Interactive session with the secretaries of Dairy Co-operative Societies and Milk Inspectors

An interactive session was organized to sensitise the secretaries of milk cooperative societies and milk inspectors in order to promote the usage of vulture-safe drugs to the cattle on 30-06-22 at NMP Mahal, Kooduthurai, Bhavani. The event was organized with the support of the Department of Milk Production and Dairy Development (DMPDD), Erode district and with the active participation of the ‘Arulagam’ vulture Conservation team.

83 secretaries, who represented Andhiyur, Athani, Chennampatti, Kaunthappadi and Bhavani areas of  Aavin- Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited, participated in this event.  

The meeting was presided over by R. Chandrasekaran, Deputy Registrar, DMPDD.

Mr M. Anandan, Senior Inspector, Cooperatives, welcomed the gathering.  

Mr. S. Bharathidasan, Secretary of ‘Arulagam’ took the lead and moderated the event.  

In his inaugural speech, Mr. Bharathidasan applauded the services rendered by the Aavin Cooperative societies for the upliftment of the marginalised community.

He also pointed out the services rendered by vulture species by highlighting the fact that they act as a pandemic vaccine by consuming dead animals and preventing the spread of contagious diseases; If those species are wiped out, he explained, that humanity may face more severe infections in the future than the Covid pandemic situation that we are facing now.  Further, he brought to the attention of the audience, the serious issue of painkillers used on cattle that harm vultures that consume dead cows when the treatment fails.

He further explained that currently the drugs meloxicam’ and ‘Tolfenamic acid’ have been confirmed as safe drugs by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute and he appealed to the audience to strictly adhere to only those drugs to treat the ailment animals.  He also talked further about how to avoid painkillers and take precautionary measures by avoiding ‘mastitis’ disease by practising hygienic milking methods.

Further, he appealed that if the cattle die naturally in the habitats that lie at the edge of the forest they should not be buried and should be left in the forest as food for sanitary workers like vultures. Mr Thirumalachandran, Milk Inspector, raised an issue about insurance companies insisting that one can get insurance only if a person buries a dead cow. The forum decided to bring this to the attention of the superiors.  

Mr S. Duraisamy, secretary of Veppamarathur Milk Producers Society, appealed that the cattle should be allowed to graze in the forest. Mr Chandrasekhar, the bird watcher, suggested that the cattle owners should be aware of the disease being transmitted from livestock to wildlife and that nearby veterinarians should handle the practice of certifying the sterility of cows and that it would be best to send only certified livestock to pasture.  

A request was also made to the audience to alert ‘Arulagam’ if anybody spots vultures in their area.

Informal pamphlets on the common diseases of livestock and how to prevent them were distributed by ‘Arulagam’ team.

Mr Karthikeyan, Biologist of Arulagam, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity given to attend and speak at this meeting.