With cows vaxxed, lumpy skin disease hits calves

Nagpur: With grown cattle mostly vaccinated for lumpy skin disease (LSD), the epidemic is now affecting calves. This remains a cause of concern for the state government machinery engaged in managing the LSD outbreak. Sources said even as there has been a decreasing trend in fresh infections, a sizeable mortality has been witnessed among calves.
This has led to the state government changing the norms for vaccination. Earlier, calves below the age of four months were not vaccinated. The age bar was lifted over a week ago. Now with the growing trend of infections among younger ones of the cattle, any calf whose mother has not been infected with LSD earlier, and has not been administered a vaccine before, can be immunized.
Sources involved in the management say now as the four-month norm has been done away with, any calf irrespective of age will be vaccinated if the two conditions are met. On one hand, cattle have been vaccinated but the virus still remains, which is attacking calves that are still vulnerable. Such an incidence is seen where earlier infections were reported, said a source.
The state government has, however, in its daily release stopped releasing data on mortality since over week. According to the latest figures released by the state’s animal husbandry department, more that two lakh cattle have been infected with LSD and 1.33 lakh have been cured. As many as 1.3 crore animals have been vaccinated, which cover more than 97% of the cattle population. Cattle which have been vaccinated are only having mild symptoms on being infected again, said sources.
Teams engaged in the managing the disease are appealing to farmers not to neglect the calves. A source said it has been a regular practice to neglect the male calf of cross-breed variety. These include breeds having genes of Holstein of Jersey breeds. A female calf of the same breed may be preferred but a male is not. These breeds are not very suitable for draught or ploughing as against the humped Indian breeds.
Now, as part of LSD management, farmers are being advised to take good care of the calves by feeding them well, and getting them de-wormed to boost their immunity, a source said. Although the number of such farmers is expected to be limited, the source said.
Farm activist Sajal Kulkarni said the government must also focus on gorakshan cow shelters, as these animals are not covered under the census.