FMD vaccination drive to cover 6.72 lakh head of cattle

The vaccination drive for cattle in the district under the National Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Control Programme started on Friday.

It will be held till June 20. According to an estimate, the district has 6.72 lakh head of cattle. T.M. Sadashiva, Deputy Director of Department of Animal Husbandry, told The Hindu that elaborate arrangements have been made to cover all cattle under the drive.

He said that 349 vaccinators, including personnel drawn from the department, workers serving with Shivamogga Milk Union Ltd. (SHIMUL) and 23 rural youths who are trained in vaccination process, will take part in the drive. The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has provided 26 vehicles to them.

In the vaccination drive held in September 2017, 94% of the targeted cattle in the district were covered. A section of farmers in the district are reluctant to get their cattle vaccinated as there will be decline in milk yield for three to four days after vaccination.

Prior to the drive, an awareness campaign was held in rural areas on the benefits of vaccination and on the loss the farmers will suffer if their cattle get infected with FMD. Gram panchayats and local milk producers cooperative society were also involved in the campaign.

After the conclusion of the vaccination drive, combing work would be undertaken by the department during which pregnant and sick cattle and the calves that could not be administered vaccine during the drive would be covered.

Each vaccinator will cover 120 head of cattle on a day. Mr. Sadashiva said that on Friday, 10,120 head of cattle were vaccinated.