 2014 to January, 2015 to estimate direct financial losses due to organ condemnation in cattle slaughtered in abattoirs of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. A total of 479 cattle were examined through ante mortem and postmortem examinations. Postmortem examinations revealed that out of the total organs examined, 150 (31.3%) livers, 59 (12.3%) lungs, 15 (3.1%) kidneys and 4 (0.8%) hearts were totally condemned due to different parasitic, bacterial diseases and other abnormalities. A significant difference was observed in the rejection rate of liver, lung and kidney between different body condition scores of slaughtered cattle. Similarly, there was statistically significant difference in the rejection rate of liver between breed of cattle. The annual financial loss due to organ condemnation was estimated to be 10,375,900.00 Ethiopian Birr (522,452.16 USD). Liver condemnation was responsible for high financial loss followed by lung and kidney condemnation, respectively. The result of this study revealed the economical impact of the parasitic, bacterial diseases and other abnormalities is high, which necessitates designing of appropriate strategies for their control.