Dozens of cattle have been affected by foot-and-mouth disease in Lar area of Ganderbal district. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ganderbal Wednesday organised a special camp where farmers were made aware about the management, prevention and control of the disease.
In the programme, a door to door examination of animals was conducted by the experts from SKUAST-K and the ailing animals were treated on spot.
According to Head and Programme Coordinator, KVK-Ganderbal, Dr Javid Ahmad Bhat, a number of calls were received from the farmers of the area complaining of death and sickness of milch animals.
Acting on the complaints, a team of experts was deputed to the area for managing the disease.
Subject Matter Specialist (Animal Science), KVK-Ganderbal, Dr Parvaiz Ahmed Reshi confirmed that the majority of animals in Repora, Waliwar, Chanthan, Gulabpora, Chontwaliwar and adjoining villages of the area were affected by the disease and some mortalities of the young animals, along with worsening of condition of the adult animals, have been reported.
The disease is characterized by high fever, weight loss, abortions, death of newborn animals and drastic decrease in milk production.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director animal husbandry, Kashmir, Dr M Y Chaproo said that they have already carried vaccination programme of cattle in all the areas. “We will ask the concerned official to visit the areas again to assess the situation and vaccinate the affected cattle,” he added.