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7 imported cattle die of viral diarrhoea

By P.Oppili

CHENNAI Aug. 9 . Seven Jersey cows/bulls imported from Australia died at the Government of India Animal Quarantine and Certification Centre, Pallikaranai, near here due to `Bovine Viral Diarrhoea'.

The animals were purchased by the Andhra Pradesh Livestock Board at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh per animal. Actually a total of 200 animals (160 bulls and 40 cows) of Hosten Freezer and Jersey species were bought by the board for breeding and milching. They landed here on April 26 and were sent to the centre on the Velachery-Tambaram Road. The animals started dying one by one and the latest death was reported on Thursday night, say the officials at the centre.

A letter was sent to the Australian farm, which sold the animals, but they refused to accept the reason that the animals died of BVD. The farm also refused to take back the cattle stating that till the animals were under their control, all tests were conducted and none of them showed any negative result.

With little space at the centre, the animals have been housed in the dog and pig sheds.

The board officials are keeping their fingers crossed as to what to do with the sick animals and a suggestion was made to euthanise the sick ones.

But the Member, Cattle Commission, Gouhar Azeez, condemning the suggestion said in the first place there was no need to import bulls.

Instead of making efforts to improve the breed population of indigenous bulls and cows, various States began to import cattle.

Animal welfare organisations feel that the Andhra Pradesh Government should take immediate action and save the cattle.

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