Antigua and Barbuda
Livestock Falling Dead
- Details
- Health News
- Monday, 12 April 2010 06:55
- By Kam Wright
Farmers in St Philips are bewildered by the sudden death of their livestock. Byron Lee, from Freetown, who rears animals near Potworks Dam, just outside the parish between Pares and Bethesda, said his sheep and goats have been falling dead for the past two to three months.
So far he has lost over 50 animals.
Lee said the deaths are also baffling veterinarians, who were instructed by the Ministry of Agriculture to investigate. Preliminary tests and later blood tests have proven inconclusive, he said.
He recalled similar deaths a few years ago, and said the situation is stressful as he fears for his remaining 400-plus herd.
The farmer told Caribarena.com he noticed “weird” symptoms before the animals died. They trembled and then fell to the ground in an epileptic episode, while biting on their tongues. According to the farmer, veterinarians later confirmed that the animals also had an abnormally high fever.
Lee said he is not the only farmer in the area who has suffered losses due to this unidentified illness. Another herder has lost sheep and goats, though not as many animals.
|
|
In addition, based on the reports he has received, a cattle farmer lost two cows last week, and he believes that farmer lost more before that.
Lee believes something in the air might be causing the problem.
Follow us on Facebook
Popular Questions
Ask Your Question
Spotlight on Mobile
Most Read This Month In Health
Search Directory
Directory Listings
App
Download Caribarena's Android App
Click To Download
7 Comments In This Article
Water source most likely
My theory:
1) During normal weather condition farmers in the area used chemicals to aid production
2) Chemical run offs settled in the water source (ponds and streams) but is less of a threat
at normal water levels
3) Under drought condition water evaporates leaving the chemicals behind at much higher concentrations
4) Animals (sheep, goat, cattle) drink water
5) Animals show similar symptoms and die without timely intervention
J ust a theory. I hope Ministry officials take this one VERY VERY SERIOUSLY.
Mr. Antigua
We can worry about Antiuans after the boats leave.
Pellucid
Has this been investigated:
What are the Symptoms in Cattle?
In cattle, the most common initial sign of anthrax
is sudden death. The course of the disease
usually is short (one to three days). Once an outbreak
begins , animals may exhibit fever, lack of
rumination, excitement followed by depression,
dif ficult breathing, uncoordinated movements,
conv ulsions and death. Bloody discharges from
the natural body openings, as well as edema in
different parts of the body, are sometimes observed.
Some animals may be saved if antibiotic
trea tment starts early.
In animals that die, bloody discharges from
body openings are common. Decomposition is
more rapid than in other conditions, and the carc**
become bloated with gases. Rigor mortis
or stiffening is not complete. When necropsied,
hem orrhages are found in the internal organs. The
spleen is almost always enlarged.
concerned
They scared the world will find out!
concerned
Whats going on
concern
Beware
people and animals dying - the vets need to work with ministry of health
concerned
RSS