Surgical Removal of Indigestible Foreign Bodies in Cattle and Economic Losses to Farmers

Image

Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa, with 65 million of cattle. The sector supports the livelihood of 85% of rural populations in which 15 to 17% (GDP) and 37 to 87% of household incomes are contributed from the overall livestock sector. This sector also serves as a means of transportation, export commodities, security in times of crop failure, and means of wealth accumulation. However, the presence of many infectious and non-infectious diseases has resulted in low productivity, stunted growth, and finally death of the animals which results in significant economic loss among the producers. Ingestion of indigestible foreign bodies is a common health related problems of ruminants especially in developing countries, like Ethiopia, which is associated with poor management, and low nutritional statuses. This ingestion of indigestible foreign body is called Pica. Even though it is difficult to determine the exact cause of pica, phosphorus and sodium deficiency with absence of long fiber in cattle diet are the major reason for the ingestion of indigestible foreign bodies. On the other hand, lack of appropriate indigestible waste disposal system as well as free grazing of animals in highly waste-polluted areas seemed to be a major predisposing factor for the existence of indigestible foreign body in the rumen of cattle. According to different study report, plastic bag was the most commonly encountered followed by clothes, metallic nails, hair balls, and stone in forestomach of cattle’s. Hence, the objective of this case report is to share the history, physical diagnosis, clinical and surgical findings and post intervention status of young jersey to the readers and livestock producers