Over the past three days, more than 20 stray cows have died in Hisar, with excessive consumption of food items like 'halwa' and 'poori' offered by people, a suspected cause behind the deaths.
During the ongoing festival season, many residents feed cows thinking it is a virtuous act, but such foods can actually harm the animals, said Sita Ram Singal, founder-director of the 'Gau Seva Helpline Samiti', Hisar.
For many years, Singal’s NGO has worked to care for stray cows, rescuing those that are sick or injured and arranging treatment from veterinary doctors.
He explained that normally, one or two stray cows die in the city daily due to natural causes, illness, or accidents. However, in the past three days, over 20 cows have died in different parts of the city.
Singal said their deaths are most likely linked to excessive consumption of fried foods like 'halwa' and 'poori', which can cause digestive complications such as acidosis, eventually leading to death.
The cows were found dead near Mahavir Colony, PLA Area, Sector 14, Mirzapur Road, Shanti Nagar area, Mill Gate area, and other locations.
He added that some people may believe that feeding one 'poori' or a small amount of 'halwa' is harmless, but they may not realise that other people have also fed the cow elsewhere, leading to excessive intake.
Singal warned that when cows eat large amounts of fried foods, these become hard to digest and can be fatal over time.
Dr. Nilesh Sindhu, a veterinary expert at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, said, " Excessive consumption of fried foods like 'poori' and 'halwa' causes complications in animals...Without timely treatment, they die." He advised that cows should be fed their natural diet, including green fodder and straw.
Hisar Mayor Parveen Popli has appealed to residents to stop feeding cows and other animals fried foods, sweets, and items like 'halwa' and 'poori'. Such foods can damage their digestive systems and cause serious health problems, sometimes even endangering their lives.
Also Read: Punjab draws HC flak for 18-yr delay in FIR closure
Follow us
