Assessment of Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection Practices at Port Harcourt Abattoir, Rivers State

This study evaluates the quality and thoroughness of ante-mortem and post-mortem meat inspection practices at the Port Harcourt metropolitan abattoir in Rivers State, located in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone. Effective meat inspection is a critical public health intervention that prevents the entry of diseased or contaminated carcasses into the human food chain, yet the adequacy of inspection procedures at many Nigerian abattoirs has been questioned. Using a direct observational design supplemented by structured interviews with 15 abattoir meat inspectors and veterinary officers over a six-month period, the study assessed compliance with ante-mortem procedures, post-mortem organ examination protocols, and carcass disposal practices. A review of abattoir condemnation records from 2021 to 2023 provided secondary data. Findings revealed significant deficiencies in inspection protocols, including the absence of systematic lymph node examination in 43 percent of observed carcasses, inadequate ante-mortem holding facilities, and the absence of systematic documentation for condemned organs. Bovine tuberculosis lesions were the most commonly recorded condemnable finding, accounting for 38 percent of organ condemnations, followed by liver fluke infestation at 27 percent. The study identifies staffing shortfalls, inadequate infrastructure, and poor record-keeping as primary operational constraints. Recommendations include upgrading abattoir infrastructure, increasing veterinary staffing, and mandatory documentation of inspection findings to strengthen meat safety surveillance in Rivers State. Keywords: meat inspection, abattoir, Port Harcourt, food safety, public health.