The livestock sector
is undergoing rapid changes in response to pressures
from globalisation and rapidly growing demand for
animal food products in developing countries.
This sector is one of
the organised and vibrant segments of agriculture
industry of Pakistan having enormous contribution in
GDP.
One of the diseases
affecting health and production of livestock is
Blackleg.
It is a bacterial
disease affecting young thriving animals from 3
months to 2 years of age more commonly.
Blackleg is the cause of severe financial losses to
cattle raisers in many parts of the world including
countries of south Asia especially tropical areas of
India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The disease appears in the form of lameness in one
or more legs, a pronounced swelling with
characteristic crepitating sound.
For the most part major outbreaks are prevented by
vaccination although outbreaks still occur
occasionally in vaccinated herds of cattle
incompletely vaccinated.
Keeping in view the significance of this disease and
its impact on cattle health and economics of the
farmers the present study was designed to address
the key features related to this particular disease
which were never studied before.
Seven hundred and fifty cows from six districts were
selected randomly and sampling of disease suspected
animals was done throughout the year.
The results showed that highest number of positive
cases were observed in district Muzaffargarh (4.8%)
and Bhakkar (4%) followed by Rahim Yar Khan (1.6%),
Layyah (1.6%) and Nankana Sahib (0.8%) respectively.
Similarly seasonal variation in the occurrence of
this disease was one of the notable features in this
study.
Highest number of cases of this disease appeared in
district Layyah (42.2%) and Muzaffargarh (44.4%)
during the months of May to August while in district
Rahim yar khan maximum number of cases appeared
during the months of January to April (15.5%).
This epidemiological investigation clearly indicated
the risk population and the areas which need to be
monitored for eradication of this disease.
The results of this experiment were quite shocking
indicating variable hemolytic ability to red blood
cells of various species.Black quarter can be fatal
to the dairy or meat farmers stock especially to the
calves up to the age of one year.
Therefore proper diagnostic approaches like PCR and
precautionary measures if adopted can be helpful in
avoiding huge economic loss.
A well grown, disease free and healthy heifer is
actually a good investment to produce more milk,
increased production life with more calves thereby
helping towards food security in the country.
Courtesy:
Pakistan Today
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