There were reports of sudden illness of dairy animals at various dairy farms of Punjab in the recent past. Outbreaks occurred due to feeding rotten vegetables/potatoes, old chapattis/bread, Brewer’s waste, along with paddy straw. While sharing this information Dr. K.S. Sandhu, Incharge Animal Disease Research Centre of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana revealed that green fodder was not given to animals. Affected animals showed signs of ascending paralysis, recumbency, staggering gait, abdominal respiration and subnormal temperature.
Since the current climatic conditions in the state are favourable for the growth of bacteria resulting food borne infection and intoxication. The livestock owners are therefore advised not to feed any rotten/stale food such as potatoes, chapattis, rice or vegetables to their animals. Such food would result in serious implications leading to sickness and high mortality of valuable dairy animals causing huge economic losses. Farmers are therefore advised to always feed fresh fodder and concentrate depending upon the production, age and reproductive condition of bovines as advised by experts of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University from time to time.
