BOGRA, Sep 13: Fattening of sacrificial animals by using various harmful drugs is going on unbridled in twelve upazilas of Bogra to make soaring profit during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
A group of dishonest cattle farmers in the area have been engaged in fattening cows and buffalos by using different medicines as well as injections.
A source said about 15 fattening units are being run across the district to provide such drugs to around 400 small and large cattle farms, each having 10 to 30 cattle, ahead of the Eid.
He said in almost all the farms sacrificial animals are being fattened with steroids, like - Pre-Dexanol, Dexamethasone, Betamethasone, Periactin, Paradexon and Oradexon.
Due to consumption of toxic drugs, amount of water increases inside cattle body. Kidney and liver of these cattle ultimately stop functioning and they do not survive for long.
Some of these drugs, used for curing diseases, have serious side effects on human body. Excessive consumption of the drugs through meat may cause various diseases and even death.
Recently a mobile court conducted drives in Boubazar area with the help of RAB-12, and recovered huge quantity of illegal cattle fattening drugs.
Later the mobile court realised Tk 50,000 fine from Zamal Sheikh, the owner of Unique Agrovet.
Local people alleged that Department of Livestock at the district level are not taking any action against the dishonest cattle farm owners for using harmful steroids and injections for fattening cattle.
When contacted, district livestock officer Dr A M Shafiuzzaman denied the allegation, and said they are monitoring the situation and taking action against the culprits.
"We're organising regular court yard meetings with local cattle farm owners to make them aware of fatal consequences of fattening cows using illegal drugs," he added.
A farm owner, however, said still there are hundreds of rural people in the area, who do not use toxic drugs and injections for fattening cattle.
They have become self-reliant in the recent years through commercial livestock rearing, cultivation of Jumbo and Napier variety grass, and marketing those successfully, he further said.
Proper care of domestic animals must be ensured to boost the prospective animal husbandry sector and cut poverty, he opined.
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