KARACHI: Several exotic bulls as well as local cows have died of lumpy skin disease at a government cattle farm in Korangi in recent weeks amid conflicting reports about the disease affecting buffaloes, it emerged on Saturday.

According to sources, out of the 17 bulls the government imported last year, only three to four animals now survive at the cattle farm.

“One animal was found dead in its cage on arrival at the airport. Later, three to four animals died due to mismanagement at the farm, while several others died of lumpy skin disease,” a senior veterinary official said.

Only one Brahman and three Friesian bulls had been left out of the animals imported last year for the semen production unit, he added.

Livestock chief denies report of disease outbreak in buffaloes

The lumpy skin disease, sources said, had also affected indigenous breeds, the Red Sindhi and Thari bulls, at the farm and killed at least four animals. Some of the infected cows were recovering.

Conflicting reports

Te sources said that there were few cases of disease outbreak in Sindh but the farmers fearing a steep fall in milk prices were not highlighting the issue.

A senior vet in Cattle Colony said he had not heard of any such case since the LSD outbreak. “In fact, LSD cases in cows have also reduced drastically here. I haven’t come across a single case today at the 10 farms I visited.”

Some vets in the interior parts of Sindh, on the condition of anonymity, however, said the disease had just started affecting buffaloes. They couldn’t provide specific information about the affected farms, though.

Rejecting these reports, director general-livestock Dr Nazeer Kalhoro said the disease could affect buffaloes but so far there was no such case in buffaloes in Sindh.

About the exotic cattle, he said 12 bulls and not 17 were imported last year from Brazil.

“Yes, one animal was found dead on arrival for which the supplier was responsible. We only paid for the animals that were received alive upon arrival,” he said, adding that each animal cost Rs7 million on import.

He admitted that a few animals died due to mismanagement on which two officials were suspended.

“Inquiries into the case are still continuing. There were only two deaths due to LSD while seven animals are recovering,” he said, explaining official mismanagement pertained to poor quality feed and water provided to the animals.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2022