Abattoir blood waste generation in Rivers State and its environmental implications in the Niger Delta

Abstract

Data on all the registered slaughter slabs in Rivers State was obtained from the Livestock/Veterinary Department of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Port Harcourt, from 2003 to 2005. Rumueme slaughter slab was used as a case study. The total number of cattle and goats inspected and slaughtered was monitored for a period of 6 weeks. From this the actual average daily slaughter figures from which blood waste potential of the abattoir was quantified and annual projection made from it. Three categories of cattle and goats were sampled and slaughtered. Average blood yield per animal species was determined. The percentage shortfall observed at Rumueme was used across the records of all the slaughter slabs in the State and projections made from it. Results showed that 7727 cattle and 4049 goats were slaughtered annually at Rumueme and 181,770 cattle and 237,300 goats were slaughtered annually in Rivers State. Results also showed that 2461,633–2518,000 kg of blood waste was generated annually in Rivers State. It was observed that, as in most other slaughter slabs in the state, the entire blood and stomach contents were directly discharged into nearby New Calabar River. The action was found to be unhygienic, uneconomical, and dangerous to aquatic life and human health, and above all, counterproductive.