MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 12: A strange veterinary disease has broken out in this district and several cattle heads have fallen victim to it during the past one week.

The disease first kills appetite of the animals for around a day or two, then make them to wither for a short span of time and then they die ultimately.

The disease is yet to be diagnosed precisely while veterinary doctors and livestock officials, like all other government officials, are allegedly busy in the electioneering of PML-Q candidates and frightened livestock farmers have been compelled to dispose of their cattle heads on through away prices.

Some mischief-makers are also slaughtering the victim animals and selling the meat, which is readily available in local markets at nominal prices.

The district coordination officer (DCO) has, however, vowed to look into the matter urgently. He has also promised a stern action against the delinquents after an inquiry.

Around a dozen cattle heads including four cows, two buffaloes and three calves, died at Anjuman-i-Tajran president Tahir Shah’s farm situated at Daili Janoobi locality, around seven kilometres away from here, during the past week.

Similar deaths of cattle heads, including of goats and sheep, have been reported from Mahmood Kot locality near Kot Addu.

Talking to Dawn, Tahir Shah said that he called veterinary specialists to examine his animals and ascertain the cause of death of precious animals but to no avail.

He said that he had also tried contacting doctors at Muzaffargarh’s government veterinary hospital but no one was present there and all had gone out to run the electioneering of different candidates.

He said that he had submitted an application to senior health officials to take an action against the skiving staffers.

Tahir said that there was no association of cattle farmers in this district and no programme had ever been arranged to educate them on coping with such diseases.

He said that some opportunists were also exploiting the situation by selling the meat of ailing animals at nominal prices.

He said that he got the meat of one of his own animal fallen victim to this disease examined and it was found that the meat had developed poisonous characteristics.

At a press conference here on Monday, livestock farmers including Haider Ali Shah, Mushtaq Khakh and others said that programme launched by former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi to promote livestock farming had failed miserably because veterinary doctors were not performing their duties diligently.

They said that livestock officials were not utilising mobilisation service provided by the government of Punjab to save the life of precious animals and the PML-Q candidates were indeed using all vehicles of the veterinary hospital in their campaigning.

Khizar Almani, a livestock farmer of Ghazi Ghaat, said that he had sold his animals at comparatively cheap prices because this disease had killed many animals in the area. He also bemoaned the unavailability of government doctors and said that they were compelled to get their animals examined by private veterinary doctors, who were charging inflated fee.

When Dawn tried to contact District Officer (Livestock), Dr Saeed Akhtar, he was not available for comment.

DCO Dr Akhtar Nazir Warraich has, however, shown his concern over the persisting situation and vowed a prompt action to overcome this disease. He said that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and a stern action would be taken against the delinquent officials.