Causes of Organ Condemnation and Estimated Financial Loss in Dromedary Camels Slaughtered at Akaki Abattoir, Ethiopia

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to identify major camel organs condemned and its causes at Akaki slaughterhouse together with estimated direct financial losses associated with the condemnation from October 2013 to April 2014. A total of 305 camels were thoroughly investigated by conducting both ante mortem and post mortem examinations following a standard inspection procedure. Different factors and/or conditions contributed towards the condemnation of the camel organs.  The major factors observed during ante mortem examination of the camels for slaughter include emaciation (7.2%), branding (4.9%), lameness (1.6%) and localized wound (1.6%). However, all camels with these abnormalities were passed for slaughter under special precaution. Two major organs that showed gross abnormalities during Post mortem examination and rejected were liver (24.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.4 - 29.1%) and heart (2%; 95% CI: 0.4 - 3.5%). However, no other organ and carcass was rejected due to any other reasons. Liver condemnation was significantly associated with sex and age of the camels (p<0.05). The direct financial loss due to the two organs condemnation in the abattoir was estimated to be 399,060 Ethiopian birr (ETB) (US$20,485.63; 1US$ = 19.48 ETB) per annum. The liver and the heart condemnation rates of slaughtered camels lead to substantial financial losses but lower than that reported in other ruminants. Therefore, further detailed investigation needs to be conducted to understand specific etiological agents causing organ condemnation, estimate avoidable costs, and to create awareness among the producers, traders and policy makers so that proper control measures can be instituted to optimise the benefit obtained from the camel sector.

Keywords: Camel, Organ condemnation, financial loss, Ethiopia