Way to gau! Gold in cow pee

Marshal MacKenna should’ve just filtered cow urine.

Scientists from Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU) are claiming they have found trace amounts of gold in urine from the Gir cow.

Tuesday’s announcement comes after the conclusion of a four-year-long research by the university and its biotechnology technology department. Experts, after going through urine samples of 400 Gir cows, found trace amounts of the precious element in the range of three mg to 10 mg from just one litre of liquid — present in salt particles that are soluble in water.

The teams used the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique to study the samples.

“It was a long study indeed,” Dr B. A. Golakiya, head of the university’s biotechnology department said.

“We took samples in the mornings, and then in the evenings. Samples were also taken during summer and winter and what we ended up with was eye opening. We also found gold, silver, iron, boron and calcium in the cow urine. Samples from mornings have better gold content and calves have maximum content of gold,” Dr Golakiya added.

In fact, a total of 388 compounds found in the urine can be put to use.

“There are several possibilities. We are talking advances in anti-ageing and even cures of certain mental disorders. We will continue the research and will determine more benefits,” he said.

The scientists also analysed urine samples from several other animals, including camels, sheep and goats but found that nothing came close. The team will now study urine samples from the other breeds of cattle that are indigenous to India.

Dr Golakiya and team are “overjoyed” with the results. “Our scriptures have always said the cow is extremely precious. And now science has finally caught up and our research backs a claim made centuries ago.”