Cow & Ox Gallstones – Are They Worth Much?

Gallstones harvested from cattle are a precious Chinese herbal medicine. They are sold as natural or mixed with other ingredients to form a proprietary Chinese medicine.

Ox pattern branding is a significant form of ox modification amongst the Mursi (Turton 1980; Coote 1992). Eczet and Poissonnier (2013) point out that ox pattern branding is a symbol re-employed on other objects in Mursi material culture, particularly the Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle.

Origin

In the wake of Monday’s story about gallstone theft from a southeast Queensland abattoir, many people have been asking if processors are making a fortune from these cattle byproducts at beef producers’ expense. But the answer is that these ox gallstones are incredibly rare, and not worth much at all – in fact, they cost meat processors about $200kg of raw material to produce each year.

Gallstones are formed in the gall bladder of cattle, which are retrieved during the bile extraction process on an eviscera table at the abattoir. They may be round, egg shaped, square or pyramid shaped, or as a tube from the bile ducts.

After extracting, they are washed thoroughly with cold water to remove blood clots, impurities and other debris. They are then dried in a dark and well ventilated environment at a temperature of approx. 20 degrees Celsius for two to three weeks before being packed in hermetically sealed bags.

Ox gallstones are highly prized in the Chinese community as precious Chinese herbal medicine. They are sold either as natural gallstones or in combination with other ingredients. The retail price for a natural gallstone varies from HK$19,000 for one tael, ie., US$65 per gram. There is also a demand for dark stones, but prices are considerably lower. In addition, the gallstones can be used as an ingredient in certain Asian alternate medicines for a variety of ailments including fever, pain, inflammation and nausea. They are also believed to absorb arsenic through ion exchange.

Medicinal value

There is a growing market for gallstones as they are a valuable medicinal ingredient used in Chinese herbal medicine. They have been lauded as a miracle cure for high cholesterol and other ailments. However, they are rare in nature and are a premium commodity to come by. This has led to the emergence of artificial or synthetic gallstones as a remedy. The most popular gallstones are manufactured based on chemical ingredients and have a lower calorie count than their natural counterparts.

The best way to find the most suitable gallstones for your application is to speak to a specialist in the field. We can provide you with a list of potential suppliers or advise you on where to start the supply chain process. Our experts can also assist you with the most cost effective route to getting your products into China. Please contact us today to discuss your requirements in detail. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Appearance

Cow / Ox gallstones look like stones of various shapes and colours. They may be round, egg shaped or pyramid shaped and a variety of other forms as well. Some gallstones can be as big as a hens egg (weighing 100 grs), but the average size will be around 10 grams. The value of an individual stone depends on its dryness, colour, texture and size. Whole, smooth golden specimens attract the highest price. Dark and pitted stones as well as those with calcium inclusions are of less value.

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Cow & Ox Gallstones – Are They Worth Much?