Ox Gallstones – Are They Worth a Fortune?

Gallstones form when your bile contains too much bilirubin, which is produced when your liver breaks down red blood cells. Some conditions can cause your bile to contain too much bilirubin, such as liver cirrhosis or a biliary tract infection.

In some cases, the bile ducts become blocked. This can cause a lot of pain and fever. It can also lead to cholangitis, which can be dangerous.

Origin

Gallstones are hard crystalline masses formed in the gallbladder or in bile ducts from digestive fluids like bile pigments, calcium and cholesterol. They are generally retrieved at an abattoir during the bile extraction phase and are not used as jewellery.

However, a small number of people can suffer more serious problems as a result of their gallstones blocking the flow of bile. These are called biliary colic, and can cause severe pain that doesn’t go away. They may be triggered by eating fatty foods, passing wind or being sick.

If you are suffering from biliary colic, consult your doctor to determine the source of the pain and whether it is related to gallstones. If it is, you might be advised to take an anti-inflammatory medication or have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Bovines, such as cows, oxen bulls, buffalos, zebus, bison’s and yaks are all known to develop gallstones within their bodies. They are found mainly in the gallbladder, but also in the bile ducts.

The stones are generally egg-shaped or pyramid-shaped and come in two distinct colours – orange brown, or dark brown close to brownish black. The colour is determined by the type of gallstones they have deposited, the presence or absence of calcium inclusions and their dryness.

It’s thought that they are naturally produced in the gallbladder, bile duct and hepatic canal of cattle. The gallbladder is the body’s primary storage and production of bile. The bile is transported to the liver and kidneys for use.

In traditional Chinese medicine, bovine gallstones are used for the treatment of hepatitis and liver and heart-related diseases. They are also used in alternative medicine for headaches, high fever and other ailments.

They have been harvested from old cows since the start of Ireland’s meat processing industry. They are then washed thoroughly to remove blood clots, impurities etc and then dried in a dark and well ventilated environment for two to three weeks. The stones have to be moved regularly to ensure that they dry properly and avoid them sticking together.

Ox gallstones are extremely rare – just one per cent of all beef carcasses is likely to have them. It is therefore not surprising that they are being given the kid glove treatment in meat factories as pristine specimens can rival gold bullion prices and fetch up to EUR35,000/kg in the Far East.

Processing

A THING that has aroused considerable interest since Monday’s story (click here to view original story) about charges being laid against an employee at a southeast Queensland abattoir over the theft of gallstones is the apparent value of these rare stones. Some have suggested processors must be making a fortune from them, at beef producers’ expense.

The truth is that bovine gallstones are treated with kid gloves at meat plants. Pure specimens may fetch up to EUR35,000/kg, rivalling gold bullion values.

This is due to their high medicinal value and the short supply of these valuable stones which has meant that a lot of processors are buying them up from slaughterhouses around the world. But the problem is that the quality of these goods can be quite variable.

For example, some of these stones are very dark and have pits and calcium inclusions. Others are very lustrous and golden.

These qualities are all of course very desirable for the Asian market. The main reason that a lot of these bovine gallstones are being bought up is that they are used for Chinese alternative medicines which are known to remove headaches, alleviate low spirits and address sexual dysfunction among other things.

In eastern countries, they are mainly utilised in treating hepatitis and liver and heart-related diseases. Some seniors in the beef game say they are also utilised as an aphrodisiac in Japan.

They are formed within several bovine species, mainly depending on the age and diet. They essentially form in the gallbladder and are collected at the abattoir during the bile extraction process on the eviscera table.

After a specialised method that involves a dry box has been employed to collect them from the cattle they are then washed thoroughly with cold water and then dried for two to three weeks in a dark environment at a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius. Then they are packed in hermetically sealed bags.

These ox gallstones are sold worldwide at high prices for use in traditional Chinese medicine. They are valued based on their dryness, colour, texture, size and whole or broken pieces as well as the type of stone they are. Specimens that are smooth, lustrous and golden are of the highest quality and attract the most attention.

Quality

As Harry Potter fans might remember, ox gallstones – or bezoars – are a key ingredient in many potions. They are also used to remove headaches, alleviate low spirits and address sexual dysfunction.

Bovine gallstones are crystalline masses formed in the gallbladder or in the bile ducts, resulting from the digestive fluids of bile pigments, calcium and cholesterol. They are usually retrieved from slaughter cattle during bile extraction at an abattoir.

They are extremely rare, 75 per cent water when first retrieved and only weigh a few grams each at full weight. And they must be in pristine condition to hold value.

There are several ways of sourcing ox gallstones Ireland and the best way is to ask a professional supplier or broker for a quote. They can supply you with a range of different sizes, shapes and colours.

The most common shapes are round, egg-shaped and pyramid-shaped. The colours are either orange brown or dark brown close to brownish black. The quality is determined by the dryness of the stones, their texture and the size of whole and broken pieces.

Gallstones are sold for a variety of applications, including as a treatment for high fever, loss of consciousness, seizure and stroke. They are also used in traditional Chinese medicine for hepatitis and liver and heart-related diseases.

They have been used as a medicine in Eastern countries for over two thousand years because they reduce fever and eliminate toxic substances. They are an essential component in pharmacopeia and in medical formulas because of their sedative, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties.

In the United States, beef processing plants have a huge opportunity to export bovine gallstones to China and Japan, where they are in great demand as a medicinal ingredient in alternative medicines. They can fetch as much as EUR35,000 (AU$55,880) a kilogram.

Ox gallstones are a very expensive commodity and they are usually sold as natural or combined with other ingredients as proprietary Chinese medicine. In addition, they are a valuable byproduct for meat processors.

The value of ox gallstones is directly related to their medicinal values, the quality and the amount of them available. Currently, they are scarce and have a high demand in the Asian market.

Safety

Gallstones aren’t exactly gold dust, but to a certain market in China, they are. These stones are essentially a precious Chinese herbal medicine, sold either as natural or a proprietary mixture of ingredients that includes ox gallstones.

As a byproduct of slaughter, ox gallstones are in high demand across Asia, with their price hovering around HK$19,000 for one tael (around US$65) – a small pellet that weighs three grams. That’s a lot of money for the right buyer – and it can be a lucrative opportunity for cattle processing plants in Ireland.

Those looking to sell their cow gallstones should ensure that they’re dried properly, as bilirubin is photosensitive and degenerates in light. This means that the gallstones should be stored in a dark place, or kept dry and insulated in an egg carton or biscuit tin until they’re ready to ship overseas.

If the stones are not dried properly, the moisture can cause them to break, which can result in a loss of value or worse. As such, it’s vital that gallstones are handled and dried carefully before being shipped to China.

It’s also important to check that the stones are not tainted with heavy metals. These can lead to a range of health issues, including gallstones, bile stones and cholangitis.

There are a number of ways to protect against these risks, such as taking an ox bile supplement and eating foods rich in bile salts. In addition, a number of herbs can help to increase bile production.

This can improve digestion and reduce the risk of forming gallstones in the liver or ducts. Additionally, it can prevent symptoms such as bloating after meals and a sluggish feeling after a meal.

Using a high-quality liver tonic can also help to ensure that the gallbladder is working as it should. Herbs such as St Mary’s thistle, dandelion root and globe artichoke leaves can all help to increase bile flow.

Gallstones are often the result of a deficiency in bile salts. Those who do not produce enough bile can experience symptoms such as a sluggish feeling after eating, a bloated feeling and a low weight. In some cases, a stone can be lodged in the ducts of the gallbladder or liver and can lead to serious complications, such as acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis or cholangitis.

Ox Gallstones – Are They Worth a Fortune?