The Hindu : Freak calf creates a sensation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 14, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Freak calf creates a sensation

By Our Staff Reporter

Hemasekhar Naidu milking the calf.

TIRUPATI July 13. Ever heard of a nine-month old calf yielding milk? That too, not once as a freak incident, but two litres daily!

When its peers are content with suckling milk from their mother at that age, the calf at Pullaiahgaripalle in Chandragiri mandal, 18 km from here, which is 13 months now, is attracting the attention of the nearby villagers. When this correspondent visited the village on Sunday, the owner of the calf, B. Hemasekhar Naidu, was busy milking it. He was not willing to get into conversation as he felt that the media limelight could cast `evil eyes' on the calf.

The hesitant farmer started reeling out details of the rare phenomenon rather reluctantly. The calf, born on May 24, 2002, started yielding milk when it was just nine months old while normally it takes around two years to attain maturity and become eligible for conception.

An initial look at the secretion (of milk) made the Naidus think that the calf had attained puberty, but they came to know that they were misled. On testing, they found to their astonishment that it was milk as pure and pristine as it was from its mother. The perplexed couple, not willing to take any chances, did not consume it and even refrained from milking it. "The poor creature used to moo and writhe in pain if we did not milk it for two days. It became inevitable for us to milk it,'' Mrs. Naidu said.

Regarding the quality and usability of the milk produced from an immature calf, the couple said that they had been using it for domestic consumption apart from supplying the same to the Heritage Foods dairy without any hassles.

Veterinary academicians and animal husbandry experts, when contacted by The Hindu confirmed it as a rare phenomenon and attributed it to `hormonal imbalance.' The milk had to be `let down' lest it should result in problems for the calf, they said adding that the inborn hormones in the milk might not be harmful and can be consumed.

However, Mr. Naidu says no Government official had ever visited him though his calf had made him famous enough in the region. The revenue officials had taken a photograph of the calf in a gram sabha some ten days ago, but the animal husbandry officials are yet to initiate action to unravel the science behind the sensation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Govt. to expose violation of award

Basar right location for IIT: CM

Freak calf creates a sensation

Strive for eternal values: Saibaba

Senior police official dead

Viral fever toll crosses 100

Each district sanctioned 25 lakhs for checking contagious diseases

BJP MP to go on fast over RDS issue

Fans prevent Chiranjeevi from unveiling statue

Women's panel chief visits Kuppam

Fresh search for new BJP chief for State unit