Assessment of Slaughter Hygiene in Informal Abattoirs in Delta State, South South Nigeria

This study assesses slaughter hygiene conditions in informal abattoirs operating in Delta State, located in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone. Informal abattoirs that operate outside regulated facilities are common across Delta State and contribute significantly to meat supply without adequate veterinary oversight, biosecurity control, or environmental management. Using a direct observational checklist-based approach supplemented by structured interviews with 60 abattoir workers across 12 informal slaughter sites in three local government areas, the study assessed compliance with standard slaughter hygiene requirements including carcass handling, water supply, waste disposal, worker protective equipment use, and the presence of meat inspection. Carcass surface swabs were collected from 80 animal carcasses processed at the observed sites for total coliform count and Salmonella spp. isolation. Findings revealed that none of the surveyed informal sites met minimum hygiene standards on all assessed criteria. Running water was absent in 83 percent of sites, personal protective equipment was used in fewer than 10 percent of cases, and no veterinary inspection was conducted at any site. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 22 percent of carcass surface swabs. Total coliform counts exceeded acceptable limits in 88 percent of samples. The study recommends regulatory formalisation and upgrading of slaughter infrastructure, mandatory registration of all slaughter operators, and the assignment of veterinary public health officers to informal slaughter sites in Delta State. Keywords: slaughter hygiene, informal abattoir, Delta State, food safety, meat inspection.