Abattoir-based liver condemnation rates and economic loss estimation due to Fasciola infection in slaughtered cattle

Abstract:

How much economic damage does Fasciola infection impose on the cattle industry when condemned organs go unaccounted at the slaughterhouse level? This research set out to answer that question through a cross-sectional abattoir survey in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. A total of 1,284 cattle slaughtered between October 2021 and September 2022 were examined by post-mortem liver inspection. Each liver underwent visual assessment, manual palpation, and systematic incision of bile ducts. Ante-mortem records captured animal age, sex, breed, body condition score, and geographic origin. Of the 1,284 livers examined, 347 (27.02%) were condemned for various pathological conditions. Fasciola infection accounted for the largest share, with 289 livers (22.51%) harboring one or both fluke species. Among the positive cases, Fasciola hepatica was recovered from 163 livers (56.40%), Fasciola gigantica from 84 (29.07%), and mixed infections appeared in 42 specimens (14.53%). Condemnation rates were highest during winter months (38.8%) and lowest in summer (20.1%). Animals with poor body condition scores showed a markedly higher infection rate (41.7%) compared to those in good condition (17.9%). Older cattle above five years carried heavier fluke burdens than younger age groups. The total direct financial loss from condemned livers reached 487,320 Ethiopian Birr (approximately 8,938 USD) over the twelve-month period. When indirect losses from reduced carcass weight and lower market value were factored in, the estimated annual economic impact rose to 1,247,680 Birr (22,873 USD). These findings point to Fasciola infection as a leading cause of organ condemnation and economic waste at the abattoir level in eastern Ethiopia, and they highlight the need for targeted deworming programs aligned with seasonal transmission peaks.