Title : Evaluation of microbial load of beef of arsi cattle in Adama Town, Oromia, Ethiopia
Abstract:
The study was conducted in Adama city, on carcass samples collected from the Ethiopian breed called Arsi breed cattle with the objective of evaluating beef microbiological qualities with standard procedures. Carcass samples were randomly chosen at abattoir using systematic random sampling techniques. On the night of carcass sampling about 125 cattle were slaughtered and the carcass samples were chosen on every 10 counting. Beef samples were aseptically excised and collected from all parts of the exposed body of carcasses. The methods described by the Nordic Committee on Food Analysis (NMKL) were adopted to analyze each of the parameters considered. Aerobic plate (AP) count, total coliform (TC) count and fecal coliform FC) counts were significantly different among different sampling days and batches of samples (P<0.05). The mean AP, TC, FC, E. coli and staphylococci counts were 1.62×105, 5.29×101, 9.05×101, 8.97×101 and 5.54×105, respectively. Salmonella and Shigella bacteria were not isolated per 25 g samples. In Adama, carcasses are normally transported to the butchers’ shop either in vans, minibus, taxi, three wheel motor cycle and horse-cart. This exposes the meat to a number of pathogens some of which may be pathogenic. Ethiopia is one of the top possessors of livestock in Africa with an estimated population of 52.13 million, 24.22 million, and 22.62 million heads of cattle, sheep and goats, respectively (CSA, 2012). These livestock are playing an important role in the national economy, contributing to both agricultural products and national GDP. But the contribution of livestock and livestock products export to earn foreign exchange is not too large due to the fact that the country is not fully exploiting this resource. Several studies reveal that the production and productivity of the animal is low and products being produced are of low quality. Yet, in recent years feedlot farms are flourishing and getting engaged in the export of processed meat to the Middle East and North African (MENA) and absorbing foreign currency from international markets. Standards, such as acceptable microbial load level are being adopted by almost all international markets. Several scientists have indicated the importance of continuous assessment on meat microbial load qualities. As far as microbial load level of Ethiopian meat is concerned there is limited information on the microbial quality of Ethiopian beef that is being retailed in different selling outlets. Therefore, this particular study investigated the microbial load on the beef harvested from the Arsi breed (Ethiopian breed cattle) and recommended how the eaters should handle and cook the beef.
