May 8, 2024

 

Severe heat hits livestock in Kerala, India, hard

 

 

Livestock farmers in Kerala, India, are facing an unprecedented crisis as intense heat and humidity are having a deadly effect on farm animals.

 

While dairy cow mortality has hit an all-time high with thermal stress killing around 500 cattle across the state in two and a half months, poultry producers are also in distress.

 

Farmers said the cows, mostly crossbreeds, started collapsing, with deaths described as unusual.

 

As temperature and humidity continues to soar, two worst-hit districts are Kollam and Palakkad that reported 105 and 67 cattle deaths, respectively.

 

With methods like installing fans and sprinkling water on animals not working for many farmers, the situation is more critical in some parts of Kerala. Many areas are facing acute water and fodder shortage.

 

While Kerala authorities have issued guidelines to protect animals from heat, there were farmers are unable to implement them. An adult cow requires around 50 litres of water a day, but farmers in some areas cannot provide half of the quantity.

 

"Many panchayts in Kerala are currently reeling under severe water scarcity," said a senior official with the Animal Husbandry Department. "When they don't have access to enough drinking water, feeding the cattle is never a priority. In such conditions, the animals get less than 15 litres a day leading to dehydration."

 

Additionally, green fodder becoming scarce is another challenge as most farms cultivating fodder grass have recorded a 60-70% dip in production.

 

"Cattle usually get a considerable percentage of water from green fodder and when they don't get the needed amount of both, their immunity declines, making them susceptible to a range of diseases," the official said. "When a secondary infection occurs to dehydrated animals, they will not survive."

 

According to poultry farmers, the situation is alarming as broilers are highly vulnerable to thermal stress.

 

"Their productivity and weight gain are usually affected during summer months," said one poultry farmer. "But this time, they are easily succumbing to the heat. Transportation is also an issue as half the chicken in a consignment from Tamil Nadu arrived dead at our farm in Ernakulam."

- The Hindu