INCIDENCE OF FOETAL WASTAGE IN SLAUGHTERED CATTLE AT WURUKUM ABATTOIR, MAKURDI, BENUE STATE -

At Wurukum abattoir Makurdi, Benue, State Nigeria, 1,467 cattle were slaughtered within a period of 70 days (16th August – 25th November 2012). Out of this number 644 (43.8%) were females. A total of 66 fetuses were recovered, represented a 10.24% pregnant females that were slaughtered. Out of the 66 foetuses recovered, 30 (45.5%) were males while 36 (54.5%) were females. Age of the fetuses in (days) was determined by crown-anus length measurements of the fetuses which range from 6 - 78 cm, corresponding to 68- 248 days of gestation. This was then used to group the fetuses into first, second and third trimester, respectively. The highest incidence of foetal waste occurs in the second trimester with a prevalence of 50%. The foetal wastage during the first trimester was 48%. The lowest incidence of foetal wastage was recorded during the third trimester (1.6%). The difference in foetal wastage between the first and second trimester was not significantly different (P>0.05) while the difference was highly significant (P