Animal husbandry dept on high alert to rescue stranded cattle, sheep

Chennai: The State Animal Husbandry Department is set to safely shift cattle and sheep from water-logged areas in rain-affected districts to safer locations, with a senior official saying veterinarians and joint directors would be available on call to help treat or provide shelters to the animals.
He said 1,165 rapid response teams had been formed to provide vaccination and treatment at camps, while 230 Union govt-provided mobile animal care ambulances ready to help cattle owners.
To help cattle owners, especially in remote villages where there are no proper shelters for cattle or sheep, the department had set up senior 2,300 relief shelters across the state. Cattle owners can bring their cattle/sheep to the shelters to protect them from the rains. Proper treatment facilities have also been arranged in the shelters, said the official.
Fodder from more than a dozen fodder banks has been procured and kept ready. "Till Tuesday evening, the department has not received any rescue or emergency call from cattle owners in the rain-affected districts," the official added.