Amritsar dist suffers maximum livestock, poultry loss in floods

Amritsar district was the worst-hit in terms of livestock and poultry loss when floodwaters ravaged huge tracts of area across the state.

According to the numbers confirmed by the Animal Husbandry Department till September 23, Amritsar alone accounted for 5,015 poultry deaths, out of 6,515 domesticated birds that perished across the state.

Hoshiarpur followed with 1,500 poultry deaths.

The toll extended far beyond poultry. In Amritsar, 218 cattle perished. The statewide number stands at 502. Amritsar is followed by Gurdaspur, where 151 cattle deaths were recorded.

Amritsar also saw the loss of 172 pigs, seven bullocks, 18 calves (out of total 19 total), and 22 heifers (out of 23), along with the only horse casualty. Ferozepur reported the death of one calf and one heifer till September 23.

In response to the crisis, the Animal Husbandry Department has launched a massive vaccination campaign to protect surviving livestock from water-borne diseases.

As of Friday, over 2.33 lakh animals have received booster doses of haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) vaccine.

“We have administered the HS booster dose to all cattle in the state. Our livestock is the backbone of the rural economy and we are committed to supporting farmers,” said Rahul Bhandari, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Development and Fisheries.

He said this during his visit to the Pashu Palan Mela at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Ludhiana.

He said while no major disease outbreak had been reported so far, animals showed symptoms of foot-rot, mastitis, tick-borne infections, skin ailments, gastroenteritis and nutritional deficiencies. Officials noted that digestion problems have arisen due to the lack of green fodder during the floods, leading to delayed milking or reduced production.

To mitigate further risks, the department is distributing potassium permanganate crystals for disinfecting water troughs and creating foot-dips, along with free essential medicines, mineral mixtures (uromin Licks), silage and chlorine tablets in coordination with the Health Department to ensure safe drinking water for animals.

“Veterinary teams and para-staff are conducting daily visits to monitor livestock health, provide treatment and ensure timely intervention, aiming to stabilise the situation and help farmers recover from the losses,” added Bhandari.