LIVESTOCK HEALTH

Context:

According to Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying the 20^th Livestock Census report following observations can be made:

The release provides key results reflecting the aggregate counts of various species as well as its comparison with the previous census.
The total Livestock population is 535.78 million in the country showing an increase of 4.6% over Livestock Census-2012.
West Bengal observed the highest increase of 23%, followed by Telangana (22%).
The total number of cattle in the country has shown an increase of 0.8 %.
The increase is mainly driven by a sharp increase in cross-bred cattle and higher female indigenous cattle population.
Uttar Pradesh has observed a maximum decrease in cattle population though the state has taken several steps to save cattle.

Given that 95.8% population is concentrated in rural areas access to veterinary services is a major challenge.
To mitigate this problem, the Government has identified a slew of measures within revised provisions of Livestock Health and Disease Control programme.
Here the major focus has been on Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Services – Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU)
Until now, the government has been providing doorstep services related to artificial insemination and vaccination to the livestock.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee of Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has observed that inadequate testing and treatment for veterinary diseases pose a major challenge, especially now with drastic rise in zoonotic diseases.

Untrained animal health workers have been popular in rural India, this has led to inappropriate administration of anti-biotics.
The MVU model will mitigate the issue of anti microbial resistance and is in line with ‘One Health Vision’ laid down by Global Action Plan of WHO.

Accessing credit and livestock insurance.
Losses due to Mastitis (Mastitis is an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection)

The adoption of MUVs will lead to a surge in the employment opportunities for veterinarians and assistants

There is a great scope for innovations and intervention by private sector in context of animal health.

Source: THE HINDU.