A SURVEY ON WATER FOOTPRINT OF SMALL-SCALE SHEEP AND GOAT SLAUGHTER AND CARCASS PROCESSING IN SOME KANO METROPOLITAN ABATTOIRS

Abstract

A survey was conducted to quantify the amount of water used in sheep and goat slaughtered and carcass processed in some Kano metropolitan abattoirs. The data were collected from a total of 100 respondents through interview using structured questionnaires in five selected slaughter houses at Kumbotso, Tarauni, Fagge, Ungogo and Nassarawa local government areas. The data generated were subjected to statistical analysis using simple descriptive statistics of SPSS Version 20.0. The findings revealed that sheep and goat slaughtering in Kano metropolitan abattoirs was dominated by men (100%), married (73%), of between 21 – 40 years old (70%) and majority possessed between 6 – 10 family members (41%). Most butchers (51%) were involved in both sheep and goat slaughtering and majority (46%) processed between 11 to 50 animals per day. The results also indicated that evisceration consumed the highest quantity of water (22.7 L per 30 – 40 kg animal), followed by general cleaning (6.6 L/head). The finding also showed that majority (62%) of butchers sourced their water from vendors at an average cost of N100 per 25 litres. It was concluded that large volume of freshwater was used in small ruminants slaughtering and carcass processing in Kano metropolitan abattoirs, sourced mostly from water vendors at exorbitant prices.  It is therefore recommended that government should provide additional source of freshwater particularly borehole to mitigate water scarcity and reduce the cost experienced by the butchers in Kano metropolitan slaughter houses. Water recycling could be encouraged without compromising the hygienic aspect of the meat.