Livestock got sub-standard vaccines, admits Karnataka govt

Livestock in Karnataka were administered sub-standard vaccines, causing several side effects and fatality in some cases, the government has admitted.

In a written response to an unstarred question raised by Jewargi legislator Ajay Dharam Singh, Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan said the first round of vaccination given to livestock for Foot and Mouth disease under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) was “sub-standard”.

According to official data, between October and December 2020, 108 animals developed various side effects, 68 suffered abortion and 18 died.

A majority of the cases of side effects and abortion were seen in Bengaluru Rural and Ramanagar districts. In the first round of vaccination in 2020-21, about 97 lakh livestock were administered 115 lakh doses of vaccination, the government said.

The vaccine was distributed by the Centre, Chauhan said. The poor quality of the vaccine had come to the Centre’s notice, he added.

Farmers’ leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar said the government’s data did not reflect the ground situation. “There are many more cases in each district,” he said.

Karnataka Raitha Sangha member K T Gangadhar concurred. At least 30% of the vaccinated livestock suffered various side effects.

“The situation is serious and persistent over the last 2-3 years,” he said. “It is being publicised only now, because the cases have increased. Otherwise, the issue of poor vaccination has persisted over the last 2-3 years at least. The side effects are as dangerous as the fatalities, as they impair the animals. It’s the cattle that suffer the most as their immunity is low,” he said.

Even after administration of the vaccine, many cattle had leg pain, there was reduced milk production in milching cattle and udder infection among other side effects, Gangadhar added.