Belagavi
The fatal Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has once again started plaguing the cattle in the district. Following the detection of the disease in some pockets, the district administration has restricted cattle markets across the district.
A total 10 large-scale cattle markets are set up in different parts of the district, including Gokak, Mudalagi and Bailhongal.
There are chances of the disease spreading from one animal to another at these cattle markets. In order to prevent this, all such assemblies have been banned.
According to sources from the animal husbandry department, more than 30,000 animals were affected by LSD during its first phase, and 8,000 succumbed. They said the compensation amount to the owners of around 6,700 cattle has been distributed. Compensation for the rest of the animals is under process.
Ravindra Koler, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department said, following the detection of new cases, we have taken up awareness drives in the district. We have been educating the farmers about the disease, and how to prevent it. At the gram panchayat level, fogging in villages is being taken up as part of sanitisation, he said.
Koler said the department is collecting the blood samples of animals from different areas and sending it to labs. We have been investigating the cases by alerting all staff and personnel, he said. According to Koler, LSD spreads rapidly among male buffaloes, and the farmers having these animals should be extra careful.A couple of days ago, Senior Scientist Manjunath Reddy from Bengaluru had visited Rajapur, Balobal, Tukkanatti villages in Gokak taluk along with his team, and collected blood samples of animals.
