Study on Prevalence of Rumen and Reticulum Foreign Bodies in Cattle Slaughtered at Shashemene Municipal Abattoir, Oromia Region, West Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Across-sectional study was conducted on 384 cattle (375 male and 9 female) from November, 2015to April, 2016 at Shashemene Municipal Abattoir, Oromia Regional State, West Arsi Zone Ethiopia, with the objectives to assess the prevalence of rumen and reticulum foreign bodies, identifying types of foreign bodies and associated risk factors for the occurrences of foreign bodies. During ante mortem examinations detail information on individual animals were done for the assessment of age, sex, breed, body condition and their place of origin. Postmortem examination was employed for the recovery of foreign body from rumen and reticulum. From total of 384 cattle examined, 47/384 (12.24%) were found positive for the occurrence of indigestible foreign bodies in rumen and reticulum. When the prevalence was compared between sex, among different age groups, among different body condition score and site of lodgment higher prevalence of foreign bodies 44.5%, 36%, 80% and 11% were observed in female, age older than 10 years, animal having poor body condition score and site of lodgment respectively. There was highly statistically significant difference in the prevalence among sex, age, body condition score and site (P<0.05). Rumen harbored mostly plastic materials while reticulum was the major site for the retention of metallic objects. Plastics were recovered as the most common foreign bodies followed by clothes and leather. Therefore, continued awareness creation should be instituted in to the animal health care services to avoid the risk of foreign body ingestion by animals and appropriate solid waste disposal system need to implement in the study area to prevent health risk for ruminants and also to protect the environment.