Cattle herders in western Rajasthan suffer heavy losses due to Lumpy Skin Disease

Cattle herders in western Rajasthan have suffered heavy losses due to an outbreak of the contagious Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Hundreds of cattle have died from infection, according to data from the state animal husbandary department. The state’s dairy sector has also been badly affected.

The LSD outbreak also poses a threat to Rajasthan’s position as a stronghold of cattle and livestock populations. The state had 56 million livestock according to the 20th Livestock Census.

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It currently is home to 13.9 million head of cattle. Statistics show that despite the decline in the number of livestock, the number of bovines has increased. But LSD could throw a spanner in the works.

Western Rajasthan is witnessing an LSD outbreak for the first time. The area is home to community-owned livestock. Some 373 animals have died in Barmer district, 172 in Jaisalmer, 113 in Jodhpur, 78 in Jalore and 13 in Pali, till July 22, 2022, according to animal husbandry department data.

Take for instance, the Palli village in Jodhpur district. It has lost more than 50 cows to LSD in the last one month. Sharda Devi, a resident, had two foreign breed cows that gave about 50 litres of milk.

“One of the cows fell ill about 15-20 days ago. The veterinarian said it had LSD. We began treatment. But the cow did not survive. Now, the other cow is also infected. And I have spent Rs 30,000 on the treatment of both animals,” Sharda said.

She was not certain whether the other cow would survive. Sharda’s husband passed away three years ago. Her five children study in Jodhpur city. The cows’ deaths have ruined her economically. She is worried that her children’s studies will have to be stopped.

Bakhtawri Devi of the same village had 20 cows. She used to sell 80 litres of milk daily and this earned her about Rs 2,500 a day. But now all that has stopped.

One of the cows died after being infected with LSD. Three others have miscarried and nine are sick. She spent Rs 15,000 on the treatment of the sick cow.

Nirmal Meena, veterinary officer of Lohawat subdivision, noted that LSD spreads when flies, blood-sucking insects and mosquitoes bite an infected animal and then, a healthy one.

“The infected animals should be kept separate from the rest. Usually, the effect of this virus lasts for 15-20 days. But in many cases, it survives for up to 120 days. So, infected animals should be kept at least 25 feet away from healthy ones,” he said.

But there are many herders for whom it is not possible to keep sick animals separate.

Krishnaram Chowdhury of Palli said, “I only have 300 square feet of land where I keep my animals. No other man will allow sick animals to be kept on his land. So I have no choice but to put them together.”

Indeed, the outbreak has created problems for gaushalas or cattle shelters. For instance, there are 250 cows in the gaushala at Lakheta village in Jodhpur district.

“Of these 250, 90 cows have been infected. In the last two days, 14 cows have died and the condition of 15 cows is serious,” Jagdish Bishnoi, secretary of the gaushala, said.

Tackling LSD

JP Kachhawa, head of the department of animal testing and surveillance, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, said lack of awareness was a major reason for the spread of the infection.

He noted that in Rajasthan, the disease spread to Jaipur and Kota divisions in September 2021. The disease occurred in western Rajasthan in the last week of March 2022 but its effect was first seen in the last week of April and May.

“A similar disease in which lesions form, had occurred in the area before. People thus thought that it was some common disease. They did not take necessary measures immediately and gradually, the infection increased,” he said.

Kachhawa added that there was no vaccine available for LSD currently. “So treatment is done based on symptoms. It affects animals which have low immunity more,” he said.

Officials of the state animal husbandry department have been going to Panchayats and trying to make cattle herders aware.

“Our team is conducting a survey in the entire area. We are trying to make people aware with the cooperation of public representatives,” Sanjay Singhvi, joint director of the animal husbandry department, said.

But Vikas Bishnoi of Palli said many cases of LSD had not been recorded in government data.

“Many carcasses have been dumped by herders behind the government school. This has also increased the risk of disease among school children,” he said.

Bishnoi added that indigenous cattle were able to fight the disease for a long time. But foreign and hybrid cattle could not. “Therefore, the herders who rear these breeds are suffering more,” he said.

The LSD outbreak has also affected the dairy industry. Ramkaran, a dairy operator from Osian in Jodhpur, said his dairy used to get 700-800 litres of milk every day. But now, not even 200 litres can be stored.

“If the situation remains the same, then there may be a huge increase in the prices of milk in the coming days,” he said.

Lekhram Bishnoi, a 70-year-old cattle herder, remarked that the outbreak was the latest blow to herders in the area after the fodder crisis in March and April this year.

“I had not even recovered from the fodder crisis and now there is a new headache,” he said. Lekhram added that the herders had been forced to sell their animals during the fodder crisis. But they could not do that now since the animals were dying in front of them.

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