Hundreds livestock lost to different diseases in Daikundi

NEILI (Pajhwok): Some livestock farmers in central Daikindi province have said hundreds of domestic animals had been lost due to the spread of different diseases in some districts.

They said from the past one month different livestock diseases had broken out, they urged the assistance from the government in this regard but until now no practical steps were taken.

Provincial Agriculture Department confirmed the spread of viruses but did not provide exact figures how many domestic animals had been lost.

Jan Mohammad, a resident of Meramor district said that recently some diseases had broken out among cattle, sheep and goats that had sharp impact on the livestock and immediately infected animal is lost.

He said, until now his three sheep were lost due to these diseases and he brought medicine from a clinic which was not effective against the disease.

He said: “I am waiting for the vaccine for this illness because the doctors say that the vaccine will save the animals from being lost, which has not arrived yet."

He said it was the first time to see the spread of such diseases in their area while every family has lost one or two of their animals to this disease.

Rahmatullah, a resident of Sangtakht area of Daikundi said, different illnesses broke out among the herds of cows as well and they witnessed the death of some cows too.

He said: “Majority of the cows are infected more than the bulls, this disease attacked on the legs of cow due to which they could not move and are gradualy lost, the medicines have no impact as well.”

He explained the medicine has no impact and livestock get weaker slowly and then lost.

Mohammadullah, head of a clinic in Daikundi confirmed the break out of disease and said only in Sangtakht district and provincial capital about 60 cows were lost by this disease.

He added, Brucellosis, Enterotoxaemia and Laminate diseases are identified among the recent disease.

In addition to these diseased Lumpy Skin had also broken out among the animals which left unknown losses for the farmers, he said.

He added, these diseases such as Emru and Smallpox are also been found among the goats and sheep in Pato, Kijran and Kiti districts of this province.

He stressed, currently the disease of Enterotoxaemia is seen in Meramor, Shahristan and some other areas of that province, if the inflicted animals are not cured in time, it can cause huge losses.

But the official of Agriculture and Livestock department said different illnesses have spread in the districts of this province and they are also trying to deal with it.

Aziz Sharifi, the head of Animal’s Health Department of Daikundi told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Unfortunately, recently, various animal diseased have spread and harmed people a lot, in some areas it has killed livestock completely”. The exact figures about the losses of animals are not collects.

The vaccine of Lumpy Skin illness is currently being administered to the animals by some organizations with the help of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

He said, to fight against all such illnesses need administration of vaccines and a big fund, but nevertheless we are attempting solve a part of such problems through the existing pet clinics.

He added the department of agriculture had administered the vaccine of brucellosis in some parts of this province.

Dikundi province a mountainous province where most of its inhabitants are engaged in agriculture and livestock sector and they earn a living cost from this profession.

Aw/nh