KOCHI: As the controversy over beef ban gains momentum, the row over cow slaughter took an ugly turn with the minister of state for agriculture Sanjeev Balyan criticising the Kerala government and Congress for not encouraging beef ban. Beef consumption in Kerala has touched a record high with people consuming over 2,50,000 metric tonnes beef in the last fiscal year. According to statistics available with the animal husbandry department, there is a steady rise in beef consumption in Kerala despite the spread of various zoonotic diseases over the years.
Speaking to The Sunday Standard, director of animal husbandry department Dr Chandrankutty said the state has consumed over 4,45,000 metric tonnes meat in 2014-15. Of the total meat production in the last fiscal year, 2,50,000 metric tonnes was of beef followed by 1,64,000 metric tonnes of chicken, 18,000 metric tonnes of mutton and 15,000 metric tonnes of pork. In 2013-14, Keralites consumed over 4,16,000 metric tonnes meat whereas it was 4,01,000 metric tonnes in 2012-13. In 2011-12 the number stood at 4,25,000 metric tonnes while it was 3,41,000 metric tonnes in 2010-11. This shows that even amid the spread of various zoonotic diseases like kysanur forest disease, kala azar, avian influenza, anthrax, brucellosis, zoonotic rabies, salmonellosis, worm infestations etc, there is a steady rise in the consumption of beef in Kerala.
Of the total 2,50,000 metric tonnes of beef produced in last fiscal year, 1,40,000 metric tonnes meat was from cattle and 1,11,000 metric tonnes was buffalo meat. T P Sethumadhavan, director of entrepreneurship, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University, said that there are less than 100-odd authorised slaughter houses and more than 3,000 unauthorised slaughterhouses operational in the state which slaughter, both legally and illegally, roughly 2.5 crore cattle every year, making the state vulnerable to the spread of zoonotic diseases. “The animal husbandry department is in the process of setting up more scientific slaughter houses in the state in cooperation with local self government department, Suchitwa Mission and other government agencies,” said Dr Chandrankutty.