Milk production in Tamil Nadu has been affected by an outbreak of the foot and mouth disease in cattle. Daily procurement of milk has come down by four lakh litres a day to 23 lakh litres, according to Tamil Nadu Milk Producers’ Welfare Association President K.A. Sengottuvel.
Concerned over the impact of the outbreak, reported in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala and Karnataka, a delegation of the association is planning to meet concerned ministers and top officials later this week.
Sengottuvel said that authorities have failed to take preventive measures and called for vaccination drive on a war footing to prevent the outbreak from spread spreading further.
“Normally, officials of the Animal Husbandry Department identify a location and conduct a vaccination drive there. Instead of that, we want the vaccination drive to be held in all localities simultaneously,” he told PTI.
“Just like conducting a polio camp in various localities on a particular day, we want vaccination drive for cattle so that the spread of the foot and mouth virus can be prevented,” Senguttuvel said.
He said about 15 lakh cattle owners supply to the milk cooperative Aavin and private firms.
Stating that many cows had died due to the outbreak, he sought compensation from the State.
A senior official of the Animal Husbandry Department said that the Government has been taking all measures to control the spread of the disease.
“We are taking all precautionary measures to control the outbreak. We are conducting special camps to vaccinate cows,” the official, who did not wish to be identified, said.