Assessment of the Major Animal Health Problems and its Economic Impact on Beef Cattle Export Industry at Adama Quarantine Station, Central Ethiopia

The current study was conducted with major objective of assessing the major animal health factors that cause rejection in international live animal trade at Adama export quarantine station and to estimate economic loss due to the rejection factors/disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2015 to April 2016 at two private feedlots found in Adama and Adami Tullu Eastern Ethiopia. From the total of 2697 bulls examined for the presence of physically and clinical abnormalities, 3.74% (101/2697) physical and clinical abnormalities were detected. From a total of 2596 bulls that were examined for the presence of FMD (Foot and mouth disease) and CBPP (Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia); 12.9% (334/2596) and 9% (233/2596) were found to be positive respectively. The results of the present study showed significant variation in the prevalence of FMD (Foot and mouth disease) and CBPP with respect to origin of bulls (P < 0.05). The study also revealed the overall loss of hard currency due to failure to export seroposative live animals and rejected due to physical and clinical abnormalities from the two exporter farms which were included in our study was 580,826 US$. The economic loss that is incurred from FMD, CBPP and physical and clinical abnormalities were 290,413 US$, 202,593.5 US$ and 87,819.5 US$ respectively. The results of this study indicate that FMD and CBPP are still important disease in the feedlots. Therefore prevention and control strategies are needed in the feedlots; and biosecurity of the feedlots must be improved so that to reduce the exposure of bulls to new infections.