Abstract

This study investigated the mineral and heavy metal concentrations of roasted cowhide meat ‘Kpomo’ samples in some abattoirs in Bayelsa and Rivers State in Nigeria. Each abattoir employs unique procedure for the roasting of cowhides using characteristically different fuel sources for open fire singeing of the fur off the cowhide. Such open fire sources include fire made using firewood, plastics and expired automobile tyres. Roasted cowhide samples (500g) were randomly purchased from meat processors within the abattoirs. Samples were transported on ice-packed coolers to the laboratory for immediate analysis. The mineral contents were analyzed using the APHA method on an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Minerals assessed were calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium while heavy metals analyzed were mercury, nickel, lead, copper, zinc, chromium, and cadmium. The Opolo firewood roasted cowhide samples recorded the highest minerals concentration with a total of 5245.4mg/kg value while the Tombia samples roasted with plastics totaled 4375.9mk/kg concentration of minerals and the Swale tyre roasted cowhide samples had least mineral contents value of 3470.2mg/kg. The result of this study further indicated that the firewood roasted cowhide sample from Opolo abattoir had the highest total heavy metals component of 80.063mg/kg, the Tombia plastics roasted cowhide sample recorded 34.894mg/kg, while Swale tyre roasted cowhide sample cumulated a 31.714mg/kg content and the least heavy metal contamination content (2.383mg/kg) was recorded in the control sample. The results showed that the different singeing methods adopted in respective abattoirs influenced the quantities of minerals and heavy metals present in the samples. The presence of toxic metals like lead, cadmium and chromium in edible cowhide could pose health risks to consumers thereby leading to metal poisoning especially if they bioaccumulate in the human system.