SWABI: Officials of livestock department and district administration on Sunday discussed steps to contain the rapid spread of the lumpy skin disease among the cattle across the district.
A meeting with Swabi deputy commissioner Tariqullah in the chair took stock of the situation to contain the disease.
The district director livestock, assistant commissioners, additional assis-tant commissioners and veterinaries attended the meeting.
The participants discussed measures to prevent the spread of the lumpy skin disease and vaccination of the livestock.
The deputy commissioner directed the district director livestock to submit an additional demand for purchase of vaccine and take steps to create awareness among the livestock farmers about prevention and timely treatment of the disease.
Meanwhile, farmers saidthat the disease was rapidly spreading among the cattle in the district.
Sher Ali of Maneri Bala village said that he had bought a good breed of cow for Rs1 million. ‘I was hoping that the cow would produce milk, but the animal died from the lumpy skin disease. Now, I am unable to buy another one,’ he said.
Farmers said that Chota Lahor and Razaar tehsils were badly affected by the lumpy skin disease as it was continuingto spread.
Khalid Khan, districtpresident of Kissan Board, a wing of farmers of Jamaati-Islami, said that the dairy farm owners had taken precautionary measures after the spread of the lumpy skin disease was reported in the district.
When contacted, officials of the district veterinary hospital said that the farmers should ensure timely vaccination of the livestock.
They said that they were making efforts to educate farmers about precautionary measures to protect their cattle.