Artificial cow-fattening on rise
Cattle shortfall likely for this Eid-ul-Azha
ANISUR RAHMAN KHAN
A section of unscrupulous traders across the country are involved in fattening sacrificial cattle in the run up to Eid-ul-Azha by injecting hormones and other chemicals, which are considered fatal to the human lives. The trend has got momentum in the wake of the perception that the prices of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha next month may go up due to a shortfall of at least 10 lakh cattle heads in the country. This shortfall is expected despite assurances given by the Department of Livestock that it has about 96.35 lakh cattle heads, including buffalo, goat and sheep, ready to go on the market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha thats likely to be celebrated on September 24.
About 36-37 lakh cattle heads will be required this year for sacrificial slaughter on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. Its one of the two biggest festivals celebrated by Muslims in the country.
The sacrificial market is likely to face crunch due to the total ban on export and smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh across the border by the Indian authorities.
At least 90 percent shops selling steroids and other chemicals used for cattle fattening are sold illegally in the rural areas. These shops have no license for drug administration, a senior official, responsible to look after the upazila Veterinary Officers of the Department of Livestock, said on condition of anonymity.
He further added that monitoring the use of steroids started three months ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and will continue for three months following the festival. According to experts, the consumption of meat of artificially-fattened cattle may cause diseases such as cancer, cardiac failure and kidney related ailments for humans.
Excessive use of steroids and hormones such as Dexamethasone or Decason, Betamethasone and Periactin damage the liver, kidneys and intestines of the cattle.
Prof. Abdus Samad, Member of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) said, Steroids and hormones are used on a large scale in fattening cattle. Its not possible to burn these and they enter the human body through cattle tissue.
Poison is deposited in the cattle tissue due to the widespread use of steroids because there is no control over the use of such hormones, he said. The use of hormones and steroids in fattening cattle is banned as per the Animal Disease Control Act, 2010.
Its a punishable crime if steroids and hormones are used to artificially fatten the animals. The Animal Disease Control Act prescribes at least two years in jail or a fine Tk. 50,000 or both for a committing offence, Dr. Lutfor Rahman, upazila livestock officer said.
A total of 27.35 lakh cattle and buffalos are ready for sacrificial purposes. Besides, there are about 69 lakh goats and sheep also ready for Eid-ul-Azha. A total of 96.35 lakh sacrificial animals are ready for Eid, Ajoy Kumar Roy, Director General, Department of Livestock, told The Independent yesterday.
There are about 1.93 crore animals in the country, which are fit for slaughter this year. Of them, 50 percent would be used for sacrificial slaughter on the day of Eid-ul-Azha, Roy added.
He further said that a total of 1.55 crore animals were slaughtered in 2014-2015, while 1.36 crore in 2013-2014.
However, he claimed that they were continuously monitoring the matter at the field level and our veterinary officers in the field are working round the clock.
A total of 69 mobile courts, with the help of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), have been conducted till to date, Dr ASSM Zuberi, Assistant Director (animal health) said. Cases have been filed against 32 persons during these drives.
He further said that a total of Tk. 19.44 lakh was realised as fine and 45,600 kg of adulterated animal food destroyed, while another 5,65,100 kg of animal food was seized.
