Authors : Sepehr Shekarchian, Sahab Shekarchian, Monika Motaghi and Amin Jazayeri
Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the proportion of fetuses destroyed due to the slaughter of pregnant cows at Incidence of Fetal Wastage in Cattle Slaughtered at the Shahrekord Industrial Slaughter House, Shahrekord, Iran. A retrospective study was conducted on abattoir records kept by the Chahar-Mahal-O-Bakhtiari State Department of Veterinary Services over a 4 years period. The study showed an incidence rate ranging from 1.50-2.10% over the 4 year study period (Average of 1.8%). This practice constitutes a huge drain on the animal protein availability for human consumption in a developing country like Iran. It is therefore recommended that appropriate legislation be put in place and enforced to control the slaughter of pregnant animals. Comprehensive ante-mortem inspection should also be carried out by abattoir staff on all animals intended for slaughter for human consumption.
Sepehr Shekarchian, Sahab Shekarchian, Monika Motaghi and Amin Jazayeri, 2012. Incidence of Fetal Wastage in Cattle Slaughtered at the Shahrekord Industrial Slaughter House, Shahrekord, Iran. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 7: 188-191.