Team Herald
PANJIM: The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has written to both the District Magistrates for relaxation of ban on transportation of buffaloes up to the Goa Meat Complex at Usgao, for slaughtering.
Both the District Collectors vide orders dated September 23, 2022 had banned transportation of cattle and buffaloes to Goa from neighbouring States, either directly or indirectly on account of purported break of lumpy skin disease.
When contacted, Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Agostinho Mesquita said that the government has approved relaxation on importing buffaloes from neighbouring States and the same has been communicated to both the Collectors on Wednesday.
Dr Mesquita said that only buffaloes will be allowed to be brought in from neighbouring States up to Goa Meat Complex, Usgao for slaughtering. No buffalo from infected areas and also the vehicles transporting cattle should not pass through the infected area. He said that the transportation of buffaloes should be point-to-point and the vehicles will not be allowed to halt on the way so as to avoid any possibility of these animals coming in contact with other animals.
The Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary services further said that those transporting buffaloes will also be told not to procure animals from infected areas.
Dr Mesquita said that all 16 animals which were affected by lumpy skin disease in the State have been recovered and presently there were only three infected cases.
The Quraishi’s Meat Traders’ Association of Goa had appealed to the State government to lift the ban on transportation of cattle and buffaloes from neighbouring States to the Goa Meat Complex, Usgao, for slaughtering.
