Lumpy Skin disease continues to affect cattle in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 03: Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), an infectious viral disease among cattle, is continuing to affect more cattle for the second consecutive year, causing concern among farmers in Kashmir.
The farmers said while the mortality rate of LSD is not high, the animals infected with the disease cannot produce enough milk even after they are cured.
They said the livelihoods of thousands of families are directly or indirectly dependent on cattle rearing.
Mohammad Ayoub, a farmer from Pulwama, said he has two cows, and both were infected with the disease. Although they have recovered, their milk production has been reduced, he said.
Ayoub noted that despite a low mortality rate, the infection weakens cows, making them unable to produce milk, which affects farmers’ income.
Another farmer, Abdul Hamid, said his cow, which he depended on for his livelihood, died of LSD. Hundreds of farmers, he said, have lost their cows, on which they depended.
Farmers are asking the government to compensate them for the loss of their cattle and to vaccinate all cattle that have not yet been affected by this disease. They want the government to take action to keep their cattle away from this disease.
A top official of Animal Husbandry Kashmir told KNO that 2,078 cases of Lumpy Skin Disease have been reported this year, 83 of which resulted in the death of the cattle.
Pulwama and Budgam districts have been severely impacted. However, no cases have been reported in the Baramulla and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir.
The official also said that the vaccination process is ongoing, and to date, around 8,78,977 vaccines have been given to cattle in different parts of the valley. “Surplus vaccines are available everywhere and the vaccination process is ongoing,” he said.
Last year, around 18,000 cases of LSD and 1,300 deaths were reported in Kashmir. (KNO)