Fattening of cattle by banned Indian drug poses a threat to health

Hundreds of cattle traders in the northern region are allegedly engaged in fattening their cattle to get a windfall profit by selling them in about 100 big markets before Eid-ul-Azha.

Instead of following proper method, most of them take a short cut way to fatten cattle. They reportedly feed their cattle harmful and banned Indian tablets named 'Pump.' Sometimes, they use Decavit and Decason for the purpose.

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As a result, the cattle become bulky within the shortest time by using the banned items, sources said.

It also increases brightness of fur and skin. So the cattle become attractive to prospective buyers who ultimately become eager to purchase them at higher prices.

It has been learnt that just before a month of Eid-ul-Azha, most of cattle traders start feeding their cattle 800 to 1,000 tablets in over dose to fatten medium size cattle within the period.

They allegedly use 1,500 to 2,000 tablets to fatten a big size cattle. After a month the cattle become fat and become ready for sell in markets at exorbitant rate.

Although the cattle look bulky and attractive, yet they are not lively. They usually do not like to move, rather they remain gloomy and static most of the time.

The tablets generally damage their liver and kidney, according to veterinary doctors. As the waste fluid can not get out of their bodies, it is transmitted to the entire body and absorbed by cells of their flesh. The cattle become very fat. A kind a bacteria is formed within the body which may cause serious harm to human body.

When contacted, Abdul Majid, a senior medical officer of Nilphamari Civil Surgeon's office said by consuming beef of such cattle, people are most likely to suffer from kidney trouble. It damages the cardiovascular system. It might prevent internal functioning of body and increase blood pressure, he said.

Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Anil Kumar Pal said to this correspondent, indiscriminate use of such tablets may harm both the cattle and people.

He said the scientific method of fattening cattle is de-worming fast and then use mixture of urea, molasses and straw (UMS).

'We use steroid for treatment of inflammation, swallowed legs of cattle'.

'We also prescribe steroid and calcium for treatment of too much weak cattle for a certain period (not more than one week) at a dose of 2cc or slightly higher dose per day according to size and weight of the cattle,' he added.