July 13, 2004

Pakistan's Punjabi Cattle Free Of Foot And Mouth Disease

Buffaloes and cows in the Punjab are free from foot and mouth disease, Pakistan's Livestock Secretary Muhammad Tahir said on Monday.

The secretary said that all animals in the areas where cases had been reported were vaccinated in March and April. Approximately 795,540 foot-and-mouth vaccines were prepared at the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Centre (FMDRC) this year. Another 7,494 doses of serum are available to cure animals suffering from the disease.

Mr Tahir asked farmers to improve breeding and balance animal feed so that milk and meat production could be kept up with rising demand.