Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Infected cattle still to be deported

By S. Shanker

CHENNAI SEPT. 6. Almost two months since the Agriculture Ministry ordered the deportation of 200 imported heifers in quarantine at its Pallikaranai station near here, the bovines are still at the station awaiting `further orders'.

The Ministry order followed laboratory reports that the bulls were afflicted with Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).

The imported cattle were purchased by the Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal Governments from Australia for improving the breed stock for their livestock programmes. Six of the cattle have died at the station.

It now appears that the two State Governments are reluctant to accept the results furnished by the Central Government's High Security Laboratory in Bhopal and a U.K.-based advanced facility.

Tissue and blood smear samples were sent to the laboratories for confirmatory tests. Since the disease had not been recorded in the country so far, very few laboratories are equipped to screen the virus.

Meanwhile, the quarantine station is now saddled with the animals, despite the assistance extended by the neighbouring State. Veterinarians from Andhra Pradesh are here to assist the quarantine station officials and arrangements have been made by the State to feed the animals.

Animal welfare activists question the rationale behind the import. They wonder why it could not have been done in smaller numbers over a staggered period.

They contend that this would have helped to defer additional import, once the disease was detected in the first lot. They allege overcrowding at the station and feel that facilities are being stretched to meet the requirements.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department has cautioned its regional directorate at Kancheepuram to keep a vigil over possible spread of the disease from the station.

Sources say the exporters are reluctant to take back the stock and are taking refuge under the `disease-free' certification produced to the importers prior to despatch.

Veterinary experts, however, say there is little chance of the livestock having acquired the virus en route and further, screening was done almost immediately after they landed on Indian soil.

Moreover, BVD had not been recorded in the country so far. They feel the sequence of events cast serious aspersions on the credibility of the certification obtained by the importers.

With the deportation of the animals a distant possibility and with no successful treatment available for BVD, the only available alternative is to cull the stock, as spread of the disease would be disastrous to livestock in the State, they contend.

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