7 dipping centres for treatment of livestock diseases opened in Palampur
The Department of Animal Husbandry, Himachal Pradesh, has opened seven dipping centres for the medication and vaccination of migratory flocks of sheep and goats of Gaddi shepherds at Jia, Kandwari, Bandla, Uttrala, Deol, Bir and Lohardi in the Palampur area. The livestock is provided dipping and drenching services along with administration of life saving/tonic drugs to ailing animals on priority basis at these centres.
As many as 1.60 lakh migratory animals comprising 299 Gaddi flocks have benefitted through from these centres. This drive would continue till the last flock migrates to winter pastures during the current migration spell.
The Department of Animal Husbandry procured over 3.01 lakh doses of foot and mouth disease vaccine for Gaddi flocks in the state. Approximately 60,000 sheep and goats have been vaccinated against fatal contagious diseases in the Palampur region during the current fiscal.
A special drive has also been launched to redress the condition of suspected foot rot in Gaddi flocks. Every affected animal in each flock is being proactively screened for symptoms and lesions of foot rot after reported rise in the incidence of the disease in Gaddi flock. At least 800 such animals have been successfully treated for lameness under the campaign. Samples were collected from five of the affected flocks by a team of scientists from Indian Veterinary Research Institute is located in Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, in October.
As per laboratory reports received, Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium infection was detected in eight animals out of 14 screened by the high-level team of veterinary scientists. These bacteria are generally considered as causative agents of foot rot in sheep and goats. The Department of Animal Husbandry procured a special consignment of antibiotic drugs worth Rs 5 lakh during the past financial year keeping in view the lameness in flocks. These special fourth generation antibiotic drugs are being administered to lame animals with the help of volunteers of Himachal Ghumantu Bhed Palak Sangh. The disease investigation laboratory of the department at Mandi has also collected samples for further investigations so that effective practices can be implemented to minimise the incidence of lameness due to foot rot.
Medicines worth over Rs 23 lakh have been provided by HP State Wool Federation Limited to the department. At least 152 Gaddi migratory flocks have benefitted from these medicines provided by the department.
