Chennai: Should bovines medically unfit for breeding be killed?

CHENNAI: A state government order permitting the farmers to “eliminate” the bulls contacting disease, rather than treating them or sending them to pinjarapole, has stoked a controversy.

As per a provision in the Tamil Nadu Bovine Breeding Act, 2019, which was passed in July, “the male bovine declared unfit for breeding or infected with disease shall be eliminated by the farmer in such manner as may be prescribed.”

“Allowing the slaying of the bull is unethical and unlawful. In Tamil Nadu, the jallikattu bulls are normally used for breeding purpose too. The owner of such bulls takes care of them as though they are his family members and sometimes even more than that,” says Mrs. Gohar Aziz, former Member, National Commission on Cattle.

Though not all male calves born out of the native bull species become jallikattu bulls, farmers raise them with care. “Encouraging the killing of bulls, even if it be on medical grounds, is shocking, especially at a time when we are struggling to preserve the native breeds,” she said.

According to V. Subramanian, secretary of Janakalyan, it is very “cruel” to kill the bulls. “The state government should consider providing medical treatment,” he said.

Questioning the need to introduce such a clause, Mrs. Gohar Aziz argues that the farmers should be allowed to take care of the bovines.  

Bovine, as per the Act, means and includes cow, bull, bullock and buffalo and bovine breeding means breeding activities in bovines that include the use of bovine bulls for production of semen, production, processing, storage and distribution of bovine frozen semen, and providing artificial insemination services to bovines.

Also, she opposed certification of bulls and empowering an ‘identified’ person to enter the premise where the male bovine for natural service are reared for examining the animals for their breeding fitness and compliance with the Act.