Economic Losses Associated with BTB in Nigeria

Bovine TB globally remains a disease of major economic and zoonotic importance. This is particularly so in sub-Saharan Africa, where its presence causes a large but unknown number of deaths and economic loss in animals.

The economic losses associated with BTB in animals are anticipated to be enormous in Nigeria but there is insufficient documented information to allow the calculation of the actual loss. A rough estimate of the loss can be made by using the number of BTB cases in slaughtered cattle in abattoirs in the country (Alhaji 1976). In this context, in a recent retrospective study conducted between 2008 and 2012, 1172 (1.90%) of 61,654 cattle slaughtered in Makurdi, North-central Nigeria, were positive for TB (Streicher et al. 2007). Overall, 1935 tuberculous organs, weighing 3046.50 kg, were condemned. Given that abattoir meat inspection in Nigeria under­estimates the full extent of BTB by far, it is safe to conclude that several millions of US$ are lost annually due to BTB should all the condemned carcasses and tissues be included in the calculation.

The presence of BTB in cattle herds will also aggravate the erosive effects associated with unthriftiness, weight loss, and reduced milk production caused by the poor animal husbandry and health systems in Nigeria, and particularly by the transhumant lifestyle of the Fulani herdsmen.

17.9