HEALTH WARNING: Avoid ‘double-dead’ meat

Agri experts checking if ailing cows suffered from cold or disease

Agriculture staffers took blood samples of an ailing cow in an upland Cebu city barangay to verify if the cold weather was the real cause of the poor health and death of several livestock.

Until test results are in, the animals could have suffered a bacterial infection.

In the meantime, officials warned the public, especially farm residents in 17 affected city mountain barangays and Balamban town, against consuming meat of the slaughtered farm animals.

The “double dead” meat could pose health hazards as the animals could have been affected by bacteria or other disease, not by hypothermia or excessive cold.

Over 50 animals – cattle, pigs, goats – were reported to have died since the cold snap intensified this month. This was the basis of a declaration of a state of calamity in 17 upland barangays in Cebu City the other day.

In barangay Gaas in Balamban town, some ranchers draped their cows with sacks, tarpaulin, cloth or plastic to keep the animals warm.

Joel Elumba, OIC regional technical director for research and regulatory affairs of the Department of Agriculture, said they are still investigating the cause of death of the animals. He said the ailing or a dead animals could have suffered a bacterial infection.

“The DA actually prohibits the slaughter of ailing animals. Weakened livestock have to be examined by a veterinarian to make sure they are not afflicted by any disease,” he said.

“That’s why we appeal to the livestock owners not to slaughter, sell or serve meat from dead or sick animals. They should call the provincial or city veterinary office so they could send somebody to help them.”

A team from the DA regional office yesterday went to barangay Cantipla, one of the 17 mountain barangays in Cebu City that were placed under a state of calamity, to take blood samples from a cow that was no longer eating and was just lying on the ground since Wednesday.

“We got a blood sample,” Elumba said.

The ailing cow was also injected with antibiotics .
The blood sample was taken to the DA’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for tests.

Elumba said the results will be released after 48 hours.
He said the cold weather noticed in the past two weeks may have stressed out the animals, but he expressed surprise that the cows were greatly affected.

“That’s also one thing we want to find out. Goats are more susceptible to cold weather than cattle,” he said.