Plan to cover 4.54 lakh cattle across Villupuram district in vaccination drive against foot and mouth disease from July 2

By Admin

01 Jul, 2025

In a significant move to protect livestock and support rural livelihoods, the Villupuram district administration is launching a large-scale vaccination drive against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) for cattle. The drive will begin on July 2 and continue for 21 days, covering all village panchayats in the district.

Ensuring Complete Coverage

According to the Animal Husbandry Department, meticulous preparations have been made to ensure 100% coverage of the targeted 4.54 lakh cattle across the district. To carry out this extensive operation, the department has formed 97 special teams, each consisting of a veterinary assistant surgeon, a livestock inspector, and an animal husbandry assistant.

These teams will visit every panchayat on pre-scheduled dates to administer the vaccine, ensuring that every eligible animal receives the necessary protection.

A Crucial Step Under National Programme

The vaccination drive falls under the National Animal Disease Prevention Programme, a government initiative aimed at controlling and eventually eradicating livestock diseases like FMD, which severely impact agricultural economies.

Why This Matters

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. An infected animal often suffers from fever, blisters, and lameness, and more importantly, a drastic drop in milk yield, which can cripple the income of farming families.

“Once affected by the disease, cattle become unproductive. Vaccination is the only reliable preventive measure, and we urge all farmers to ensure their animals are vaccinated without fail,” said an official from the Animal Husbandry Department.

A Biannual Commitment

This FMD vaccination campaign is part of a biannual initiative, held once every six months, to keep the livestock population disease-free and maintain the productivity of the dairy sector.

Final Call to Action

With all logistics and manpower in place, the authorities are geared up to make this campaign a success. Farmers are encouraged to cooperate with the visiting teams and take part in this drive to secure the health of their animals and their own livelihoods.