14 November 2011

2 minute read

Asia

The government of Changsha, the provincial capital of China's south-central province of Hunan, has begun to crack down on illegal cattle raised on landfill sites, the local Changsha Evening News reports.

Officers in charge of animal husbandry visited a dumping ground in a mountainous area far from the city and stumbled across a herd of cows in piles of fly-infested trash. Upon investigation, the authorities found that the animals belonged to farmers living close to the landfill.

Local farmers explained that they allow their cattle to roam and look for food in the mountains but said they were not aware that the cattle had entered the landfill site. The dumping ground was found to have several areas of broken fencing, allowing the animals to enter.

The "garbage cattle" discovery has raised further concerns over food safety in China. Food experts told the newspaper that the cows are likely to have consumed toxic substances, posing a serious health threat to consumers.

The landfill has been ordered to repair its fences and expel any cattle from the site. The authorities also demanded that local farmers register their cows, which must pass quality inspections before they are slaughtered.

Wu Jiacheng, Chemistry Professor, National Taiwan Normal University told NTD Television: "There are some bacteria shared by livestock and humans. Cows, sheep, or pigs may eat these things and have no issues, but once they reach the human body, they cause illness. For instance, listerial infections can cause death in humans. If a mother is pregnant and is affected by this sort of bacteria, the infant fatality rate can be 100 per cent."

TheCattleSite News Desk