Abstract:
A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out from November 2022 to
February 2023 to assess the physical facilities, slaughter and sanitation operations and waste
management practices in 11 abattoirs of Eastern Ethiopia. General information on the study 11
abattoirs was gathered using a questionnaire presented to managers of abattoirs or meat
inspectors. In addition, a 5-point Likert scale question was used to assess the availability and
quality of abattoir facilities, frequency of slaughter operations, sanitary practices and abattoir
waste management. The Likert scale questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected 104
abattoir workers. The collected data was analyzed using frequencies, proportions (percentages)
and mean ± standard deviation using SPSS version 20 statistical software. From the 11 surveyed
abattoirs 72.7% were built in a land with an area of <1000 m2
and didn’t have sufficient land for
expansion. All (100%) the studied abattoirs were registered by the regional authorities and
approved to slaughter animals for human consumption. The slaughter hall in all abattoirs
(100%) had a concrete floor, in 36.4% of the abattoirs had a slippery floor and in 27.3% of the
abattoirs had flooring without proper gradient for drainage of waste water. Those abattoirs that
had written and acceptable sanitation program were 81.8% and didn’t have electric supply were
18.2%. From the 104 interviewed abattoir workers 95.2% were males, 78.85% were >18–40
years old, nearly all had formal education and 97.12% had received training. Basic facilities
such as lairage, isolation pen, emergency slaughter hall, head and feet sections, detained meat
room, dispatch room, hide and skin store, administration office and office for meat inspectors
were not available in 4 to 9 abattoirs. The mean quality score for basic facilities ranged from
2.0±0.1 (poor) to 4.4±0.1 (very good). All the study abattoirs didn’t have cold vans. There were
no fence, tarry abattoir campus, industrial three phase electricity supply, stand-by generator,
first aid room, and equipment storage and meat transport vehicles in 2 to 9 abattoirs. The mean
quality score for ancillary facilities ranged from 1.5±0.5 (very poor) to 4.3±0.2 (very good). In 5
abattoirs, resting animals in a lairage was described not practiced. The overall mean score for
the slaughter operation and practices ranged from 3.4±0.2 (satisfactory) to 4.8±0.1 (very good).
Hand tools used for bleeding etc sanitized by immersing in water at 80 to 82oC for 2 minutes and
final hot water rinse before reuse, cleaning of the slaughter house premises at the beginning,
during and at the end of the day of operation, insect and rodent control and cloth changing
rooms and toilets are kept clean at all times were not practiced in 5 to all abattoirs. The overall
mean frequency score of sanitation practice ranged from 3.2±0.5 (satisfactory) to 4.6±0.1 (very
good). The overall mean frequency score of waste management ranged from 3.2±0.5
(satisfactory) to 4.6±0.1 (very good). In conclusion, relocation of abattoirs from the densely
populated area and riverine site, provision and improvement on basic infrastructures and
auxiliary facilities, continuous monitoring of slaughter activities and training and provision of
continuous public health education to abattoir workers is recommended.