Eid-ul-Azha is one of the biggest religious festivals for Muslims, and sacrificial animal markets have opened across the country. Markets in Dhaka and other big cities have begun to fill up, with thousands of people crowding in every day to buy cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, dumba and camels. But the idea that an animal is healthy just because it looks big or fat is wrong.

In the hope of higher prices, dishonest traders and farmers apply excessive amounts of drugs and chemicals to fatten animals for several weeks before Eid. This causes excess water to build up in the animal's body, damages the kidneys, lungs, stomach and liver, and leaves the animal seriously ill.

Professor Dr Mst Minara Khatun of the Department of Microbiology and Hygiene at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), a researcher, veterinarian and veterinary public health specialist, has given important advice on choosing a healthy animal and identifying artificially fattened ones.

When buying, the first step is to watch the animal's behaviour and physical condition carefully. A healthy animal moves its ears and tail. Its eyes are bright and clear, its nose slightly moist and its ears move actively. There should be no sores, itching, wounds or worms on its body.

Smooth, shiny hair and skin are signs of good health. No fluid should come from the nose or eyes. The animal should walk normally and show interest in food.

For cattle, buffalo, goats and sheep, chewing the cud is one of the main signs of health. Regular cud-chewing shows digestion is normal; a sick animal usually chews less, and a very sick one not at all. So rather than hurrying at the market, buyers should stand for a while and watch the animal's normal behaviour.

Every Eid, some dishonest traders and farmers use steroids or hormone-type drugs to fatten animals for extra profit, so special care is needed to identify them. If possible, it is best to take a vet or an experienced livestock keeper along to the market.

Such an animal's body is usually abnormally swollen, and it may show weakness when walking or signs of panting. Its skin often looks overly taut and unnaturally shiny. The belly may be bloated but the muscles are not properly formed. Injection marks may also be visible, which can indicate artificial fattening.

Meat from artificially fattened animals can also be risky for human health. Eating such meat over a long period may upset the body's hormone balance, and can raise the risk of kidney and liver damage, digestive problems, allergies and various complex diseases.

Keeping animals standing at the market for long periods also has harmful effects. They become tired and weak and may develop leg pain, breathing difficulty and loss of appetite. Excessive stress can reduce meat quality, making it tough, dry and less tasty.

If an animal suddenly falls ill at the market, it should quickly be moved away from the crowd and the sun to a calm place, given clean water and checked for fever, breathing difficulty or injury. If possible, a vet should be called quickly. Awareness must be raised to ensure healthy sacrificial animals are chosen and animals are treated humanely.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.