Prevalence, Perception and Implication of Solid Waste in Cattle Slaughtered in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Diseases of the fore-stomach, such as poly bezoars, traumatic reticuloperitonitis and rumenitis, are not often reported but impede the digestive functions of the fore-stomach, leading to the reduction in feed absorption, loss of animal weight and productivity, and mortality. The disease pathogenesis begins with the consumption of solid waste material (SWMs). This study determined the knowledge, types and solid waste management practices by farmers using structured questionnaires. The study also investigated the prevalence of SWMs in the stomach of slaughtered cattle (n= 7113) in two abattoirs in East London (BCM) and Queenstown (EMLM). The study showed that about 99.2% of the farmers had no municipal dustbins, but perceived recycling as an important (62.6%) and very important (30.4%) method of solid waste management. Waste treatment (59.7%) and waste disposal (44.4%) were not considered as important components of solid waste management. About 48.3% of respondents knew that open land waste disposal was deleterious to the environment and livestock and 60.8% always burnt their solid waste. Farmer’s perspective in Queenstown and East London area significantly differs about waste minimization and recycling (P< 0.05) but do not differ (P> 0.05) regarding waste treatment and waste disposal. The most SWM’s found in the stomach of slaughter cattle were plastics (58.0% and 17.8%), ropes (15.9% and 29.2%) and polybezoars (22.5 and 32.8%) at EMLM and BCM, respectively. Farmers in the study area showed an appreciable level of knowledge about proper solid waste management; however, the prevalence of SWM in cattle in the study area was high.