MoS Forests asks for clinical exam of imported livestock

Kathua/ April, 17: Minister of State for Forest, Environment, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Mir Zahoor Ahmad has instructed the Animal Husbandry Department to initiate the process for setting up of a Laboratory at Lakhanpur for conducting various clinical examinations of the livestock imported from other States.
The direction in this regard was given by the Minister Thursday during his surprise visit to Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (VAS) Centre, Lakhanpur.
The Minister inspected thoroughly VAS Centre and enquired about the facilities kept available for the health care of livestock in the area. He also received the appraisal of the working pattern adopted by the Animal Husbandry Department for checking of poultry, sheep and cattle livestock being imported from outside the state.
The Minister was told that the physical examination of livestock as well as sheep and poultry is done on daily basis at the Centre. He was informed that 21480 cattle, 1024639 sheep & goat, 9313694 boilers, 2292096 culled, 53320177 Day One Chicken (DOC), 785176 quintals of poultry feed, 780420826 eggs, 1121651 quintals of liquid milk, 541887qtls of packed milk and 39834 quintals of skimmed milk were imported during 2016-17.
The Minister asked the hospital staff to take samples of the livestock imported for their check up. “This process should be taken seriously to avoid import of ailing livestock in the State, which would cause apprehensions to infect the local livestock”, the Minister instructed.
Mir Zahoor instructed the concerned to ensure cleanliness in and around the Centre. He also asked them to take care of cattle during their stay at the Centre properly. The Minister also directed the concerned to ensure availability of medicines in the Centre.
During the visit, a delegation of Cross Breed Live Stock Traders met the Minister and projected their difficulties before him. The Minister gave them a patient hearing and instructed on-the-spot to VAS Lakhanpur to construct two points of sanitary units around the centre immediately to facilitate the Members of the concerned Traders.
Mir Zahoor also asked the concerned to submit a detailed requisition about the requirements for the Members of Cross Breed Live Stock Traders and submit the same to the higher authorities for favour of sympathetic consideration.
He was also informed that there are 3.41 lakh animal population in district Kathua.
Interacting with the people on the occasion, the Minister said the Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has taken revolutionary measures for the development and welfare of the farming community of the State. He said focused attention is being paid to animal, sheep husbandry, agriculture, sericulture and horticulture sectors as these are the backbone of the economy of the rural people of the State.
Among others, Director, Animal Husbandry Jammu Dr Abrol, Rander Past Control Officer RPCO Dr Shafat Ahmad Kakroo and other officers of ANH department were accompanied the Minister during his tour.