Authors : Abebe Fromsa and Nuru Mohammed
Abstract: Cross sectional study was conducted on 768 slaughtered animals (384 sheep and goats each) at Luna Export Abattoir to determine the prevalence of foreign bodies in rumen and reticulum of small ruminants and to identify the common risk factors associated with their occurrence. The study animals were selected by using stratified random sampling method from the study population. From the total of 768 animals examined, 47 (6.1%) were found positive for the occurrence of indigestible foreign bodies in rumen and reticulum. From each 384 sheep and goats examined 29 (7.55%) and 18 (4.68%) were positive, respectively. The types of foreign bodies detected were plastics, hair ball, leather and wire. Plastics were the most common found in 59.6% of the cases. Prevalence of foreign body occurrence recorded in <2 year, 2-3 year and >3 year olds was 1.8%, 7.5 and 41.2%, respectively while the prevalence rate recorded in thin, average, fat and very fat animals was 9.8, 3.4, 4.8 and 0%, respectively. Among the considered risk factors, age and body condition score of the examined animals significantly affected (p<0.05) the prevalence of fore-stomach foreign bodies whereas species was not associated with ingestion of indigestible foreign body. The prevalence of foreign body ingestion found in small ruminants by this study shows that littering the environment with plastic bags and other indigestible materials could pose serious health problem for free grazing small ruminants.
Abebe Fromsa and Nuru Mohammed, 2011. Prevalence of Indigestible Foreign Body Ingestion in Small Ruminants Slaughtered at Luna Export Abattoir, East Shoa, Ethiopia. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 1598-1602.