Saving our livestock

LAHORE: This is with reference  to your editorial “Saving our livestock” (August 20). I greatly appreciate your concern and call to the livestock department during the ongoing flood. No doubt livestock was the most precious asset of those affected. The Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab has established 223 flood relief centres in nine of the worst-affected districts of Punjab monitored by 144 veterinary doctors and 593 para-vets. In addition, 30 mobile dispensaries are also providing services in the affected areas.

The key objective of the department is to vaccinate the animals, to prevent the outbreak of disease, and to provide clean drinking water along with feed and fodder. So far from July 22 to August 214.64 million animals have been vaccinated, 1.52 million sick animals have been treated, 430,865 kilograms of balanced feed and 312,058 kilogrammes of dry fodder have been distributed free of cost for the affected animals.

Dr Asrar Hussain Ch

Director of Communication

Livestock and Dairy Development Punjab Department, Lahore

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2010.