Goa's stray cattle turning non-vegetarian, says minister Michael Lobo

PANAJI: The stray cattle menace on Goa's streets took a new twist when waste management minister Michael Lobo said the cattle in the famed tourist beach belt of Calangute have become non-vegetarian after eating leftover food from hotels.
"The stray cattle were pure vegetarians earlier. But after getting used to eating leftover non-vegetarian food items like chicken and fish, their digestive systems have become like that of us human beings," Lobo said.
But the minister said it was only in the beach belt of Calangute and Candolim that the cattle were turning non-vegetarian.
"Cattle in Arpora-Nagoa and other surrounding villages are still vegetarian," Lobo said.
The Calangute panchayat had recently caught 76 stray cattle and taken to an animal shelter at Bicholim.
Lobo said these cattle were not eating vegetarian food as their digestive systems had become accustomed to non-vegetarian diet. "They are being treated by special veterinarians at the cow shelter," he said.
"It will take three-four days for their digestive systems to become vegetarian again. They are refusing to eat anything. They're not eating grass given to them. It's the first time that we have seen something like this, and it is we who are responsible because we have been feeding them this waste," he said.