A cross sectional study was conducted on 753 Cattle, selected using systematic randomrnsampling technique, in Hawassa abattoirs, Southern Ethiopia from December 2015 tornMay 2016 to investigate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB), identifying the riskrnfactors as well as to isolate and characterize its causative agent. The methods used werernpostmortem examination, bacteriological culturing, RD4 deletion typing andrnSpoligotyping. The overall prevalence of the bovine tuberculosis was 5.8% (95%CI:rn4.16-7.52) on the basis of detailed postmortem examination. Multivariable logisticrnregression analysis identified age, body condition; breed and market were statisticallyrnsignificant. The older cattle above 8 years were eighteen times (OR=18.25) more likely tornhave tuberculosis than the younger cattle. The cross breeds were nine times (OR = 9.75)rnmore sensitive to M. bovis as compared to local breeds as well as the poor bodyrnconditioned cattle forty one times (OR = 41.21) more likely to have tuberculosis than therncattle have good body condition. Relatively, the occurrence of BTB was higher in cattlernbrought from Hawassa (OR = 13.17) and Borena (OR = 9.41) markets than Tula market.rnThe lesions were found most frequently distributed in thoracic cavity lymph nodesrn(75%), which indicated that respiratory route was the main mode of infection in the studyrnarea. Out of 44 tissue samples cultured, 24 (54.5%) were culture positive and all werernacid fast staining positive. However, using RD4 deletion only three isolates were confirmedrnas M. bovis.The further Spoligotyping characterizations of these three isolates revealrned the strain SB1477. And the rest isolates that have never showed any signal (21/24) inrnthe RD4 deletion typing should be characterized by using the mPCR in orderrnto confirm either they are Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex or notuberculosis mycobacterium.rnIn conclusion, the study confirmed that the low prevalence of BTB and therncurrent M. bovis strain circulate in the cattle being SB1477 that indicate implement contrrnol program and investigate the zoonotic role of this strain.rnKey words: Culturing, Hawassa abattoirs, M. bovis, Postmortem, RD4 deletion, Spoligotrnyping, ZN Staining