After Amroha cow deaths, norms issued to minimise use of green fodder

Green fodder may be becoming toxic due to scanty rainfall in most districts of Uttar Pradesh, the department of animal husbandry has said.

Scantly rainfall in most districts in Uttar Pradesh has created the possibility of green fodder like “joar” (sorghum) and “bajra” (millet) having gone toxic and hence become unsafe for livestock to consume.

As many as 55 of 188 cows at the cow protection centre in Amroha died on Thursday (August 4) after consuming contaminated green fodder supplied by a local farmer while six more succumbed later (Pic for representation)

Hence, alerted by deaths of over 61 cows at a “gaushala (cow shelter)” in Amroha after consuming poisonous fodder last Thursday, the department of animal husbandry has asked officials to ensure that the use of green fodder for stray cattle in cow protection centres is minimised or avoided as far as possible.

Director, animal husbandry, Indramani, on Monday issued a circular in this regard, directing officials concerned to take steps for better and safe fodder management in the cow protection centres in view of the tendency of green fodder becoming poisonous during drought-like conditions.

“We have issued guidelines to officials for cautious use of green fodder for stray cattle in the cow protection centres in view of the unfortunate Amroha incident,” Indramani said.

As many as 55 of 188 cows at the cow protection centre in Amroha died on Thursday (August 4) after consuming contaminated green fodder supplied by a local farmer while six more succumbed later. Many others are said to be still under treatment.

The circular said that stray cattle or livestock in general should not be fed completely on green fodder these days, asking officials to ensure that 80% of the cattle diet was dry fodder (wheat straw) and only 20% green fodder was mixed with it.

“Also, the green fodder from a field where urea fertilizer has been applied should be given to cattle for consumption only at least one day after such application and, otherwise also, the green fodder should be left in the field for a day after cutting before the same is cut into pieces and given to cattle to feed,” the circular said.

It further said that green or dry fodder should not be served to cattle if a strange kind of smell came from it.

“All veterinary officers should see to it that there were adequate stocks of specific antidotes to treat stray cattle if they fall ill after consuming green fodder possibly laced with cyanide (poison), a condition that is often caused due to plants being exposed to the sun without adequate irrigation or rains,” the circular said.

It directed veterinary officers/doctors and other senior officials to start making night stay at the place of their posting only.

An Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) team that visited the Amroha cow protection centre. It conducted autopsy on all the 61 cows that died under mysterious circumstances and found that the cows had consumed an excess of green ‘bajra’ that contained too much nitrate.

Meanwhile, the probe panel that investigated the incident from all the angles, including possible conspiracy, submitted its confidential report to chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday for necessary action.