Drive to vaccinate 65L cloven-hoofed animals

Bathinda, October 15

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Punjab, has started a 45-day foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccination programme, under which more than 65 lakh cloven-hoofed animals will be vaccinated. Buffaloes, cows, sheep, goats and pigs will be vaccinated biannually for the next five years under the programme. The ministry has set a target of eradicating the disease by 2030.

The drive is a part of the National Animal Disease Control Programme for FMD. Naresh Kumar Kochhar, state nodal officer, said, “We have received vaccine dosage for 65,33,700 cloven-hoofed animals. The programme started today, and around 1.4 lakh animals have been vaccinated. Animals older than four months will be administered vaccine free of cost, in the first phase, and later the dosage will be repeated after every six months for the next five years.” Amrik Singh, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, said, “Milch cattle not only fall sick with high fever with sores on feet and mouth, but also their milk production gets reduced, causing loss to farmers.” — TNS