The deadly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that dealt a fatal blow to large number of cattle across the State has had an effect on the conduct of ‘jallikattu’ this time in the district.
The bulls to be fielded at the two big jallikattu events, slated to take place at Periya Suriyur and Palakurichi in the district, on January 15 and 16, will be subjected to intense medical check-ups by teams of veterinarians before they are allowed enter the arena at both villages. As a precautionary measure, the jallikattu organising committee at Periya Suriyur has decided not to permit the participation of those bulls if their owners fail to produce a medical certificate on January 15, said A. Ramaiyan, a panel member of Periyar Suriyur.
The district administration will deploy a team comprising two veterinary doctors and two Livestock Inspectors at the ‘pre-collection point’, on the outskirts of both villages. Only after a thorough examination at the first point will the bulls be allowed to the next screening spot, where another team will ensure the animals were not administered with performance-enhancing drugs or doped.
