Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is highly contagious viral diseases of livestock primarily affects cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goat, pig and >70 wild species including yak, mithun and elephant.
Huge economic loss on account of up to 80% drop in milk production in cattle and buffalo, high mortality in pigs and piglets and cost of quarantine and treatment in result of this highly contagious disease. In India, FMD causes direct economic loss to the tune of Rs. 20,000 crore per year. Losses due to trade barrier in export of livestock products could be much more.
Vaccination of all animals is mandatory. Vaccinate all cattle and buffalo at 4 months of age and re-vaccination at every six month intervals.
You should be cautious, if any of your dairy animals show any of these symptoms :
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Your animal might wants to get treated if it is running High fever(102-105°F). Fever makes animals lazy and they stop chewing their cud.
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Nasal discharge and excessive salivation.(ropy in nature).
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Formation of blisters, ulcers and sores on the tongue, buccal cavity, nose, feet, and teats.
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Foot lesions occur in the area of the coronary band and between the toes(inter digital space).
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Infected cattle become depressed, reluctant to move, and unwilling or unable to eat due to lesion in buccal cavity and tongue.
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There will be abrupt drop in milk production and draught power.
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Death is uncommon in adult cattle, but young calves may succumb due to involvement of myocardium/ heart muscle. It has been our observation in the field that death in adult cattle and buffalo following occurrence of FMD is invariably due to secondary bacterial infectionlike Pasteurellosis.
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If your animal is suffering from these symptoms, its time to see a veterinary. ALWAYS REMEMBER : THERE IS NO CURE OF FMD, but there is a prevention. Vaccination of all animals is mandatory. Vaccinate all cattle and buffalo at 4 months of age and re-vaccination at every six month intervals.
