A Study of Conditions Causing Carcass and Organ Condemnation During Meat Inspection and Their Financial Implications in Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Meat inspection is an important activity along the value chain that not only guarantee food safety but equally plays an important role in safeguarding public health. The overall goal of meat inspection is to provide risk free meat products to the society. These risks include diseases and contaminants that make animal products unfit for human consumption. Kisii County is an important source of red meat in Kenya but the type and prevalence of conditions causing carcass/organ condemnation and their financial implication remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and financial implication attributed to conditions causing carcass/organ condemnation in Kisii county and further evaluate knowledge and practices of meat inspectors and meat/livestock traders regarding conditions associated with condemnation of carcass/organs. The County meat inspection records from January 2004 to December 2014 were scrutinized and data related to species slaughtered, carcass/organ condemned and conditions causing carcass/organ condemnation were extracted and recorded. A questionnaire was administered to meat inspector and traders to collect data regarding their knowledge and practices on conditions causing condemnation of carcasses and organs. Financial losses attributed to carcass and organ condemnation was estimated using previously described tools. In the period between 2004-2014, a total of 108,622 animals were slaughtered in abattoirs within Kisii County. Out of the 108,622 animals, 45.6% (49,481) were cattle, 43.1% (46,802) were goats and 11.4% (12,339) were sheep. A total of 3,245 whole carcasses condemned in the study period out of which 1,478 were from cattle, 1,399 from goats and 369 were sheep. With regards to specific organs that were condemned, 43.5% (19,317) were lungs, 33.1% (14,697) were livers, 9.7% (4,315) were kidneys, 8.8% (3,919) were intestines and stomach, 3.7% (1,643) were hearts and 1.1% (480) heads and tongues. Incomplete bleeding was the xi major cause of whole carcass condemnation. Liver cirrhosis and degeneration accounted for 48.1% of causes of liver condemnation across the three species. Abscesses (32.5%), pleurisy (22.5%) and pneumonia (15.2%) accounted for the major reasons for condemnation of lungs. While the main reasons for condemnation of kidneys in bovine and shoats in Kisii County were hydronephrosis 34.1% (1471/4315), nephritis 26.1% (1124/4315) and inflammation of capsule 24.4% (1053/4315). A total of 87 randomly selected respondents participated in this a questionnaire survey. Out of the 87 respondents, 11.5% (10/87) were meat inspectors, 72.4% (63/87) were meat traders and 16.1% (14/87) were live animal trader. About 10.0% of meat inspectors and 4.7% of traders demonstrated knowledge of zoonosis. The criteria used to select animals for slaughter according to respondents were healthy animals, animals at prime age of reproduction and male ones. The total estimated financial loss attributed to carcass/organ condemnation in Kisii County between 2004 and 2014 was KES 57,121,157.22 (571211.57USD) which translated to approximate loss of KES 476,009.64 per month. It was concluded that incomplete bleeding was the main cause of whole carcass condemnation while liver cirrhosis and lung abscess were leading cause of organ condemnation in Kisii County. Although a high number of meat inspectors and meat/livestock traders could identify conditions responsible for condemnation of carcass/organs in abattoirs, their knowledge on zoonotic conditions was inadequate. Condemnation of carcasses and organs in abattoirs in Kisii County was associated with high economic losses, which was estimated to be around 571,211.57 USD annually. In order to guarantee food safety and safeguard public health, this study recommends further training and continuous education of meat inspectors working in Kisii County. This would heighten their ability to recognize conditions that require condemnation of organs, more so zoonotic diseases that pose a greater threat to public health. Additionally, it will be imperative for Kisii County Government to invest more in infrastructure of slaughter houses in addition to employing more meat inspectors.