EVALUATION OF MEAT PROCESSING KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE WITH SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF BUTCHERS

The present research set out to assess Bangladesh’s socioeconomic situation, meat processing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), and the state of the nation’s butcher shops. The investigation of 200 butcher shops was carried out between June 2022 and July 2023 using an organized questionnaire. The interview schedule addressed the butchers’ socioeconomic situation, the meat market’s infrastructure, their educational attainment and other characteristics. Seventy two percent of butchers chose agriculture as their secondary career, 98% were men, and 16% were illiterate. Each week the percentage of slaughter animals with the highest ratio (1-2) was 49%, and the percentage of animals with the lowest ratio (>5) was 23%. The butchers incomes per month ranged between 30000 and 40000 (BDT), 34% had the highest proportion, and for those >40000 (BDT), 16% had the lowest. The roofs of the butcher shops were tin sheds (90%). The drainage system is an important issue for butcher shops, which were subdivided into no sewerage (45%), soil made (26%), cannel (15%), and concrete (14%). It was concerning to learn that 27% of butchers were aware of an antibiotic withdrawal period. The meat shop’s biosecurity is currently appropriately managed to a 43% extent. 31% of butchers were knowledgeable about animal welfare and animal enjoyment. The negative effects of steroid use were known to 38% of butchers. Only 23 % of butchers knew about antibiotic resistance. In terms of meat handling and hygiene procedures, only 34% have training. The rs value of knowledge of quality meat, known as diseased animals, known as life-threatening zoonotic diseases, parasitic infestation knowledge, environmental pollution concern, knowledge of the antibiotic withdrawal period, knowledge of animal welfare, knowledge of the harmful effects of steroid use, knowledge of microbial resistance, and training on meat handling negatively correlated with the educational level and had a significant (p<0.01) negative strongly (rs > 0.3) relationship with the educational level. It indicates that the educational level increased with the improved awareness of knowledge about the health hazards of meat, which was significant (p<0.01). To solve current challenges, the government and the appropriate authority in the livestock industry should take necessary action.