Artificially fattened cattle flood markets in N dists
Pose health hazard to consumers
High prices are demanded for hefty cattle brought for sale as sacrificial animals in over one hundred big cattle markets in eight northern districts ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
But most of those cattle are allegedly fattened through unscientific methods and affected with serious diseases, posing serious health hazards for consumers.
The scientific method of cattle fattening is to feed urea, molasses and straw (UMS) mixture to the cattle at a right proportion, Nilphamari district Livestock Officer Dr Sekandar Ali said.
But a section of greedy cattle traders adopt artificial process of cattle fattening to charge exorbitant prices. They start their practice three to four months ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
In this process, the cattle are fed with excess urea and large dozes of vitamins, hormone injections are pushed into the muscle. Steroid tablets or injections are also used for fattening cows.
After injection of steroid, the fluid is spread throughout the cattle's body to make them look fat, livestock specialist Dr Anil Kumar Paul said, adding that the fluid is deposited in the animal's body and different diseases due to excess vitamin and hormone injection may even cause its death.
Pain in bone, hormonal imbalance, kidney disease, gastric, skin disease and high blood pressure attack the cattle as a result of artificial fattening process, Dr Anil said.
Small pieces of 10kg straw mixed with 6-7 litres of water, 2.5 kg molasses and 300gm of urea makes ideal UMS food for cattle fattening, District livestock office sources said. An adult cow may take only 4-5kg a day and the animal should undergo de-worming before this.
In special cases when the cattle is weak and unhealthy, Hepatopane and Catasole capsule or injection containing vitamin B12 in correct doze may be used along with UMS, District Livestock Officer Dr Sikandar Ali said.
Cattle traders said they prefer local cross breed, Horiana, Australian Frizian, Shahiwal and Pabna breed variety of cattle for fattening.
Visiting different cattle markets in this region, this correspondent found that the artificially fattened cattle lack liveliness and energy. Those cattle become too tired to proceed even after walking a short distance.
Dr Abdul Majid, senior medical officer of Nilphamari Civil Surgeon's Office, said consumption of meat from those diseased cattle affects human body while long time consumption of such meat might have even impact on future generation.
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