As the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) continues to afflict cattle in the Nuwara Eliya District, dairy farmers are increasingly opting to sell their affected livestock, exacerbating concerns surrounding the outbreak.
Dr. Suresh Kumara, the Government Veterinary Surgeon overseeing the Kotagala-Talawakele division, disclosed that the district, which accounts for 12 percent of the Central Province's milk production, is grappling with the repercussions of the outbreak.
The rampant spread of the disease has resulted in the demise of numerous milch cows, precipitating a significant downturn in milk yield across the region.
In response to the dire circumstances, affected dairy farmers have resorted to offloading their LSD-infected cattle to local slaughterhouses, further amplifying the challenges posed by the outbreak.
Dr. Kumara underscored the imperative of vaccination as a pivotal measure to curb the spread of the disease. However, he lamented the unavailability of the requisite vaccine, compounding the difficulties in managing the outbreak effectively.
