Owners relying on homeopathy to treat cattle

Saud Talukder, Kalai (Joypurhat)

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has appeared in the body of more than 500 cows, big and small, in Kalai Upazila of the district, in the last one month. More than 50 cows have already died.

There is no cure for this disease in the veterinary hospital. Cow farmers complained that the veterinary physicians are not available at the hospital during office hours, but they consult outside hospitals at that time.

Due to these reasons, cow farmers have lost faith in the local veterinary hospital doctors and are running to the local homeopathy doctors to save their cattle. They have chosen this path only to save their cows though they remain unfed sometimes along with their families. Many cows have already recovered with low cost homeopathy treatment. For the past one week, cow farmers have been crowding the homeopathy medicine shops.

It has also been alleged that due to the negligence of the veterinary hospital doctors, some local quakes are earning thousands of takas cheating the cow owners.

Going to different villages of the upazila and talking to the cow farmers, it was known that the disease is increasing every day. Due to the attack of the disease, large soars emerge on the cow’s body. Over 50 cows have died due to this disease without getting proper treatment. At present, it is known that everyone in the area has a cow infected with this disease. Doctors are not available on time when going to the veterinary hospital. In exchange for money, they are going outside for treatment during office hours. Cow farmers in trouble with cows have lost faith in local veterinary hospital doctors.

According to the information, the disease has affected about 500 cows in the last one month. The number of cows affected by this disease is increasing every day.

Due to the fear of this disease, farmers are selling their diseased cows at low prices. Hoping to make more profit on this occasion, local butchers are buying these diseased cows in the middle of the night and selling the meat openly during the day. However, there is a rule that before slaughtering the cow, the veterinary doctor’s certificate must be shown to the administration, but nobody is keeping track of these.

Rabeya Sultana, a woman farmer of Panchgram, said, she passed BA. After the marriage, she made a farm with five cows at her husband’s house. Out of these, one died and two contracted the disease. When she went to the veterinary hospital with the affected cow, she could not find a doctor. Peons said the concerned doctor was outside. Later, she took homeopathy treatment for her cows. Now the cows are well.

Mantaj Uddin, a farmer of Sreepur Village, said, “Apart from cultivating the land, I am rearing two cows at home. One cow died due to this disease. Another one is infected. After going to the veterinary hospital and not finding a doctor, I took treatment for my cow from a local doctor. It’s not going well. The cow has stopped eating and drinking. I don’t know what will happen.”

Imtiaz, a resident of Jindarpur Village, said, “One of the two cows was diseased. I sold that cow to a butcher in Maheshpur Bazar. The butcher took it away by a Votvoti last Thursday night. I don’t know whether it was slaughtered or not.”

Kamrul Hasan, doctor of Fahim Homeo Hall located in Panchshira Bazar of the town, said, “Many people are coming every day to treat cattle suffering from LSD. Most of the cows have recovered. Some of the cows whose condition worsened died. About 200 cattle have been treated so far.”

Denying the allegations, Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Hasan Ali said, “This disease has spread throughout the country. It has also appeared in Kalai. Several cows also died. Because of this, our pressure has also increased. Many might have taken homeopathy treatment. There is no chance of getting this disease if the vaccine is taken on time. We have always been advising farmers in this connection.”

“Due to the shortage of manpower in veterinary hospital, medical services are being disrupted. This issue was discussed in the last monthly law and order meeting,” said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jannat Ara Tithi. When asked about diseased beef being sold in the market, she said, “I have also received the news, and all public representatives have been requested to monitor this matter.”