Herd Health
Cows & Buffaloes
Pica (Mitti Chaatna) — Why Animals Lick Soil, Walls and Eat Strange Things
Updated 26 Aug 2026 • By Falah Nutrition Desk, Animal Nutrition Advisor
When an animal starts licking soil, chewing walls, gnawing bones or swallowing cloth and plastic, it is not a bad habit — it is a message. This behaviour, called pica (mitti chaatna), is the animal's way of telling you something specific is missing from its diet. Read the message correctly and the behaviour usually stops on its own.
Aam Alaamaat
- Licking or eating soil, mud, sand or ash
- Chewing walls, wood, stones or the shed floor
- Gnawing on bones found in the field (classic phosphorus-deficiency sign)
- Swallowing cloth, rope, plastic or other non-food objects
- Licking urine patches or drinking dirty water despite clean water being available
- In calves: persistent soil eating and licking other animals' coats
Mumkin Wajuhaat
- Mineral deficiency — most commonly phosphorus, salt (sodium) or trace minerals like zinc and copper
- Overall underfeeding: an animal short on energy and protein will search for anything to fill the gap
- Heavy worm load stealing nutrition from the gut, so deficiency develops even when feeding looks adequate
- Long empty hours with no fodder in front of the animal — hunger plus boredom drives abnormal chewing
- Growing calves and pregnant or high-yielding animals are most prone, because their mineral demand is highest
Kisan Ko Kya Check Karna Chahiye
- Is a proper mineral mixture being given daily, or only occasionally?
- Does the animal have access to salt?
- Is the feed quantity matched to milk yield (1 kg per 2.5 litres plus 1 kg maintenance) or is the animal simply underfed?
- When was the last deworming done as per veterinary schedule?
- How many hours a day does the animal stand with no fodder at all in front of it?
- For calves: was calf starter introduced from day 4, or is the calf on milk alone?
Feed Guidance
Fix the diet and pica usually fades within a few weeks. Feed a balanced compound feed matched to the animal's yield and stage — GOKA feeds are formulated with built-in minerals and Vitamin AD3E, which covers the base requirement that plain fodder and homemade mixes miss. Alongside it, provide a daily measured dose of a good mineral mixture and access to salt. Keep dry fodder available through more of the day so the animal is not standing hungry for long stretches. For calves, early GOKA Calf Starter feeding is specifically formulated to enrich the diet so calves stop licking soil and walls. Deworm on a veterinary schedule — minerals cannot help if worms are taking them first. Important: if an animal has swallowed plastic, rope or wire, or shows pain, bloating or stopped rumination, involve your veterinary doctor immediately — swallowed objects are dangerous and beyond what feeding can fix.
Mutalliqa GOKA Products
Calves (Cow & Buffalo)
Rapid growth - up to 200 kg by 5 months
Dairy Cows & Buffaloes
10-15 liters/day
Maintains milk fat, prevents repeat breeding
Doctor Se Kab Sampark Karein
For serious symptoms, consult a qualified veterinary doctor. Feed support can help overall nutrition and recovery but should not replace veterinary treatment.
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