Abstract:
The study assessed the adoption level of improved management practices among abattoir
workers in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling
technique was used in selecting one hundred and twenty (120) respondents that were used in the
study. Data were collected through primary source, using a well-structured questionnaire, and
data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean score. The majority (85%)
of the abattoir workers were males, 45% fell between the ages of 31 and 40 years while the
majority (70%) of the workers were married. A greater proportion (57.50%) attended primary
school education, while 60% had a household size of between 6 and 10 persons with a mean
household size of 8 persons. The study revealed that slaughtering of animals (x?=3.67),
emergency slaughter services (x?=3.67), unloading of animals (x?=3.46), identification of animals
(x?=3.10), training of butchers (x?=3.08), rearing of cattle (x?=2.93) and buying and selling of cattle
(x?=2.63) were the services rendered by the abattoirs in the area. The result shows that the
improved management practices adopted by the abattoir workers were safety wears (x?=3.56),
hand washing facilities (x?=3.25), usage of clean water supply during washing of meat (x?=2.93),
improved state of lairage (x?=2.72), efficient odor management methods (x?=2.63), ante-mortem
inspection (x?=2.55), and better heating system (x?=2.53). Whereas, improper storage of left over
carcass (x?=3.56), improper waste management (x?=3.23), unclean environment (x?=3.22), poor welfare of animals (x?=3.08), careless evisceration (x?=3.03), usage of tires and plastic materials in
flaying animal (x?=2.93), outbreak of diseases (x?=2.88), washing of meat with unclean water
(x?=2.83), poor supervisory activities (x?=2.77), usage of hormones and chemical (x?=2.77), and
unclean equipment and tools (x?=2.72) were the major unhealthy and unethical management
practices that affects meat quality. More so, the result revealed that unbearable taxes and revenue
collection (x?=3.52), unavailability of sewage tank (x?=3.50), inadequate funds for expansion
(x?=3.30), dissemination of false information about meat on the social media handle (x?=3.10), and
inadequate veterinary personnel (x?=2.91), etc were the major challenges faced by the workers in
the area. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should ensure
enforcement of laws and regular supervision of abattoir activities in the state in other to promote
safe and healthy meat for consumption. |
