Cotton waste being used as cattle feed!

Harmful cotton waste from factories is being used as cattle feed in Gazipur.

Visiting different neighborhoods in Sreepur and Kapasia upazilas of the district, this correspondent saw numerous shops have been set up along roadsides stockpiling and selling cotton waste as cattle feed.

Although cattle farmers make temporary profits by feeding cotton waste to cattle, meat and milk from these animals may pose health hazards to people upon consumption, according to experts.

Photo: Monjurul Haque

"While feeding cotton waste makes cattle fat, it is not a cattle feed. Abandoned cotton waste from factories contain acids and toxic substances, and is very harmful. If cattle are fed these wastes, the animals may die. Also, the toxic elements may enter human body through consumption of meat and milk from these animals, thereby posing risk of health hazards including cancer," said Abdullah Al Mamun, veterinary surgeon (Pathology) and in-charge of Kapasia Upazila Animal Resources Office.

"Also, cotton waste contains pins and thick threads, which may perforate animals' intestines if fed, and may also cause damage to their internal organs such as liver. The animals may also have difficulty breathing," he also said.

He informed that three raids have been conducted in Kapasia upazila and fines were imposed for feeding cotton to cattle in last one year.

"Cattle become fat very quickly if fed with cotton waste. However, a bull got sick with diarrhoea recently. After I took it to veterinary doctor, I came to know that cotton waste cannot be fed to cattle," said Asma Khatun, a cattle farmer in Nabipur village under Kapasia upazila.

Lokman Hossain of the same area said, "My three cows fell ill after being fed cotton waste mixed with water, salt and wheat wastes. Those had to be slaughtered later."

Rokon Uddin, a resident of Barmi village in the upazila, said, "Five shops including mine along the Singhashree-Sreepur regional road have been selling cotton waste for a long time at Tk 21 per kg. Farmers and ranchers from Kapasia and Sreepur buy this cotton from us as cattle feed."

"Cotton bundles are purchased from abroad to make yarn at spinning mills. Cotton waste is generated in the process, which is kept in the godown. Local people buy this cotton waste from the godown for use as cattle feed," said an official of Hameem Group in Sreepur, wishing anonymity.

Dr AKM Atiqur Rahman, animal resources officer in Kapasia upazila, said the issue has come to his attention.

"A drive will be conducted through mobile court. A survey of the animal farms is underway," he added.

"Legal action will be taken against those selling cotton waste as cow feed, subject to investigation," said Sajib Ahmed, upazila nirbahi officer of Sreepur.

Dr Nargis Khanam, district animal resources officer in Gazipur, said there are a total 8,02,034 cattle in 1,578 cattle farms in the district.

"We are aware of the issue of cotton waste being fed to cattle. We have conducted mobile courts repeatedly. However, farmers need to be made aware in this regard. I will take steps to initiate further action at the upazila level to stop the feeding of cotton waste," she added.