Calves fattened with oestrogen

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32819, 20 January 1972, Page 11

Calves fattened with oestrogen

< NZP.A.-Reuter—-Copyright)

OLDENBURG, January 19.

Forty West German cattle-breeders face possible prosecution for illegally fattening calves with the female sex hormone, oestrogen, and causing danger to people who eat veal.

The Public Prosecutor (Mr Nils Tumat) said today that pre-trial investigations began five months ago, when meat inspectors suspected that veal being sold in large cities in the Oldenburg area contained dangerous doses of the hormone. Spot-checks proved that eight out of 11 farmers in the district treated cattle with oestrogen. The hormone, which can be injected or included in fodder, has the effect of fattening cattle quickly and keeping the meat white and tender for a longer period. Its effects are dangerous in veal eaten by humans. If eaten by a pregnant woman it can cause hormonal distur-

r bances to the embryo. Other 1 illnesses it can cause are i breast cancer in women and 1 hormonal disturbances in 1 men. i Medical tests on the effects 1 of oestrogen were continuing. - the Public Prosecutor said, adding that the dangers lie t in the fact that the hormone s was mostly used in overi doses. The Oldenburg area is West J Germany’s largest cattle- - growing region, where breed- - ing “factories” of 200,000 - calves each are common. r About 20,000 calves are involved in the inquiries, but 1 the total number of contamin nated animals cannot yet be ■- stated.