PESHAWAR: Dairy farmers and cattle owners at a village in Nowshera district on Wednesday asked the officials concerned to arrange vaccination drives against fatal diseases among livestock.
They said many cows and buffalos died of a mysterious disease in recent weeks in the village.At a medical camp organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Livestock department in Kheshgi Payan Union Council, Nowshera, the villagers said that mysterious disease killed their cattle including cows and a buffalo while there was still fear of more losses as the fatal disease has yet to be eradicated in the area. The veterinary camp was held at the Hujra of Pir Nasrullah Khan, Kheshgi Payan where veterinary doctors listened to the problems and also distributed medicines at subsidized rates among the cattle owners and milkmen.
The camp was organized on the directives of Secretary Livestock Department Zariful Mani, Director General Dr Asal Khan while a team of veterinary staff with Dr Nauman, In-charge Mobile Veterinary Squad Nowshera attended hours-long camp where dozens of cattle owners and milkmen visited the camp and shared their problems.
Pir Waheed Alam, a local farmer and milkman, said that three of his milking cows died of mysterious disease a few days back despite spending money on their treatment. “The disease has yet to be identified and there were fears of more fatalities and losses of animals in the area,” he said and asked for proper vaccination for the cows and buffalos.
Another farmer Salim Khan said that the local hospital for animals and husbandry in the village was short of staff and medicines and they were compelled to seek treatment from private vets at heavy expenses. He also demanded vaccination against foot and mouth disease as he said after rains and cold weather there was fear of this fatal disease among the cows and buffalos.
Another cattle owner Khushrang said that the Livestock department should also check the rates and quality of feed meant for their animals as he said that there was no check on the quality and quantity of feed bags in the local market. He said that the dairy farmers and cattle owners were compelled to buy at heavy prices from the local dealers, demanding feed at subsidized rates to the local farmers.
Dr Nauman and his team also talked about various diseases, its treatment and prevention among the cattle including cows, buffalo, sheep and goats.
