Injecting cows with oxytocin hormone is an offence and the government can impound the animal subjected to it, said Animal Husbandry Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy said on Monday.
He was replying to Congress member ESS Raman, who wanted the government to clarify whether milk obtained from a cow injected with oxytocin hormone was harmful to health.
Mr. Palanisamy said the practice was prevalent only in Chennai and suburban areas, but the hormone was not known to have caused any health hazards. “Injecting cows with the hormone is punishable under section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.” The person injecting the hormone should be a certified pharmacist.
“Others administering the injection will get 6 months imprisonment or Rs.1000 as fine.”
