Daijiworld Media Network - Amaravati

Amaravati, Mar 16: The Andhra Pradesh animal husbandry department will conduct a statewide free vaccination campaign against Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) for cattle and buffaloes from March 16 to April 29 under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP).

Animal husbandry director Dr T Damodar Naidu said the vaccination drive will cover cattle, buffaloes and calves aged above four months across the state.

As part of the campaign, department staff will visit livestock owners’ homes to administer vaccines free of cost in order to ensure maximum coverage and prevent the spread of the highly contagious viral disease.

Naidu said a total of 83.69 lakh vaccine doses have been distributed to districts to control the spread of the disease, which mainly affects cattle and buffaloes. Animals with weak immunity are more vulnerable, while cross-breed cattle are considered more susceptible compared to indigenous breeds.

The vaccination programme will be conducted in two phases. The main round will be carried out for 30 days from March 16 to April 14, followed by a second phase from April 15 to April 29 to vaccinate remaining animals and administer booster doses.

Foot-and-mouth disease can lead to a sharp decline in milk production, weaken livestock and reduce the working capacity of bulls and oxen. In severe cases, the disease can cause the death of calves, resulting in significant economic losses for livestock farmers.

Naidu urged livestock farmers across the state to cooperate with the department during the vaccination campaign and ensure that all eligible cattle and buffaloes are vaccinated to safeguard their animals from the disease.