ABSTRACT
Comparative bacteriological quality and heavy metal levels of fresh chevon from abattoirs in Calabar municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria was carried out using standard microbiological, biochemical and physico-chemical techniques. This was to determine the bacteriological quality of fresh chevon from different abattoirs in Calabar Municipality, to determine the physico-chemical content of fresh chevons and to determine the chemical composition of fresh chevon sold in Calabar. The result showed that fresh chevon sold in Goldie by Mount Zion were the most contaminated with a mean bacterial load of 2.79 0.014×107cfu/g-1 followed by that from Mayne avenue with a bacterial load of 2.090.12×107cfu/g-1 and the least was from Akim market with a mean bacterial load of 1.650.053×107cm/g-1. There was significant differences (p < 0.05) in the bacterial load (ANOVA) for each of the samples. The result also shows that sample (C) sold in Ekpo-abasi had the highest iron (Fe) load of 27.190.04mg/kg followed by sample (A) from Goldie by Mount Zion with a value of 24.590.43mg/kg. Zinc (Zn) content in the samples ranged from 25.990.04mg/kg to 31.430.08mg/kg, Copper (Cu) ranged from 15.390.04mg/kg to 20.120.20mg/kg. Nikel (Ni) ranged from 0.250.02mg/kg to 0.510.02mg/kg. There was significant differences (p < 0.05) in the metal loads (ANOVA) for each of the samples. Chemical characterization of the chevon samples revealed that sample A from Goldie by Mount Zion had the highest ash content of 1.200.01mg/kg followed by sample D with a value of 1.130.03mg/kg and the least was sample B with ash content of 0.750.02mg/kg. Sample A also had the highest lipid content of 11.650.05mg/kg followed by sample D with lipid content of 10.230.03mg/kg. Sample D contain the highest moisture content of 75.100.05mg/kg followed by sample B with 70.150.05mg/kg and the least was sample C with moisture content of 60.300.05mg/kg. Sample C had the highest protein content of 22.462.33mg/kg and the least was sample A with protein content of 19.520.03mg/kg. There was also significant differences (p < 0.05) in the chemical characteristics (ANOVA) for each of the samples. The isolate from this study were: Staphylococcusspp, Enterobacterspp, Corynebacteriumspp, Klebsieliaspp, and Escherichiacoli. The results showed that fresh chevon obtain from abattoirs in Calabar Metropolis needs emphasis on quality control during processing, animals should be inspected properly before killing and slaughtering and consumers of chevon in the Metropolis are to take caution since they are at risk of foodborne infection.