Causes of kidney condemnation and associated direct financial loss at Kumasi Abattoir, Ghana between 2002 – 2014

A retrospective and active abattoir survey were conducted from 2002 to 2013 and from November 2013 to March 2014 respectively to determine the  major causes of kidney condemnation at Kumasi abattoir, Ghana and also to estimate direct financial loss associated with kidney rejection. Ten kidneys out of 690 cattle and 901 out of 1,052,907 kidneys were condemned respectively between the periods 2013 – 2014 and 2002 – 2013 respectively. The major causes for kidney condemnation were nephritis (33.3 %), putrefaction (25.6 %), tuberculosis (18.2 %), abscessation (13.1 %)  and hydronephrosis (10.0 %). The overall direct financial loss from kidney condemned during the study period was estimated to be GH¢ 3,189. Factors such as age, sex, breed, season and festive periods were observed to influence the occurrence of kidney condemnation. The study recommends that attention should be given to the kidney during post mortem inspection as some of the causes of its condemnation were zoonotic. Keywords: Abattoir, Kidney condemnation, Lesions, Financial implications, Ghan