Dr Sudam Bag assesses ground situation, interacts with farmers and reviews disease-control measures
JAMMU, Oct 14: Dr Sudam Bag, Deputy Commissioner (Livestock Health), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, conducted an extensive field visit to Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)-affected areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts on October 12 and 13 to assess the prevailing situation and review measures being undertaken to control the outbreak.
Accompanied by a Technical Assistant from the M.S. Institute of Animal Health and Biological Production, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Dr Bag visited several affected villages to evaluate the ground situation, understand the challenges faced by livestock farmers and assess the effectiveness of ongoing disease prevention and control measures.
During the visit, he interacted with livestock farmers and officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Animal Husbandry Department, emphasising the need for effective disease surveillance, timely intervention and greater awareness among farmers to prevent further spread of the disease.
As part of the outreach initiative, mineral mixtures, wound-dressing materials and disinfectants were distributed among affected livestock farmers to support animal care and improve on-ground disease management.
Dr Bag also participated in awareness and sensitisation programmes, educating farmers about preventive measures, biosecurity protocols, sanitation, appropriate disease management and good animal husbandry practices. He stressed the importance of maintaining hygiene in cattle sheds and adopting precautionary measures to protect livestock from infection.
As part of the surveillance and diagnostic exercise, teams from DDR&P, Talab Tillo, Jammu, collected samples from LSD-affected cattle in Samba and Kathua districts. A team from the Disease Investigation Office (DIO), Talab Tillo, Jammu, also collected samples from affected cattle in Jammu district to facilitate laboratory investigations and support an assessment of the disease situation across the Union Territory.
The Livestock Development Officer, R.S. Pura, accompanied Dr Bag during his field visit to Jammu district.
On October 13, a review meeting was held at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Talab Tillo, Jammu, in the presence of Dr R.K. Kaith, Deputy Director Central, Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu, and other departmental officers.
The meeting reviewed the prevailing LSD situation, discussed field-level interventions and highlighted the importance of coordinated action, effective surveillance, timely reporting and sustained farmer awareness to strengthen containment efforts.
The visit underscored the importance of coordination between the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir Animal Husbandry Department in managing the outbreak, safeguarding livestock health and protecting the livelihoods of farmers dependent on the livestock sector.
The exercise also provided an opportunity to assess field-level requirements and reinforce preventive measures to support ongoing efforts to contain the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease in the affected districts.