Mad and obese cows

1996/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Abeltzaintza

While mad cow disease is agitated throughout Europe, another issue directly related to cattle has gone unnoticed and has provoked controversy: the use of hormones. As is known, the use of hormones for calves or cows has been reported on several occasions.

Hormones accelerate the process of fattening so the farmer is advantageous in its marketing. The use of hormones throughout Europe to fatten livestock is currently strictly prohibited, but cases involving Clenbuterol or any other hormone are common.

A committee of experts from the European Union has analysed the use of hormones in recent years and recently published its interim results. According to them, testosterone, progesterone and the three natural hormones of estradiol and artificial hormones of ceranol and tabibolone do not cause any harm to human health, so they can be used without problems to fatten cattle.

In any case, not all are of the same opinion. Ranchers consider this statement worrying because lifting the ban on these five hormones will facilitate access to more. Consumers are also worrying. Distrust of the flesh must be overcome, but voices favorable to allowing the use of hormones will only make the situation more complicated.