UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

FACULITY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Abattoir Experience performed in Addis Ababa Abattoirs Enterprise

To fulfill the course Experience in Veterinary Public Health (VMIP-652)
From October 30, 2013 to March 30, 2014

BY
SADDAM MOHAMMED

MAY, 2014/15

GONDAR, ETHIOPIA
ACKNWOLEDGMENT

In the first place, I would like to express my gratitude to almighty ALLAH for being with me
throughout my life. I am highly impressed to my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to university of
Gondar esp. faculty of veterinary medicine for its effort in making externship students skillful by
visiting and working on different slaughter houses.

Then my thanks goes to veterinarians and meat inspectors of Addis Ababa Abattoir Enterprise for
their great effort in helping us to understand different concepts on general abattoir outline, ante
mortem examination, and post mortem examination of slaughtered animals. I would like also to
acknowledge my family for their endless love and support. Furthermore I would like to thank
everyone who helped me to complete my paper.
TABLE OF CONTENT

ACKNWOLEDGMENT.......................................................................................................................I

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS..............................................................................................................III

LIST OF TABLES..............................................................................................................................IV

SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................................V

1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................1

2. GENERAL EVALUATION OF ADDIS ABABA ABATTOIRS ENTERPRISE.............................3

2.1 Abattoir site, layout and design...................................................................................................3

2.2 Road accessibility........................................................................................................................4

2.3 Water and electric supply............................................................................................................4

2.5 Walls, ceiling, and floors.............................................................................................................4

2.6 Ventilation, insect and rodent control..........................................................................................4

2.7 Operational facilities and other infrastructure of the abattoir.....................................................4

2.7.1 Lairage and isolation pen.....................................................................................................4

2.7.2 Slaughter and carcass dressing areas....................................................................................5

2.7.3 Cleaning and disinfectant facilities......................................................................................5

2.7.4 Carcass storage and cooling room........................................................................................5

2.7.5 Laboratory facilities.............................................................................................................5

2.7.6 Sewage disposal and incinerator..........................................................................................6

2.7.7 Toilet and shower.................................................................................................................6

2.7.8 Vehicles and transportation..................................................................................................6

3. MEAT INSPECTION PROCEDURES.............................................................................................7

3.1. Ante mortem examination..........................................................................................................7

3.2. Post mortem examination...........................................................................................................8

4. SUMMARY OF MAJOR AM & PM FINDINGS IN DIFFERENT SPECIES OF ANIMALS

SLAUGHTERED IN AAMA & THEIR RESPECTIVE JUDGMENT................................................9

4.1. Summary of major AM and pm findings and their respective judgments in bovines
slaughtered in Addis Ababa municipal abattoir................................................................................9

4.2. Summary of major AM and PM findings and their respective judgment in ovines slaughtered
in Addis Ababa municipal abattoir..................................................................................................13

4.3 Summary of major AM & PM findings and their respective judgment in swines slaughtered in
Addis Ababa municipal abattoir......................................................................................................14

4.4 Summary of major AM and PM findings and their respective judgment in caprines slaughtered
in Addis Ababa municipal abattoire................................................................................................16

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION...............................................................................18

5. REFERENCES................................................................................................................................19
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AM ante mortem

PM post mortem

LSD lumpy skin disease

FAO food and agricultural organization

MoARD Ministry of agriculture and Rural Development

MoARDAPRD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Animal and Plant

Health regulatory directorate
LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in bovines

Table 2 summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in ovines

Table 3 summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in swines

Table 4 Summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in caprines

SUMMARY

Extern ship program is the fundamental activity practiced by undergraduate veterinary medicine
students and Abattoir experience is one of the courses in the externship program designed to extern
ship students. These is important to fulfill the goal of the country in terms of having qualified
veterinarians that can contribute to improve quality of meat production, food security and play a
great role in export of meat that help the country to win the fight against poverty. The abattoir
experience was conducted in Addis Ababa municipal abattoir from November, 2014 to March, 2015
with major objective of acquiring the basic knowledge to understand the layout, design, operational
facilities, routine meat inspection procedures including AM examination, and other related activities.
Addis Ababa municipal abattoir was built in 1957 with the objective of slaughtering of apparently
healthy animals and distribution of meat free from any zoonotic diseases and other risks. During my
working period I tried to evaluate the abattoir in terms of its site, layout, design, road accessibility,
water & electric supply, and its operational facilities like lairage & isolation pen, slaughter and
carcass dressing areas, cleaning & disinfection facilities and others. The other main part of the
experience was the routine meat inspection activity which includes mainly AM and PM inspection
and their respective judgment. Among the AM findings discharges through nasal ocular orfices,
fever, and systemic infection like LSD, lamness and others can be mentioned. Among the PM
findings pathological conditions like congestion, hemorrhage, abscess, enlargement, atrophy:
parasites like fasciola, monesia, ascaris, paraphistomem and different cysts were recorded and the
judgments (for AM) made include fitted for slaughter, unfitted for slaughter, conditionally approved
(with detailed PM examination) and the judgments (for PM) made were total condemnation, partial
condemnation, fitted for consumption, detained, and approved after heat or other treatment.
Generally Addis Ababa municipal abattoir is a large abattoir in which large number (400-500 shoat,
1000-1500 bovines) and a variety of species of animals like bovine, ovine, caprine and swine are
slaughtered to supply meat to satisfy the demand of highly growing customers in the capital city.

Key words: Addis Ababa abattoir, ante mortem, post mortem, judgment
1. INTRODUCTION

University of Gondar, faculty of veterinary medicine has different programs like off campus
training-I, off campus training-II, off campus training III, extern ship program and etc. to equip
students with knowledge and skills necessary to apply the science in future career.

Extern ship program is the fundamental activity practiced by undergraduate veterinary students
and Abattoir experience is one of the courses in the externship program designed to extern ship
students. These is important to fulfill the goal of the country in terms of having qualified
veterinarians that can contribute to improve quality of meat production, food security and play a
great role in export of meat that help the country to win the fight against poverty.
In recent years, zoonoses and communicable diseases common to man and animals have gained
increased attention worldwide. Meat is viewed as one of vehicles for a significant proportion of
human food-borne diseases. Therefore, meat inspection is a key tool to break this human-animal
disease cycle therefore the objective of this Abattoir experience is to equip students with basic
knowledge:

To ensure that meat from animals is free from disease, wholesome and of no risk to
human health
To ensure that only apparently healthy, physiologically normal animals are slaughtered
and distributed for human consumption and that abnormal animals are separated and dealt
with accordingly
To carryout ante mortem and post mortem inspection efficiently and

To help students understand the basic considerations of abattoir designs, layout, facilities,
sanitation etc.

This Abattoir experience was conducted from October 2014 to March 2015 in Addis Ababa
Abattoirs Enterprise located in Addis Ababa, which is the capital city and administration centre
for the federal democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The city lies in the central Highlands of Ethiopia
at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level. The average annual temperature and rain fall are 21
o
c, and 1800mm and respectively. Addis Ababa has relative humidity varying between 70% &
80% during the rainy season and between 40% and 50% during the dry season.
The municipal abattoir was built in 1957 by a private company formed by a group of investors in
the marketing of meat with the objective of slaughtering of apparently healthy animals and
distribution of meat free from any zoonotic diseases and other risks and it is the largest Abattoir
in the country where a large number and species of animals are slaughtered. The abattoir has
bovine, ovine and caprine, swine and dromedary slaughter unit. The bovine, ovine and caprine
unit has 2 departments i.e. Muslim slaughter room and orthodox slaughter room

2. GENERAL EVALUATION OF ADDIS ABABA ABATTOIRS ENTERPRISE

2.1 Abattoir site, layout and design

The location of abattoir shall be suitable i.e. distant from temple, religious ceremony area,
education area, hospital, clinic, dormitory and community that will cause danger, annoyance and
damage to the person and ones property. The location of abattoir shall not be in a risk of
flooding, land collapse causing construction damages. There shall be enough spaces for lairage,
road, parking, office, waste water treatment, for further expansion and other necessary areas. The
road in abattoir area shall be maintained in good working condition and free from dust. Entrance
and exit for live animals and carcass shall be separated (MOARDAPRD, 2008).
Water drainage system shall be in place. The location of the abattoir shall have convenient
transportation and adequate public utility. The abattoir shall have the fences to protect entrance
of person and animals, such as dogs and cats. The abattoir shall not be located in the risk area
which can be contaminated with hazardous substances from agriculture and manufacturing
industry (CHUKWU, 2008).

The site in which the abattoir found should be

Accessible to road

Free from pollution of other industries

Far from local houses, mosques and churches

Have good supply of electricity and water

Have sufficient area for further expansion

In the case of Addis Ababa municipal abattoir, the slaughter hall is found in a little bit higher
slope, where as the lairage, waste disposal site and the condemnation hole are found in the lower
point. This is good as it avoids the risk of contamination of the slaughter hall by flooding during
rainy season. The slaughter hall is divided into different parts with wall and there is wire mesh
for ventilation purpose and to control birds. The abattoir is completely fenced with cement
blocks. Although it was isolated when established, now a days it being surrounded by different
commercial buildings and dwellings and also there is a mosque in front of it.

2.2 Road accessibility

Addis Ababa Abattoir enterprise is located at the center of the capital city, so that it has better
road accessibility towards different areas of the city to distribute approved carcass and offal for
supermarkets and different butchers found in the city.

2.3 Water and electric supply

Addis Ababa municipal Abattoir has got electric supply from Ethiopian electric power authority,
though; it doesnt have generator or another alternative power, when the power supply depart.
The water supply is sufficient and it is free of loss of water supply, because of availability of
more than 20 tankers capable to enclose 1000 liters and the abattoir uses pressure pump to
distribute the water by pressure.

2.5 Walls, ceiling, and floors

The Addis Ababa Abattoir walls are concrete, corrugated iron sheet ceiling and cemented floor.

2.6 Ventilation, insect and rodent control

The Addis Ababa municipal abattoir slaughter hall has good ventilation using a very tiny wire
mesh between the two roofs. This mesh prevents entry of any kind of fly, and provides normal
room temperature. Next to ventilation there was single UV fly trapper at the corridor.

2.7 Operational facilities and other infrastructure of the abattoir

An ideal abattoir contains operational facilities like Slaughter and carcass dressing area, lairage/
Holding pen, Isolation pen, Pre-slaughter holding pens, Laboratory, equipment store, abattoir
personnel facilities, Cleaning and disinfection facilities, Carcass storage, inspection, splitting and
cooling facilities. Offal, skin and hide stores and Waste disposal system (MOARDAPRD, 2008).
2.7.1 Lairage and isolation pen

After transportation, animals are usually kept in lairage (holding pens) for a period before being
saughtered. One purpose of lairage is to maintain a reserve of animals so that the processing line
in the abattoir can operate at a constant speed and not be affected by variation in the rate of
delivery of livestock. When lairage conditions are good it also gives animals a chance to rest and
drink (Li, 2009). Optimal resting time before slaughter depends on climate, the time spent by the
animals in transit, the mode of transport, the general health of the animals, and the design of the
lairage (FAO, 1988).
The abattoir has more than 20 lairages and isolation pen prior to slaughter hall to perform ante
mortem examination and provide rest to animals prior to slaugheter. The lairage is composed of 3
parts i.e. pregnancy diagnosis pen, resting pen which are 5 in number and a single isolation pen.

2.7.2 Slaughter and carcass dressing areas

The rooms and areas shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate space for all phases of
dressing and inspection operations in proper sequence and relation. The equipment and the
layout for carcass dressing rooms must provide inspection stations that are accessible by
inspectors (Matha, 2004).
The slaughter hall doesnt have stunning room; rather they used free stunning and horizontal
bleeding and suspending by shackles on the rail for dressing and evisceration. The viscera organs
like intestine transferred to the class found below the hall through a tube

2.7.3 Cleaning and disinfectant facilities

There were water bath in every slaughter hall gate and refilled every time and as they used
horizontal bleeding they do not use any kind of disinfectant for the floor

2.7.4 Carcass storage and cooling room

This room was not functional except for few moments, because of some technical problems

2.7.5 Laboratory facilities

The laboratory in this abattoir is mainly engaged in diagnosing fecal samples and blood esp.
giemsa and methylene blue stain (for antrax) if the animal is suspected during AM examination

2.7.6 Sewage disposal and incinerator

Any waste treatment plant should be at least 50 meters away from the slaughter hall and
accessories. Septic tanks and soak pits shall be located on lower points relative to water wells.
Septic tanks and soak pits must be located separately from water wells at a distance of at least
50-100 meters (MoARDAPRD, 2008).

The abattoir has both clean and dirty areas. The clean areas are the areas of flaying, eviceraton,
shackled carcass and viscera organs, and inspection and transportation areas can be categorized
under the clean area. Dirty areas are places of byproduct preparation like pet animal feeds, moral
and tallow, for soap factories, hide and skin and those unfit ones and condemned organs to
incinerators for burn since the abattoir is found in the center of the city, vapor treatment within
pipeline is practiced.

The Addis Ababa abattoir has a department for disposal of wastes like blood, through tube
extending from the slaughter house to the river near to the abattoir. And other wastes like
condemned carcass and viscera and will be incinerated in a big container.

2.7.7 Toilet and shower

The abattoir has sufficient rooms for showering and toilets for its workers hygiene.

2.7.8 Vehicles and transportation

The abattoir has facilities like buses and Lorries for dispatching its processed meat and for its
workers.
3. MEAT INSPECTION PROCEDURES

Meat injection involves inspection of the live animal (ante mortem inspection) and inspection of
the carcass and organs (post-mortem inspection)

3.1. Ante mortem examination

Animals brought to the abattoir for slaughtering will enter to the lairage to be examined for the
presence of any abnormality that hamper the animal from slaughter and it is also important to
asses abnormalities which are difficult to inspect at time of PM examination for eg. Rabies.
Ante mortem examination should be done within 24hrs of slaughter and repeated if slaughter has
been delayed over a day. Ante mortem inspection in the abattoir is done by examining the animal
while it is walking and at rest. The abnormalities which should be checked on ante mortem
examination include:

Abnormality in behavior

Abnormality in gait

Abnormality in structure and conformation

Abnormal discharges or protrusions from body openings

Abnormal colour

Abnormal odour.

Judgment at ante mortem examination is divided in to 5

Fit for slaughter
Unfit for slaughter
 Conditionally approved (with detail PM examination)
Delayed slaughter
Emergency slaughter

3.2. Post mortem examination

After the animal fits for slaughter, it passes through the procedure of stunning, bleeding, flaying,
evisceration, carcass and offal correction for post mortem examination.
During post mortem examination the parts of animal examined are head, viscera, and carcass.
The routine methods of examination are visualization, palpation and incision and the parameters
of evaluation of gross lesions are color, size, texture and consistency.

Carcass judgment

Once evaluated organs may fall into one of the following judgments: fit for consumption,
condemned, detained & etc. Trimming or condemnation had been involved on: any portion of a
carcass or a carcass that was abnormal or diseased; any portion of a carcass or a carcass affected
with a condition that might have been present a hazard to human health and any portion of a
carcass or a carcass that might have been repulsive to the consumer.

4. SUMMARY OF MAJOR AM & PM FINDINGS IN DIFFERENT SPECIES OF ANIMALS

SLAUGHTERED IN AAMA & THEIR RESPECTIVE JUDGMENT
During my working period in the abattoir I was able to see different pathological changes both
ante mortemly and post mortemly. Among the AM findings depression, discharges through nasal
ocular orfices, fever, systemic infection like LSD, lameness and others can be mentioned and
among the PM findings pathological conditions like congestion, hemorrhage, abscess,
enlargement, atrophy: parasites like fasciola, monesia, ascaris, paraphistomem and different cysts
were recorded and they are presented in the following tables briefly with their respective
judgment.

4.1. Summary of major AM and pm findings and their respective judgments in bovines
slaughtered in Addis Ababa municipal abattoir

Carcass Bree Major AM AM Major PM findings PM judgment

number d finding judgment

Local soiled Fitted for Both lungs were Excluding both lungs
perineum and slaughter congested , larger, & heart, carcass and
T=38.6oc hard, & clotted blood offal have been
came out on incision, approved
heart was congested
& clot was found in
both ventricles
Local Almost all Fitted for Liver was slightly Carcass and offal have
findings were slaughter enlarged & was been approved after
normal yellowish, rumen liver condemnation &
flukes were proper washing of
recovered from stomach
rumen
Local Examination at Fitted for Upon on Total condemnation of
the lairage slaughter visualization, there liver while carass &
revealed were localized other organs have
normality whitish area on the approved for human
liver upon incision consumption
pus came out
Cross Moderate body Passed for There was red & grey Excluding the lungs &
condition, slaughter hepatization and liver, carcass & offals
lowered neck, with distension of had been fitted for
depression, precaution interlobular septum consumption
T=38.8oc i.e. marbling on the
left lung, less degree
of hepatization on the
right lung &
calcification over the
diaphragmatic lobe of
liver & paleness
Local There was no Animal Upon visualization Liver & kidneys were
asuch was hydatid cyst was condemned while
considerable passed for observed on the carcass and offals
abnormality slaughter diaphragmatic have been approved
surface of liver, right
kidney was atrophied
& small pin head
sized black spot on
the other left one
Local The AM Fitted for Upon visualization Except liver and lung,
inspection was slaughter multiple nodules over carcass & offals have
fine the surface of been approved for
liver,firm on human consumption
palpation & upon
incision pus like like
fluid ooze from the
nodules, lung was
pale, enlarged greyish
yellow, puffy &
creptant
Local Wide spread The
 nodules animal
throughout the was
body, unfitted
depression, for
salivation, slaughter
serous bilateral
ocular
discharge,
&T=40.2oc
Local Moderate body Animal The liver was firm to Liver and lungs were
condition, passed for touch & fragile upon condemned while the
rough hair slaughter incision, lungs were carcass and other
coat, slight infested with hydatid offals have been
nasal discharge cyst (5, 2 on the right passed after proper
& 3 on the left, washing of rumen &
medium to large in reticulum
size & single nail was
found in the
reticulum
Local Lameness on Fitted for Local bruising on the Carcass offals have
the right hind slaughter right hip & chest been fitted for human
limb, moderate with area, left lung was consumption after
salivation & precaution found to contain trimming of bruised
labored hydatid cyst (medium areas & condemnation
breathing, sized) & blood came of lungs
T=38.7oc out when right lung
was incised
Local Nothing Fitted for A single, focal, Liver & heart were
abnormal was slaughter yellowish lesion large condemned while
found upon in size was found on carcass & other offals
AM the liver surface of were approved
examination liver & it was also
 pale & whitish cyst
was found on the
wall of the ventricle
Local Moderate Fitted for Liver was pale, firm Liver, right kidney, &
depression, slaughter & enlarged, bile duct GIT were condemned
rough hair was dilated with while carcass & other
coat, T=38.5oc brownish fluid filled offals passed
cyst upon incision of
the parenchyma
immature fluke came
out, large fluid filled
cyst was found on the
right kidney,
mesenteric LNs were
enlarged and calcified
Cross The cow was Cow Lungs were infested Excluding lung, heart
recumbent the passed for with hydatid cyst, & liver, carcass &
whole time, slaughter liver was infested offals have been
although other with with multiple hydatid approved for human
findings were precaution cysts, heart was also consumption
normal T was infested with a single
39.2oc cyst
Local Moderate Fitted for Large & small cyst Carcass & offals have
depression, slaughter on the surface of been approved after
mild unilateral right lung, incision condemnation of lungs
nasal discharge revealed clear fluid, & heart
there was also
hydropericarduim
Local AM inspection Fitted for Incision of shoulder Carcass & organs
revealed slaughter muscle revealed were detained for 10
normality small white cysts days at -10oc
(cysticerci),
 numerous whitish
cysts in heart (soft &
small in size)

Table 1 summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in bovines

4.2. Summary of major AM and PM findings and their respective judgment in ovines
slaughtered in Addis Ababa municipal abattoir

Carcass Breed Major AM finding AM Major PM PM judgment

number judgment findings
Local Major AM examination Fitted for Small area of Carcass &
revealed no gross slaughter bruise on the offals have
abnormality right shoulder been approved
muscle after trimming
of bruised area
Local Major AM examination Fitted for Incision of Mutton &
revealed no gross slaughter small offals as well as
abnormality intestine an small intestine
adult parasite have been
(segmented, passed after
with scolex) proper washing
Local There was no asuch Passed for Hepatization Excluding
gross abnormality slaughter of the right lungs and liver
observed anterior lobe carcass & other
(firm & dark offals have
in color), long been passed
thread like
parasites
upon incision
of liver
Local Slight bilateral nasal Passed for Lungs were Mutton &
discharge, moderate slaughter pink to offals have
coughing & T=39.6oc grayish in been approved
 color & firm while lung was
in consistency condemned
Local Major AM examination Fitted for Lungs were Lungs were
revealed no gross slaughter reddish upon condemned
abnormality visualization, while carcass &
upon incision other offals
small amount passed
of blood
oozed
Local There was no asuch Passed for Fluid filled Mutton &
gross abnormality slaughter capsule, with offals had been
observed a parasite fitted after liver
inside condemnation

Table 2 summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in ovines

4.3 Summary of major AM & PM findings and their respective judgment in swines
slaughtered in Addis Ababa municipal abattoir

Carcass Breed Major AM finding AM Major PM PM judgment

number judgment findings
Local Examination mainly Passed for The Excluding the
involved observation slaughter parenchyma liver, the pork
& no gross of liver had offals had
abnormality was focal been approved
detected distribution of
calcification
& gritty
sound on
incision
York Examination mainly Fitted for Hydatid cyst Carcass &
shire involved observation slaughter was found on offals have
 & no gross costal surface been approved
abnormality was of excluding
detected diaphragmatic lung & liver
lobe, liver
was enlarged
& yellow in
color, greasy
to touch
York There was no asuch Passed for Large hydatid Pork & offals
shire gross abnormality slaughter cyst on the have been
observed costal surface approved after
of the liver & lung
diaphragmatic condeminatio
lobe of the n
lung, caudate
lobe of liver
was pale &
thick abscess
upon incision
Local There was no asuch Fitted for Incision of Pork & offals
gross abnormality slaughter bile duct have been
observed revealed adult approved after
parasites i.e. liver
F.gigantica condemnation
York Examination mainly Fitted for Half of the Lungs & liver
shire involved observation slaughter caudal lobe of were
& no gross right lung was condemned
abnormality was congested, while carcass
detected liver was & other
degenerated organs were
and cloudy approved
Table 3 summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in swines

4.4 Summary of major AM and PM findings and their respective judgment in caprines
slaughtered in Addis Ababa municipal abattoire

Carcass Breed Major AM finding AM Major PM PM

number judgment findings judgment
Local The buck was Fitted for Small cheesy Lungs &
apparently healthy slaughter materials were associated
found the LNs were
ventrolateral aspect condemned
of diaphragmatic while carcass
lobe of left lung & & other offals
several calcified have been
masses & approved
yellowish fluid after
oozed on both trimming
lungs & bruis on bruised area
shoulder
Local The buck was Fitted for Lungs were Excluding
apparently healthy slaughter enlarged, puffy & lungs, liver &
emphysematous, heart, carcass
liver got irregular & other offals
outline, hard on have been
palpation & passed
enlarged, thickened
& calcified bile
ducts with flukes,
pericardial sac was
adhered to the lung
& liver
Local There was no asuch Passed for Petechial Lung, liver &
gross abnormality slaughter hemmorage on the intestine were
 observed costal surface of condemned
lungs, white spots while carcass
on the & other offals
diaphragmatic passed
surface of liver,
multiple tumerous
masses on the
surface of intestine
Local There was no asuch Passed for Enlarged & Excluding
gross abnormality slaughter hemorrhagic area lung, carcass
observed covering large and offals has
areas of both lungs been passed
Local The buck was Fitted for Small area of Carcass and
apparently healthy slaugher bruise on the right offals has
tigh muscle, right been
lung was enlarged approved
and after
emphysematous, excluding
small whitish lung, head &
colored cysts bruised area

Table 4 Summary of major AM & PM pathological findings in caprines

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Rapidly growing livestock production in response to increasing meat demand, particularly in
countries like Ethiopia, is associated with environmental pressures and problems. To avoid the
problem abattoirs should function properly and produce meat according to stringent hygiene and
environmental rules and regulations. Abattoir is defined as any premises that is approved and
registered by the controlling authority in which animals are slaughtered and dressed for human
consumption. Being an extern ship student in university of Gondar faculty of veterinary medicine
I conducted my abattoir experience in Addis Ababa municipal abattoir which is the largest
abattoir in the country in which large number and a variety of species of animals are slaughtered
to satisfy the demand of highly growing customers in the capital city. The abattoir has well
designed buildings in which the waste disposal factories are placed on the lower most point
where as slaughter hall and pre-slaughter holding pen on the upper most point. When we see the
facilities the abattoir has sufficient lairage for awaiting animals but the AM inspection was done
carelessly. Foot bath for both the workers and the animals was available, the abattoir practiced
mechanical stunning, and horizontal bleeding was practiced and suspending by shackles on the
rail for dressing and evisceration. The viscera organs like intestine transferred to the class found
below the hall through a tube and the other facilities include ample water, electric light, vehicles,
and sufficient labor. Ill equipped laboratory and few veterinarians were also characteristics of the
abattoir.

Based on the above conclusion the following recommendations have been forwarded

The animals in the lairage should be inspected carefully

There shall be sufficient number of veterinarians in relative to the number of animals
slaughtered
Vehicles number must satisfy the customers need
Stunning methods need to consider the welfare of slaughtered animals
Appropriate bleeding time shall be followed
Alternative power source should functional at the time of power failure

5. REFERENCES
Chukwu, O. (2008): Analysis of Groundwater Pollution from Abattoir Waste in Minna, Nigeria.
Research Journal of Diary Science, 2(4): 74-77.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO):1988. Standard design for
small-scale modular slaughterhouses, Rome, PP.1-4

Li, W. (2009): Prevalence of Hepatitis E virus in Swine under Different Breeding Environment
and Abattoir in Beijing, China. Veterinary Microbiology. 133(-2): 75-83

Matha, .W.N. (2004): Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Chairperson of the National
Committee on Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards pg. 1-32.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Directorate
(MoARDAPRD): Construction Guideline 2 for export abattoirs. November, 2008