Evaluation of plastic waste in pasture areas and frequency of foreign bodies in the rumen after slaughter in urban areas: Case of Bukavu and its hinterland

Abstract

Insufficient grazing land and lack of fodder is a situation that makes animals vulnerable, pushing them to ingest inedible substances. The environment of Bukavu and its outskirts is threatened by pollution whose plastic and other waste are sources of diseases of ruminants or imported and local cattle and goats contract diseases due to the consumption of certain waste. The latter are found scattered almost everywhere (tracks, trails, fields, pastures) and their scale is taking on a pace that worries domestic ruminant breeders. In a coupled observation survey, we worked on a sample of 1270 cases of slaughter in a slaughterhouse and restaurants in urban areas, and also two killings in rural areas to assess the frequency of foreign bodies in ruminants after slaughter and classify them according to their nature. Then, we had to identify the stimuli that lead animals to ingest indigestible non-food substances and that are a cause of morbidity and mortality. By the method of transect we appreciated the presence of this waste that ruminants consume by mania. The results are as follows: Out of 1,270 cases of slaughter, we found 179 cases of the presence of foreign bodies, i.e. 35% in Mugogo, 31% in Mudaka, 19% at the Ruzizi II slaughterhouse and 15% for restaurants in the city of Bukavu. According to the nature of the foreign bodies found after slaughter, it appears that the black bag component is in large quantity (24.25±7.676) followed by mosquito net (18.5±7.416), then other bag (13.25±7.847) and finally fabric (10±4.397). In vitro, the coca cola drink has little effect on foreign bodies soaked in rumen juice. The transect shows a high load of plastic waste and linen along the tracks and around markets and grazing places both in the city of Bukavu and in the peripheral territories shows a preponderant presence of bags (0.738±0.425) followed by linen (0.362±0.119). For an average weight of 960 grams per waste collected.