Abstract:
Indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers is rampant in many developing countries in particular those in sub Saharan Africa. This practice retards the livestock industry, it is against animal welfare and it ends up giving poor quality meat to the consumers. A review of the published and unpublished literature on the prevalence of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers, foetal wastage and its likely impacts to the future cattle herds in Tanzania was performed. Eight articles and reports from six slaughterhouses in Tanzania were assessed and the results summarized. It was observed that the prevalence of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers ranged between 15.6 % for the cows and heifers slaughtered at Bukoba Municipal slaughterhouse and 46 % for the cows slaughtered at Dodoma Municipal abattoir. Slaughtered cow/heifer: pregnant cow/heifer ratio ranged from highest level of every two slaughtered cows/heifers, one was pregnant (ratio of 2:1) to lowest of every six slaughtered cows/heifers, one was pregnant (ratio of 6:1). The magnitude of foetal wastage due to slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers is huge in Tanzania that threatens the livestock industry and therefore undermines government efforts to increase food production. Moreover, the slaughter of pregnant cows disregards animal welfare legislation. Therefore, concerted efforts are necessary in order to reduce or halt the incidences of slaughtering pregnant cows and heifers in Tanzania
