Indigestible Foreign Bodies in cattle and goats: A veterinary surgical emergency and potential silent killer in South Sudan

In South Sudan, reckless littering and contamination of environment with all sorts of solid waste turned Indigestible Foreign Bodies (IFBs), poor knowledge of the public and farmers and the current animal husbandry system in practice constituted potential drivers for ruminant animals to inevitably ingest one or more of IFBs, that proved to be a potential, neglected non-infectious disease and a silent killer. The objective of this study was to identify the types and prevalence of IFBs in slaughtered cattle and goats. The research was carried out at two of the biggest slaughterhouses in the towns of Aweil and Wau. This study uses a cross section design in which animals prepared for slaughter were identified at antemortem and their rumen and reticulum were examined for the presence of foreign indigestible bodies. The results show that the overall prevalence of IFBs in both species in the two slaughterhouses was 32.55%, goats were more affected (34.41%) than cattle. Prevalence in aged goats (57.14%) were higher than younger ones. Middle-aged cattle succumbed more (36.11 %) than young ones. Females in both species were more affected (38.04%) than males. Prevalence of IFBs in Aweil municipal slaughterhouse (40.20%) was higher than in Wau slaughterhouse (29.78%). Most recovered types of IFB in cattle and goats were plastics (44.50%) followed by cloths (25.36%). However, mixed type of IFB was the most encountered in goats (68%) than in cattle (31.2%). The study concluded that IFBs ingestion by ruminant animals in South Sudan was widespread but not scientifically documented and disseminated and therefore, recommends extensive public and farmers awareness about solid waste management, type of biodegradables solid wastes and the policymakers to consider classification of IFBs ingestion by ruminant animals as potential non-infectious veterinary emergencies and a silent killer.