60 animal herds examined for footrot disease in Kangra
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 17
On the directions of Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, the Department of Animal Husbandry is geared up to tackle the footrot disease spreading among sheep and goats in the state and destroying the livelihood of migratory Gaddi shepherds.
Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Pradeep Sharma chaired a high-level meeting of officers on the issue. He said that the veterinarians of the department were keeping a close watch on the outbreak of the footrot disease in sheep and goats. According to department reports, at least 60 animal herds of the Gaddi shepherds in Kangra district have been examined for the prevalence of the footrot disease. He said, “Ten rapid response teams of the department, including veterinarians and pharmacists, have been formed to look into the occurrence of diseases in domestic animals.”
The Director claimed the veterinary teams had examined 6,000 migratory animals till October 15. “Active surveillance will continue till the end of the migration season. Scientists of the Disease Investigation Laboratory, Mandi, have also collected samples from animal herds at Lohardi village in the Barot area. The veterinarians were able to treat lameness and related conditions in 749 animals,” he added.
Sharma said any incidence of lameness was being closely monitored and the veterinarians deployed for the purpose in Kangra were giving necessary treatment. The veterinary hospitals in the region had an adequate stock of medicines to deal with any emergency arising out of the footrot disease in migratory sheep and goats, he said.
Dr Vishal Sharma, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, Palampur, said at least six dipping, vaccination and drenching centres were operational for migratory shepherds at Jiya, Bandla, Kandwari, Uttarala, Deol and Beed. The officials of the department were operating these centres for 24 hours. “The animals of Gaddi shepherds are being examined and vaccinated for infectious diseases in these centres. Besides, all kinds of medical assistance along with medicines are being provided to the shepherds for their sheep and goats,” he added.
