The study was carried out from November 2017 to April 2018 on cattle slaughtered at Sululta abattoir to identify major causes of organs and carcass condemnation and to estimate the amount of direct economic losses. The study design was cross sectional and by using a systematic random sampling. Three hundred eight four cattle were selected for study. Both ante mortem and post mortem examination were employed. The ante mortem findings revealed that 8.6% of animals (n= 33) of cattle were having various types of abnormalities. The postmortem examination findings indicated that fasciolosis 21.9% (n=84) and hydatidosis 10.4% (n=40) were major causes of liver condemnations. The chi-square analysis of risk factors showed that there was significant difference in post mortem findings with respect to age of animals (p<0.05) for hydatidosis infection. The total direct financial loss from organ and carcass condemnation during the study time was estimated to be 51,730 Ethiopia birr (1616.7 US dollar). In conclusion, the finding revealed that fasciolosis and hydatidosis were major causes of liver condemnation. Therefore, creating public awareness, implementation of appropriate animal health management practices and investigation of the economic significance of zoonotic diseases is advisable so as to reduce their public health impact and economic losses incurred by these diseases.

Keywords: Abattoir, cattle, carcass, condemnation, financial losses, postmortem, organ, Sululta, Ethiopia