Mass death of cattle in Gujarat; grass poisoning suspected

Over 100 cattle have died due to suspected grass poisoning here in the last three days, causing concern among live-stock authorities and cow protection activists.
While 41 cattle died in Drjipura area on Friday, another 61 deaths were reported in the city on Sunday, Joint Commissioner of Police D J Patel told PTI today.
The deaths were suspected to have been caused by poisoning of grass sourced from outside areas to feed the animals but exact cause will be known after analysis of the liver samples of the dead animals, he said.
Samples have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory in Surat for detailed analysis after conducting post-mortem on the carcasses.

"Veterinarians and live-stock officials are awaiting the report from the laboratory. Only then we will be able to say the exact cause of the death of these cattle," the police official said.
Meanwhile, Viha Bharwad, an activist of Gauraksha Samiti, demanded an inquiry into the death of the cattle and wanted the authorities to take urgent preventive steps to save the remaining animals kept in the shelters here.
Rajiv Shah, an official of an animal shelter at Panjrapol area, said it had been decided to feed the cattle with hay fodder for the time being as contaminated grass was suspected to be the cause of the death.