Ox Gallstones Namibia

Gallstones are a natural byproduct of slaughter, usually found in older cattle – cows and bulls. They are retrieved during the bile extraction process on the eviscera table at the abattoir.

Especially high demand exists for stones that are of light yellow or golden colour and have a natural smell of healthy, BSE-free cattle. Liver stones, kidney stones, piping, moldy stones, bloodstones, cholesterol stones and stones from other animals are separated Shipment.

Why Gallstones?

In the past 15 years, slaughterhouses have cottoned on to the rising market value of cattle gallstones. The stones are a natural byproduct of the animal’s bilirubin-rich blood.

A small percentage of the bile is collected in gallstones that form near the liver. The stones are washed thoroughly with cold water to remove any blood clots and impurities, then dried for two to three weeks in a well ventilated dark room at a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius. After a full drying process the stones are packed in hermetically sealed bags.

The gallstones are then shipped to China, where they are used as an alternative medicine. There, they are spruiked as a herbal remedy for liver problems, kidney ailments and other issues that can be treated with the help of these precious rocks.

While the medical consensus is that a gallstone is a harmful byproduct of an overabundance of bilirubin in the blood, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe that it can have therapeutic effects. As such, they are sold at a premium price in many Asian countries, including Hong Kong.

According to one broker, the price of a stone ranges from HK$19,000 per tael for a small pellet weighing three grams to HK$20,000 per kilogram. This figure reflects the retail prices of gallstones that are sold as natural products in the Chinese market.

There are a number of factors that determine the value of an individual gallstone, such as dryness, colour, texture, size and whole or broken pieces. The highest quality stones are those that are smooth, lustrous and golden.

Gerard Murtagh, Director of International Sales at Sunshine Trading, a family business that is Australia’s market leader for cattle gallstones, tells VICE that there’s “no doubt” that as long as there is a demand for bilirubin-based medicines in Asia, there’s going to be a price that meat workers can get their hands on. As a result, abattoirs have made it a point to start collecting these little rocks for their own lockboxes and securing them away from rapacious gutties.

Since the emergence of Sunshine’s patent design dropboxes and the resulting panopticon that now adorns every abattoir in Australia, sticky-fingered meat workers have been forced to change their tack. If they want to get their hands on a gallstone, the crooked chopper must hide it from the cameras and the supervisors who oversee the kill floor.

Gallstones are a natural byproduct of slaughter

Gallstones are a natural by-product of slaughter that have long been a source of profit for abattoirs. They have a value for a number of reasons, and are in high demand in China as a precious Chinese herbal medicine.

They are sold as a precious Chinese herbal medicine, either as a single item or combined with other ingredients. Their value is as high as HK$19,000 for one tael, or US$65 per gram of small pellets.

In traditional Chinese medicine, bile is considered to be an essential part of the digestive system. The normal flow of bile keeps the liver qi functioning smoothly, helping to regulate mood and emotional health. When bile is blocked, this can lead to a host of medical problems.

A lack of bile flow in the liver can cause an array of problems, including indigestion, constipation and pain in the abdominal area. It also can affect the secretory functions of the liver, resulting in increased production of cholesterol and other substances.

But the bile that enters the gallbladder from the pancreas is also important for the body’s immune system. In fact, it is the first defence against bacteria and viruses in the body.

It contains antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help the body combat inflammatory diseases and infections such as acne, eczema and rheumatism.

In some cases, bile is also used as a medication to treat cancer. It has been found to be effective in reducing inflammation, suppressing tumor growth and stimulating the immune system.

The bile that enters the gallbladder is a yellowish-orange fluid that contains a range of acids, pigments and proteins. It is often extracted from the gallbladder and used as a treatment for conditions such as indigestion, constipation, bowel disorders, a common form of septic arthritis and gallstones.

Because bile is an essential part of the digestive system, it can be a valuable medical resource. But it can also be a dangerous one, especially when the liver is swollen.

It is estimated that bile contains more than a dozen substances, many of which are toxic to the liver or kidneys. Consequently, it is not recommended to take bile as a medicine without first consulting with a doctor.

Gallstones are a Chinese herbal medicine

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile, the green-yellow digestive juice that helps your body digest food. It’s located in your upper right abdomen, just below your liver.

The bile normally travels from your gallbladder through a tube called the bile duct to the first part of your small intestine. If something blocks a duct, bile may back up in the gallbladder and form a gallstone.

In most people with gallstones, the stones don’t cause symptoms. These are sometimes called “silent stones.” But in some cases, they can cause severe pain in the right upper abdomen (called a gallbladder attack).

A doctor might diagnose gallstones by looking at X-rays of your belly or doing an ultrasound. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of your gallbladder and ducts, making it easier to see gallstones that don’t show up on other imaging tests.

Some people get gallstones because they have too much cholesterol in their bile. The acids in your bile normally dissolve cholesterol, but some people’s livers make more than they can handle, so the extra cholesterol hardens into gallstones. Other people develop gallstones because their bile contains too much of a substance called bilirubin, which is a yellow pigment that comes from the breakdown of red blood cells.

Another way to detect gallstones is by taking a blood test. Some tests use a chemical that can be shot into your bile duct to dissolve the stones. The test can also tell whether the stones are blocking a duct or not, so your doctor can plan a surgery called a cholecystectomy.

Gallstones can also be a sign of inflammation of your gallbladder, called acute cholecystitis. This condition usually happens if there’s a blockage in one of your bile ducts, and can lead to severe pain and fever. A doctor might be able to treat the condition with antibiotics or steroids, but it may take several days for the pain and fever to go away.

Some people are at high risk for gallstones because they have a family history of gallstones, eat a diet that’s too fattening, or take certain medicines to lower their cholesterol levels. The condition is more common in women than men, and it’s more likely to occur in older people.

Gallstones are a commodity

MONDAY’S report that charges have been laid against an abattoir worker for the theft of gallstones (click here to view the original story) has stirred up plenty of conversation online. Many people have been asking what gallstones are worth, or why abattoirs are profiting from them.

Gallstones are small, pea-sized stones that form in the gall bladders of slaughtered cattle. They are most common in older animals – cows and bulls, but they can also be found in younger yearling types.

The presence, frequency and quality of gallstones in a cattle kill can be influenced by a wide range of factors. Access to bore water is one of the most important.

Another factor that can influence the presence and quality of gallstones is a person’s health. For example, a person who suffers from an ulcer or inflammatory bowel disease may be more likely to develop gallstones. This is because these conditions can lead to the build-up of bile, which can cause a blockage.

If you have a history of gallstones, you should consider getting a medical test to confirm the presence of them. A medical professional can inject a dye into the gallbladder to see if it moves into one of the ducts that carry bile out of the liver and into the small intestine.

In addition to a X-ray, doctors often use a non-invasive test called MRCP to check for gallstones in the bile ducts. This procedure is safe and is not invasive, but it is best done under the supervision of a medical professional.

A more detailed examination of the bile ducts and gallbladder can be performed using ERCP, a type of MRI. This is an advanced imaging procedure that uses radioactive dye to examine the bile ducts. This test can detect a range of diseases, including gallstones.

The gallbladder itself can be removed, but a surgical operation is often not necessary in many cases. In some severe cases, however, a cholecystectomy might be recommended to remove the gallbladder.

But even if you don’t need to have your gallbladder removed, there are still plenty of ways to make money from them. Despite their rarity, gallstones are a lucrative commodity, especially in the grey market.

Ox Gallstones Namibia