The number of cattle affected by the contagious disease has climbed to 5,000 in over seven districts of western UP. Around 4,500 cases have been reported from just three districts — Saharanpur, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar.
Chief veterinary officer of Saharanpur, Rajiv Saxena, said, “On the instruction of the district administration, cattle grazing has been banned in the district to prevent further spread of the disease. Cattle owners have been asked not to take their animals out for grazing in the meadows and fields as the disease is highly contagious. If any healthy animal comes in contact with infected ones, it may get infected.”
“Cattle markets have also been closed. Farmers have been advised not to take their animals from one district to another. These steps have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease,” he added. Nutritious fodder is a must to keep the cattle strong and build immunity, suggest veterinary experts.