The sixth round of vaccination of cattle for foot and mouth disease began in the district on Saturday. The exercise will go on till March 21.
The drive, which was inaugurated at Srirangam, is being carried out simultaneously at villages in across the district. Animal Husbandry Department officials said that all necessary logistics was in place to ensure cent per cent coverage of the targeted cattle population of 3.29 lakh in the district.
“We have constituted 84 teams comprising veterinary doctors and livestock inspectors to carry out the vaccination exercise. The vaccination is being carried out village-wise and the schedule of vaccination has been intimated to the respective village panchayat presidents,” I. Chinnadurai, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, told The Hindu .
Mr. Chinnadurai said the vaccines would be administered using disposable syringes for every cattle head and the vaccine required for 3.30 lakh animals have been received. Apart from a cold storage available in Tiruchi to store the vaccines, five ice-line refrigerators have been installed at Musiri, Thuraiyur, Poovalur, Manapparai and Tiruchi, he said.
Members of self help groups functioning under the Mahalir Thittam, Farmers Forum and voluntary organisations are involved in sensitising farmers to vaccinate their animals without fail. Cattle owners are issued cards entering details about the vaccination of their animals. The vaccines are assembled at a particular spot in a village and are administered to cattle. One spot for every 50 animals has been identified and in some villages multiple spots are identified. The Animal Husbandry Department would also carry out a mop-up drive for six days after March 21 to vaccinate animals that may have been left out during the drive.
