Tropentag, September 19 - 21, 2012 in Göttingen "Resilience of agricultural systems against crises"

Causes of Condemnations of Sheep Carcasses in Abattoirs at Khartoum

¹University of Khartoum, Institute for Studies and Promotion of Animal Exports, Sudan
²University of Khartoum, Dept. of Pathology, Sudan

Abstract

Sheep, either live or slaughtered, are the most important among Sudan's animal exports - a major source of foreign currency. Accordingly, diseases that cause rejection of live sheep at veterinary quarantines and in importing countries, as well as pathological conditions causing condemnation of sheep meat, should receive more attention by veterinarians; not only because of their economic importance, but also because of the potential hazards to human health, especially through meat consumption and handling. The present investigation reviewed the causes of sheep carcass condemnations as well as the condemnation of red offals and some green offals of sheep slaughtered for export. The study analysed records from two major abattoirs in Khartoum State of Sudan covering the period Jan - Dec 2011. Whole carcass condemnation during this period was 0.1 % of the total sheep slaughtered for export. Main causes of carcass condemnations were jaundice, (64.8 %) and hydatid cysts (20 %). Other causes (15.2 %) included abscesses, emaciation, and adhesions. Total condemnation of offals (liver, kidney, heart, lung and spleen) was high (12.8 %), with liver constituting the major condemned part (83 %) followed by the lungs (12.4 %), the heart (4.0 %), kidneys (0.4 %) and the spleen (0.2 %). Major pathological changes in the condemned livers were necrosis, calcification, hydatid cysts, adhesions, fascioliasis, abscesses, jaundice, colour changes and fatty degeneration. Although the described pathological conditions were not further investigated in relation to the diseases they can represent, they point to a high prevalence of parasitic diseases in slaughtered animals. Although the described conditions were not related to areas of animal breeding in the country, they more or less reflect the diseases of sheep in the western part of the country, especially Kurdofan region, where most of export sheep are raised. It is highly recommended that the diseases manifesting as jaundice, in addition to other liver diseases in sheep are investigated.

Keywords: Hydatidosis, jaundice, sheep carcass condemnation, Sudan

Contact Address: Nasreen Omer Musa, University of Khartoum, Institute for Studies and Promotion of Animal Exports, Shabmat, 13314 Khartoum North, Sudan, e-mail: nasreenmusamaktoob.com