Volume 16, Issue 2: 2026 - Article 236

Abstract
The slaughter of pregnant livestock is a growing national concern, which poses significant threats to food security, economic development and the long term viability of the livestock industry in Nigeria. The present study surveyed the occurrence and economic losses associated with foetal wastage among cattle, sheep and goats slaughtered at Wurukum abattoir, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, from August to October 2023. A total of 4776 animals that were slaughtered at the abattoir were surveyed, comprising 2011 cattle, 1416 sheep and 1349 goats. Pregnancy status was confirmed through visual examination, palpation and uterine dissection post-slaughter, while foetal age was estimated using crown-rump length formulae specific to each species. The overall foetal wastage rate was 10.71%, with species-specific occurrences of 6.97% in cattle, 13.52% in sheep and 13.12% in goats. Most foetal losses were second trimester foetuses across all species. The estimated annual economic loss from these wasted foetuses was ₦162.24 million. These findings highlight the huge economic losses associated with foetal wastage and the concomitant neglect for animal welfare standards. It also underscores the urgent need for interventions that will prevent such wastages. Key recommended steps include enhanced veterinary presence at abattoirs, mandatory ante-mortem pregnancy testing and strict enforcement of meat inspection regulations. It was posited that addressing foetal wastage will go a long way to safeguard Nigeria’s livestock industry and ensure long term food security.

Keywords: Foetal wastage; Cattle, Sheep and Goats; Economic loss; Welfare concerns; Wurukum abattoir, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

How to cite this article:
Ikye-Tor PM, Alumbugu EA, Ikye-Tor TJ, Ameh VO, Num-Adom SM and Ishima LY (2026). Occurrence of and economic losses associated with foetal wastage in cattle, sheep and goats slaughtered at Wurukum abattoir, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 16(2): 1573 – 1584.

*Correspondence: E-mail:     ikye-tor.philomena@uam.edu.ng     Phone: +2348037199697

Occurrence of and economic losses associated with foetal wastage in cattle, sheep and goats slaughtered at Wurukum abattoir, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Philomena M. Ikye-Tor ¹, Emmanuella A. Alumbugu ¹, Terungwa J. Ikye-Tor ², Veronica O. Ameh ¹, Sabina M. Num-Adom ³ and Lohodedoo Y. Ishima ^4
1 Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, PMB 2373 Benue State, Nigeria.
² Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
³ Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, PMB 2373 Benue State, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Public Health Technology, Federal College of Animal and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

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