Department of Livestock and Industrial Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Vet Med Sci. 2024 Jan;10(1):e1343. doi: 10.1002/vms3.1343.
Both male and female food animals are slaughtered for meat. Some cows, ewes and does slaughtered are found with viable foetuses resulting in foetal wastage and loss of future replacement stock. Foetal wastage accounts for about 20%-25% of the decline in livestock numbers in sub-Saharan Africa. Slaughter of pregnant cows, ewes and does results in economic losses and threatens food security with consequent decrease in available animal proteins to the fast growing human population. Protein requirement for healthy human development is inadequate in most developing countries including Uganda. The prevalence and economic losses associated with foetal wastage were assessed in an abattoir.
The study was cnducted to assess the prevalence of feotal wastage at the study abattoir and estimate the associated economic losses.
The researchers supported by abattoir resident meat inspectors examined all slaughtered female animals during the study period. Gravid uteri obtained from slaughtered animals after dressing of carcasses were eviscerated using a sharp knife across the long axis to recover foetuses. The crown rump lengths (CRLs) of the recovered foetuses were measured using a tape measure, weighed on a scale and categorised into first, second and third trimesters. Prevalence of pregnant animals slaughtered was determined by calculating the percentage of pregnant animals over the total number of female animals slaughtered. Economic losses were estimated based on the monetary losses at birth, weaning, maturity, and carcass loss at weaning and maturity.
The aggregate slaughters were bovine 604 (73.6%), caprine 169 (20.6%) and ovine 48 (5.9%). The overall prevalence of foetal wastage was 21.9%. The aggregate prevalence of foetal wastage by species include 160 (88.9%) cows, 8 (4.4%) heifers, 4 (2.2%) does and 8 (4.4%) ewes. Foetal wastage of cows by trimester included 62 (38.8%), 26 (16.25%) and 72 (45.0%) in first, second and third trimesters, respectively, translating into loss of US$13,055. Foetal wastage was high and the associated economic losses were substantial which undermines sustainability of the national herd. Farmers should be sensitised about the economic losses and long-term impact associated with foetal wastage and dissuaded from this practice. A policy is needed to deter farmers from selling pregnant animals for slaughter.
A total of 168 bovine, 8 caprine and 12 ovine foetuses were wasted within 60 days study period. These foetal wastages translated to US$ 13,224 monetary losses at birth, US$ 31,849 monetary loss at weaning and US$ 57,0896 monetary loss at maturity.
雄性和雌性食用动物都被宰杀以供食用。一些被宰杀的母牛、母羊和母兔被发现有存活的胎儿，导致胎儿死亡和未来替代牲畜的损失。在撒哈拉以南非洲，胎儿死亡约占牲畜数量下降的 20%-25%。宰杀怀孕的母牛、母羊和母兔会导致经济损失，并威胁到粮食安全，因为这会导致可向快速增长的人口提供的动物蛋白质减少。包括乌干达在内的大多数发展中国家，人类健康发育所需的蛋白质都不足。本研究在屠宰场评估了胎儿死亡的流行情况和相关经济损失。
本研究旨在评估研究屠宰场的胎儿死亡发生率，并估计相关经济损失。
在研究期间，研究人员在屠宰场驻场肉类检验员的协助下，检查了所有被宰杀的雌性动物。对胴体处理后从被宰杀动物中取出的妊娠子宫，使用锋利的刀沿长轴切开以回收胎儿。使用卷尺测量回收胎儿的头臀长（CRL），在秤上称重，并按第一、第二和第三孕期进行分类。通过计算被宰杀的怀孕动物数量占被宰杀的雌性动物总数的百分比，确定怀孕动物的比例。根据出生、断奶、成熟和断奶和成熟时的胴体损失的货币损失来估计经济损失。
牛的总屠宰量为 604 头（73.6%），山羊为 169 头（20.6%），绵羊为 48 头（5.9%）。胎儿死亡的总体发生率为 21.9%。按物种划分，胎儿死亡的总发生率为：160 头（88.9%）母牛、8 头（4.4%）小母牛、4 头（2.2%）母兔和 8 头（4.4%）母羊。按孕期划分的牛胎儿死亡情况为：第一孕期 62 头（38.8%）、第二孕期 26 头（16.25%）和第三孕期 72 头（45.0%），分别损失 13055 美元。胎儿死亡发生率高，相关经济损失巨大，这破坏了国家畜群的可持续性。应向农民宣传与胎儿死亡相关的经济损失和长期影响，并劝阻他们不要这样做。需要制定一项政策，阻止农民出售怀孕动物进行屠宰。
在 60 天的研究期间，总共浪费了 168 头牛、8 头山羊和 12 头绵羊的胎儿。这些胎儿死亡导致出生时损失 13224 美元，断奶时损失 31849 美元，成熟时损失 570896 美元。
