Indigestible foreign bodies in the forestomach of slaughtered goats in Mogadishu, Somalia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The primary domestic animal in Somali communities is the goat. Their main economic importance is as a food source and a main form of agriculture in the country. There has been a recent decline in the goat population in Somalia, which may be due to the shortage of feed and an increasingly contaminated environment that is affecting the population’s food supply and nutritional status. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with indigestible foreign bodies (IFBs) ingestion in goats in Mogadishu, Somalia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Somalia Meat Company in Mogadishu, Somalia, in February 2022. A total of 250 goats were included in this study, and records were kept on age, sex, body condition, and location. Following the slaughter, goats were inspected for IFBs, and their stomach compartments were incised and examined. Indigestible foreign body classifications was noted and subjected to analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0. RESULTS: A total of 90/250 (36%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.1–42.3) goats presented IFBs, being 71/90 (79%; 95% CI: 69–87) in the rumen, 12/90 (13%; 95% CI: 7–22) in the reticulum, and seven/90 (8%; 95% CI: 3–15) on both. The most observed IFBs were plastic in 71/90 (79%; 95% CI: 69–87), followed by ropes in eight/90 (10%; 95% CI: 5–18). A high IFB prevalence was observed in goats aged >2–≤3 years (44%), followed by >3 years (36%). The lowest frequency was observed in goats aged <2 years (30%). Overall, there was an association between IFBs in goats and poor body conditions (χ(2) = 47%, p < 0.04). CONCLUSION: The absence of a plastic waste disposal system in the area, and communal free-grazing of livestock in highly contaminated sites, appeared to be significant contributors to the high occurrence of IFBs in goats. Therefore, appropriate policies for solid waste management should be implemented.