Veterinarian Engin Hastaoğlu explained the issues to be considered when choosing a sacrificial animal and said that the age of the animal is important as well as its health.
Providing information about foot and mouth and tuberculosis disease, Hastaoğlu said, “Foot and mouth and tuberculosis are serious infectious diseases in which our producers experience significant economic losses. Foot and mouth disease is a viral disease. The causative agent is apto virus. 7 different serotypes have been found in our country. Although our Ministry of Agriculture makes periodic statements, the rate of contagion is increasing even more these days when animal movements are very fast. This disease, which causes serious economic losses, is a disease characterized by fever and causes economic losses. Tuberculosis is a microbial disease caused by micro bacteria and bovis. It is a zoonotic disease that threatens the health of humans and animals through inhalation and digestion. “It is a disease colloquially known as tuberculosis,” he said.
“NOT SUITABLE FOR CONSUMPTION”
Giving information about the symptoms of foot and mouth and tuberculosis disease, Engin Hastaoğlu said, “Foot and mouth is a disease with its own symptoms, the symptoms of which we detect more easily during live animal examination than tuberculosis disease. It is a characteristic disease that causes serious weight loss in animals with high fever, forms white colored vesicles especially in the mouth area, and creates similar lesions in the nail area. However, it is a characteristic disease with serious weight loss in the later stages, accompanied by peeling of the mucosa in the mouth area.
If these animals are slaughtered, if the animal has no other infection or disease and its nutritional condition is good, these diseased areas of the animal, especially the head and nail areas, are destroyed. Along with this, the meat is shipped for consumption. However, if there is another infection associated with this disease and the animal is weakened, this animal is also destroyed. Its meat is not suitable for consumption. Tuberculosis disease is relatively more difficult to detect in vivo than foot-and-mouth disease. Because foot and mouth disease is a chronic disease with a long-term course. This is usually determined by the findings along with the carcass meat. Tubercles are encountered especially in the lung and chest cavity, and in other liver and organs, depending on the progression of the disease.
In later stages, it causes discoloration and swelling in the lymph nodes. However, the consumption of this disease has two decisions. If a disease is localized, that is, in a local area, if it has not spread to other organs of the body through the large blood circulation and if the nutritional condition is good, these internal organs of the animal are destroyed. Its meat is also subject to conditional consumption as roasting. However, if the animal’s disease, tuberculosis, has spread widely, if it has become generalized, if we encounter tubercles and lesions everywhere, and if there are the symptoms I just mentioned in the lymph nodes, the entire body of the animal, including its internal organs, is destroyed. It is not suitable for consumption. “In such a case, our ministry pays compensation to our producers,” he said.
“THE ANIMAL MUST BE IN GOOD HEALTH”
Hastaoğlu, who explained to the citizens the things that should be taken into consideration when buying a sacrificial animal, concluded his words as follows;
“Sacrifice is a religious worship, meeting the conditions required by the religion is our priority. After these conditions, the animal must be in good health. The fattening condition must be in order. It must be on all limbs of the animal. What’s this? Tail and ears, these must be complete. For cattle, it must be 2 years old and over, and for small cattle, it must be 1 year old and over. Some of the conditions required are for the animal to be lively, lively and have shiny feathers.
Apart from this, the animal should generally have no discharge into body cavities, no bleeding, and no injuries. It is natural for all vital signs such as breathing and fever to be present. I hope that your Eid-al-Adha will bring blessings to the entire Islamic world. I wish our producers and consumers to celebrate the holiday together, without any accidents or trouble. “Happy Eid to everyone.”
