A Curious Case of Livestock Deaths in N-E

The death of scores of cattle, buffaloes, and goats made headlines last week, prompting the President to halt the transportation of beef and mutton at district and provincial levels.

The cause is attributed to the sudden weather change, which experienced a temperature decrease of 20 degrees Celsius. When the temperature dropped, farm animals exposed to it suffered from fatal cold shock.

Between Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in the Northern Province and Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara Districts in the Eastern Province, dairy animals abruptly died on 8 and 9 December.

Over 358 cattle and 191 goats in the Northern Province, while over 444 cattle, 34 buffaloes, and 65 goats in the Eastern Province have perished, according to information provided by the Department of Animal Production and Health.

How did the farm animals die?

Shock as a result of sudden cold weather has been confirmed as the cause of death of over 1,000 cattle in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka.

The Ministry of Agriculture said that tests confirmed and ruled out illness as the cause for these sudden deaths.

North and East Animal Production and Health Department officials and veterinarians visited the affected areas and have since provided the necessary health and care facilities to the remaining animals.

Veterinary Investigation Officers, in the first phase, conducted preliminary investigations through District Veterinary Investigation Centres in the respective districts of the Eastern and Northern Provinces.

DG, Dept. of Animal Production and Health Dr. Hemali Kothalawala had said specimens of animals were subjected to laboratory tests at the Gannoruwa Veterinary Research Institute.

It was revealed that exposure to the cold weather compounded with insufficient animal feed to maintain their health, Jaffna farmers stated that the animals had to suffer the awful end.

They did add, however, that this was not a typical situation that they encounter every year, but rather this year in particular. However, the farmers sent the cattle, buffaloes, and goats to graze, as usual not anticipating this tragedy.