Holy cow! Junagadh varsity finds gold in urine

Claims to have found traces of gold in the urine of a local cattle breed, 'Gir'

After being at the centre of raging political debate in recent times, the cow is all set to make the headlines again, with scientists of Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU) claiming to have found traces of gold in the urine of a local cattle breed -- Gir.

The team of researchers led by Dr B A Golakia, head of JAU's biotechnology department, used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method to analyse the urine samples.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Golakia, said around 10 milligram to 30 milligrams of gold per litre of cow urine has been found in over 500 samples analysed.

"Under this department there is laboratory, it is a central laboratorty where work is going on for the last seven years on cow urine. Especially, on a local cattle breed -- Gir -- a research is going on its urine. Over 500 samples of cow urine has been taken and analysed. Traces of gold have been found in the urine, around 10 milligram to 30 milligrams of gold per litre of cow urine has been found," he said.

"The amount of gold varies according to the age of the cow. But gold has been found in all the samples," he added.

Another researcher at the institute, meanwhile, said traces of Silver, Zinc and Boron were also found in the urine sample, but the quantities were far low to be significant.

The JAU is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The lab, which is a joint venture of JAU Union ministry of food processing industries, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), and Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation (GAIC), conducts about 50,000 tests every year on various products.