Assessment of persistence informal backyard slaughtering practices of domestic ruminants for home consumption, local butcher shops and mini cafeterias in east Shewa, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Ethiopia, with one of the largest livestock populations in Africa, but faces persistent challenges in ensuring food safety and public health due to widespread backyard slaughtering practices. From the previous studies, informal slaughtering practice for home consumption, local butcher shops, and mini cafeterias remains prevalent in Bishoftu, Adama, and Mojo towns. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the persistence of hidden backyard slaughtering practices in selected study areas. A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving semi-structured questionnaires administered to 288 participants, including households, butcher shop, and mini cafeteria owners across Bishoftu, Adama, and Mojo. Data on slaughtering practices, persistency, motivators, waste disposal, and regulatory compliance were collected and analyzed. The result showed that 92.36% (266) respondents were participated in backyard slaughtering ractices. Among across the three towns of eastern Shewa zone, the highest practice was recorded in Bishoftu 41.73%, followed by Adama 34.59% and Mojo 23.18%. The socio demographic determinants of the respondents for practice were recorded. Among these, households 46.64% and those age with category of 35-45 years 49.63% were highly participated and significantly associated with practices of the hidden backyard slaughtering with P-value (P=0.000). Motivating forces for practice was also investigated across the three towns. Accordingly, income, convenience and cultural events are major reasons for practice at high level with 38.01% in Adama, Bishoftu 63.16%, and Mojo 26.45% respectively with non-significant difference with p-value (P=0.356). The result showed that sheep and goat have associations with the practice due to size their size and being suitable for hidden practice of backyard slaughtering in Bishoftu, Adama, and Mojo respectively with very significant difference value (P=0.027). These findings showed unsafe handling of diseased organs, improper waste disposal, systemic gaps in infrastructure, community awareness and these would increase the risk of food borne and zoonotic disease. Therefore, to safeguard the public health and strengthening regulatory enforcement, inspection mechanisms, and community education programs are very important in Ethiopia.
Description
Keywords
: Backyard slaughtering, Food safety, Zoonotic diseases, Public health