Statistical analysis of 73 urine samples of cows, buffaloes and humans suggests that antibacterial activity in buffalo urine was far superior to cows. The urine of buffalo was significantly more effective on bacteria like S epidermidis and E Rhapontici.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Contrary to popular Hindu belief and the faith attached to cow urine, research carried out by the country’s premier animal research body, Bareilly-based ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), has found that fresh cow urine was not suitable for human consumption and it may contain potentially harmful bacteria.
The research further revealed that buffalo’s urine was more effective on certain bacteria. The findings of the peer-reviewed research have been published on the online research website, Researchgate.
The study, led by Bhoj Raj Singh of the institute along with three Ph.D. students, has found that urine samples from healthy cows and bulls contained at least 14 types of harmful bacteria with the presence of Escherichia coli, which can cause stomach infections, according to a Times of India (TOI) report.
“Statistical analysis of 73 urine samples of cow, buffaloes and humans suggest that antibacterial activity in buffalo urine was far superior to cows. The urine of buffalo was significantly more effective on bacteria like S epidermidis and E Rhapontici,” Singh, who heads the department of epidemiology at the institute, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
“We collected urine samples of three types of cows — Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Vindavani (cross breed) from local dairy farms — along with samples of buffaloes and humans. Our study, carried out between June and November 2022, concluded that a sizeable proportion of urine samples from apparently healthy individuals carry potentially pathogenic bacteria.
“The urine of some individuals, irrespective of sex and breeder species, might be inhibitory to a select group of bacteria but the common belief, that cow urine is antibacterial, can’t be generalised. In no case can urine be recommended for human consumption,” Singh further said.
He added that “some people put forth the contention that distilled urine doesn’t have infectious bacteria.” “We are carrying further research on it,” he said.
Meanwhile, former director of IVRI, R.S. Chauhan, said: “I have been researching cow urine for 25 years and we have found that distilled cow urine improves the immunity of humans and helps against cancer and Covid. This particular research was not done on distilled urine samples which we recommend people to actually consume.”
