A senior veterinarian at the Department of State
for Agriculture, has on Monday evening attributed the recent deaths of
25 heads of cattle in the Lower River Region of The Gambia, about 200
kilometres from Banjul, the capital, to sorghum poisoning.
According to the Director of Veterinary Services, Kebba Daffeh, the animals died after eating sorghum which contained a poisonous substance called hydrocyanide. He said animals in the rural areas are vulnerable to sorghum poisoning during this period of the year.
Daffeh added that while it was also reported that the animals ate poisonous melons in the area, but when the veterinary department investigated the matter, they discovered that the melons did not contain poisonous substances.
He pointed out that the public should remain calm as there was no need for panic. He indicated it is important for people to know that the death of the cattle was not as a result an infectious disease. He was however quick to advise farmers to desist from slaughtering and eating animals that are at the point of dying. He added that such practices could be deadly to humans as some of those animals are usually infected with deadly substances.