Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Frequency of slaughtering gravid cows and its economic implications in some selected parts of Ogun State, Nigeria

Author(s):

Babatunde B. A. Taiwo, Adeleke O. Fayemi ^*, Ademola O. Okubanjo, Adesina A. Adekunmisi

Recieved Date: 2011-05-20, Accepted Date: 2011-10-08

Abstract:

For a period of 120 days, the frequency of foetal wastage associated with indiscriminate slaughtering of gravid cows in four purposively selected abattoirs in Ogun state covering parts of early rains (March-July) and late rains (August-November) were examined. Total number of cattle slaughtered (TAS), number of cows slaughtered (NCS) and number of foetuses wasted (NFW) were recorded daily. TAS was 17,635 of which NCS was 13,134 (74.5%) and NFW was 1060. Of the foetuses wasted, 822 or 77.5% were in their second and third trimesters. Season of the year had no significant (P>0.05) effect on TAS and NCS but it significantly (P<0.05) affected NFW. On the average, one foetus was wasted for every 15 cattle or 11 cows slaughtered in the early rains compared with a ratio of 1:18 (cattle) or 1:14 (cow) in the late rains. If the 1060 wasted calves were sold at birth, an estimated cost of ₦ 15.9m  (US $ 0.13m) would have been lost in 4 months or ₦ 47.7m  (US $ 0.40m) per annum or ₦ 66m (US $ 0.55m) per annum if raised to weaning or ₦ 165.75 (US $ 1.38) if raised to maturity. However, if the cattle were slaughtered at maturity, 154.70 metric tons of carcass would be lost in 4 months or 464.1 metric tons per annum. The grave impact of this on the economy of the nation, the future productive herd or baseline parent stock and nation’s quest to attain WHO recommended minimum animal protein intake is enormous.

Keywords:

Frequency, slaughter, gravid cows, foetal wastage, economic implications

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 538-541

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