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Increased vigil against cattle diseases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) has decided to intensify disease surveillance operations across the border areas of the State in view of the anticipated rise in flow of cattle for meat, from the neighbouring States, during the coming festival season.

AHD Director R. Vijayakumar told The Hindu here that steps were being taken to ensure that the entire cattle being brought to the State were free of diseases. The main focus will be on the foot and mouth disease (FMD) and anthrax .

He said veterinary surgeons would be posted at all the 18 check posts in the border areas of the State on a temporary basis. The surveillance team at the check posts would be provided with facilities for conducting blood tests on the cattle being brought to the State.

Dr. Vijayakumar said mobile vigilance squads would also be on duty to monitor the animals being brought through illegal routes. According to official estimates, nearly eight lakh cattle were being brought to the State every year for slaughter through legal channels. Reports indicate that another two lakh cattle reach the State through illegal routes. Much of the cattle come from Tamil Nadu.

Asked whether there were any reports of outbreak of cattle disease in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Vijayakumar said, “there was an inter-State understanding to keep the other States posted on the disease outbreak in any particular State. But often we were not getting such reports. In October, we received a report from Tamil Nadu saying that there was an outbreak of FMD in 35 villages there. That is one of the reasons why we have decided to step up vigil.”

Dr. Vijayakumar said red earrings would be attached to all animals after medical check up. All the abattoirs in the State which receive cattle from other States had been directed to ensure that the animals they slaughter had the earrings, he said.

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