Volume 1 – Issue 2 – 2020
Original Research Article
Environmental and Microbial Implications of Animal Waste Products: A Case Study of Pork Fat and Beef Fat
Chinonye Medline Maduka*1, Gideon Chijioke Okpokwasili2, Akuma Oji3, Ugochi Queen Fineboy4
1World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence, Centre for Oilfield Chemicals Research,
University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, (NIGERIA)
2Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, (NIGERIA)
3Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, (NIGERIA)
4Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, (NIGERIA)
PAGE NO: 161-164
ABSTRACT – DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.47204/EESR.1.2.2020.161-164
Developing countries are known to dispose waste indiscriminately into their environment of which fat is one of them. These fats release awful odor making passersby uncomfortable and also breeds microorganisms. Environmental factors such as rainfall, sunlight and wind aid the migration of these fats to other sites thereby leading to contamination. Total heterotrophic plate count of pork fat ranged from 4.0 x 105 cfu/g to 4.2 x 105 cfu/g and its total coliform plate count was from 3.8 x 105 cfu/g to 4.0 x105 cfu/g while the total heterotrophic plate count of beef fat ranged from 3.1 x 105 cfu/g to 3.5 x 105 cfu/g and its total coliform plate count was from 2.4 x 105 cfu/g to 2.8 x105 cfu/g. E.coli and Salmonella sp. were the highest occurring in both fats. Pork fat had more microbial count than beef fat. Fats can be converted to useful products and this will lead to the reduction of waste in the environment. Statistical analysis showed significant difference in mean counts of pork and beef fat samples at p<=0.05.