Cow urine unfit for humans, buffalo urine effective against certain bacteria, finds IVRI Study

A research report by the ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly on cow urine, which has long been promoted as a cure-all in India, has been found to contain harmful bacteria and is not suitable for direct human consumption.

Instead, the study found that buffalo urine was more effective against certain types of bacteria. The research, led by Bhoj Raj Singh and three Ph.D. students of IVRI showed that urine samples from healthy cows and bulls contained at least 14 types of harmful bacteria, with Escherichia coli, a common cause of stomach infections, being the most frequently detected.

The study's findings have been published in the online research website, Researchgate. Singh, who heads the institute's epidemiology department, explained that statistical analysis of 73 urine samples from cows, buffaloes, and humans suggested that buffalo urine was much more effective against bacteria like S Epidermidis and E Rhapontici.

Undertaken between June and November 2022, the study used urine samples from three types of cows, as well as buffaloes and humans, gathered from local dairy farms. The study concluded that a significant percentage of urine samples from apparently healthy individuals contained potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Although some individuals' urine, regardless of sex and breeder species, may be inhibitory to a particular group of bacteria, the widespread belief that cow urine is antibacterial cannot be generalized.

Bhoj Raj Singh stated that urine cannot be recommended for human consumption under any circumstances, and further research is being conducted on the contention that distilled urine is free of infectious bacteria.

It is worth noting that cow urine is sold widely in the Indian market by many suppliers without the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) trademark.

Buffalo urine superior to cow urine

Singh, who heads the department of epidemiology at the institute, said, "Statistical analysis of 73 urine samples of cow, buffaloes and humans suggest that antibacterial activity in buffalo urine was far more superior than cows. Urine of buffalo was significantly more effective on bacteria like S Epidermidis and E Rhapontici."

He further explained, "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 certain bacteria but the common belief, that cow urine is antibacterial, cannot be generalised, he emphasized.

More research on distilled urine

He further said, "In no case can urine be recommended for human consumption. Some people put forth the contention that distilled urine does not have infectious bacteria. We are carrying out further research on it."

In India, cow urine is widely sold without the food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) trademark by many local suppliers.