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Foot-and-mouth disease may hurt three-day cattle fairs
With the footand-mouth disease affecting a large number of cattle in the region, livestock owners fear the Animal Husbandry Department's scheduled cattle fairs might help spread the highly contagious and fatal viral disease. A three-day zonal level cattle fair begins in Moga from December 14 while another state-level cattle fair (Punjab Livestock Championship) of the same duration starts at Bathinda from December 18.
Though the department has claimed that cattle having "fitness certificate" * to be issued by animal husbandry doctors and inspectors - will participate, farmers are not taking any chances, with many deciding against taking their cattle.
Thousands of cattle in Rauke, Behbal Khurd, Moranwali, Daroli Bhai, Bhaloor, Pacca, Tehna, Mandwala, Gill, Mudki, Nathewala, Nathuwala, Korewala, Langeana, Mahla Kalan, Mahla Khurad and Dhurkot villages of the area are under the grip of the disease.
The absence of proper vaccination is compounding the problems of cattle owners.
Bohar Singh, a dairy farmer of Bhaloor village, says six cattle have died from the disease in their village. He himself lost his buffalo worth Rs 40,000 a few weeks ago.
Faridkot Animal Husbandry Department Assistant Director, however, says cattle are being properly vaccinated. In the zonal fair, cattle from Moga, Faridkot, Jalandhar and Ludhiana district will participate, he says.
In 1997, after a large number of cattle died from the disease, then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had inaugurated a Veterinary Polyclinic at Gill village, near Moga. It is, however, yet to be operational.
With the footand-mouth disease affecting a large number of cattle in the region, livestock owners fear the Animal Husbandry Department's scheduled cattle fairs might help spread the highly contagious and fatal viral disease. A three-day zonal level cattle fair begins in Moga from December 14 while another state-level cattle fair (Punjab Livestock Championship) of the same duration starts at Bathinda from December 18.
Though the department has claimed that cattle having "fitness certificate" * to be issued by animal husbandry doctors and inspectors - will participate, farmers are not taking any chances, with many deciding against taking their cattle.
Thousands of cattle in Rauke, Behbal Khurd, Moranwali, Daroli Bhai, Bhaloor, Pacca, Tehna, Mandwala, Gill, Mudki, Nathewala, Nathuwala, Korewala, Langeana, Mahla Kalan, Mahla Khurad and Dhurkot villages of the area are under the grip of the disease.
The absence of proper vaccination is compounding the problems of cattle owners.
Bohar Singh, a dairy farmer of Bhaloor village, says six cattle have died from the disease in their village. He himself lost his buffalo worth Rs 40,000 a few weeks ago.
Faridkot Animal Husbandry Department Assistant Director, however, says cattle are being properly vaccinated. In the zonal fair, cattle from Moga, Faridkot, Jalandhar and Ludhiana district will participate, he says.
In 1997, after a large number of cattle died from the disease, then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had inaugurated a Veterinary Polyclinic at Gill village, near Moga. It is, however, yet to be operational.
