Kerala varsity nod for mercy killing of 80 cows

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: At a time when laboratories in Haryana are busy conducting tests on biryani samples to check for traces of beef, a veterinary university in Kerala

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: At a time when laboratories in Haryana are busy conducting tests on biryani samples to check for traces of beef, a veterinary university in Kerala is set to cull eighty-odd cows.

HT Image

The reason: They are infected with Malta fever or brucellosis, a bacteria-induced disease that can be passed on to humans through consumption of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat of infected animals.

The Animal Welfare Board of India has given permission to kill 84 cows reared at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Palakkad. But it has asked the university not to use crude methods. The university has finalized the move to subject the cattle to mercy killing and set up a committee to implement it.

“There is no cause of concern. We have already isolated all infected animals. Only people who are in close contact with the animals like farm labourers and vets need to exercise some caution,” said a senior official of the animal husbandry department adding that it is not a contagious disease like bird flu.

Once infected by brucellosis, animals will develop reproductive problem and lesions will appear on the skin. Besides cows, goat, horse, pigs and humans can contract the disease.