<i>In Vitro</i> Assay of Bacterial Load on Some Ruminant Hide and Skin from North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Consumption of meat is considered a vital source of essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals which makes it a critical dietary requirement for  humans and other organisms. However, in Sub Saharan Africa, despite accounting for a large chunk of livestock production, it is in short supply due to poverty and cultural practices. Hence, encourages the demand and consumption of other meat products such as singed ruminant hide and skin.  This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of singeing on bacterial population of hides and skin of cattle, camel, goat and sheep sold for human consumption in the seven North-western states of Nigeria using standard methods. Data obtained for the bacteria load showed that the highest mean count for singed hides and skins of cattle, camel, goat and sheep mean log10 CFU/g;5.10±0.13, 5.08±0.10, 5.06±0.05 and 5.05±0.09 respectively which were less than the unsigned (control), mean log10 CFU/g5.71±0.02, 5.70±0.03, 5.71±0.02 and 5.69±0.08. The high occurrence of
bacteria was slightly within unacceptable limits for the ruminant hides and skin sampleslog10 CFU/g; cattle: 5.22 camel: 5.19, goat: 5.23 and sheep: 5.19. This require urgent mitigation as it is slightly contaminated. However, the lower bacterial counts taken for ruminant sampleslog10 CFU/g; cattle: 4.82, camel: 4.83, goat: 4.84 and sheep: 4.79 were all within the marginal acceptable standard. Succinctly, 60% of the ruminant hides and skin samples require correctional measures whereas, 40% were out rightly contaminated. Hence, urgent action is needed across the abattoirs of Northwestern states of Nigeria to curtail the tide of unsafe hides and skin consumptions. Conclusively, the study established as thus; significantly, Singeing reduces (p < 0.05) the bacterial load on ruminant hides and skin and all samples were considerably high and exceeding the WHO  satisfactory level.

Keywords:Hide and skin, Ruminant, Meat, Singeing, Abattoir and Northwestern Nigeria