Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025): Occurrence and Associated Risk Factors of Inedible Foreign Objects in Cattle Butchered at Dilla Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia

The research was conducted on cattle slaughtered at the Dilla Municipal Abattoir in the Gedeo Zone of Southern Ethiopia from March to July 2024. The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of indigestible waste objects in slaughtered cattle. A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the animals through both ante-mortem inspections and post-mortem examinations. During these examinations, various foreign bodies were identified in the rumen and reticulum. Out of 384 slaughtered cattle, 172 (44.79%) tested positive for the presence of foreign bodies. The prevalence of foreign bodies showed a significant difference based on the sex of the cattle (χ2 = 7.07, p < 0.01) and age categories (χ2 = 6.01, p < 0.05). Post-mortem results revealed that the most found foreign objects included plastics (21.5%), nylon clothes (20.93%), rope (13.95%), and iron/wires (11.63%). Plastic materials were primarily located in the rumen, while non-plastic objects were mainly found in the reticulum. Rumen foreign bodies had a higher prevalence than those found in the reticulum (χ2 = 7.3, p < 0.00). Additionally, the prevalence of foreign bodies varied significantly across different age groups in relation to body condition (χ2 = 7.95, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the ingestion of waste materials poses significant veterinary health challenges, leading to decreased production and productivity, which ultimately results in higher mortality rates in cattle managed under extensive systems. In conclusion, these results can inform the formulation of policies for solid waste management and strategies aimed at reducing environmental pollution while safeguarding animal health. Therefore, it is recommended that further surveillance and monitoring of organ condemnation at the Dilla abattoir be implemented to control the spread of zoonotic and other diseases.