Fodder shortage drives cattle to slaughter houses

Kurnool: Continuous dry spell in the district has shown adverse impact on the livestock. Prevailing drought conditions and non-availability of fodder is taking heavy toll on the livestock in Kurnool district.

Farmers, who are eking out their livelihood with great difficulty, are unable to buy fodder to the cattle and as such they are shifting the cattle to slaughter houses in Karnataka and Telangana besides Andhra Pradesh State.

Shifting of cattle to slaughter houses is common in the western parts of Kurnool district as hundreds of animals are being transported to slaughter houses daily for the last few days. It is alleged that laws regarding illegal confinement and transportation of livestock are not being
implemented in the district. 

According to an estimate, between 15,000 to 20,000 animals were shifted to the slaughter houses from last November to January this year. As per a source, in Adoni mandal alone nearly 5,000 animals were shifted to the slaughter houses in Bidar of Karnataka state. The situation is still worse in several thandas as they are mostly located on the hillocks. But, this summer has proved worse to animals compared to previous years.

The farmers in Mantralayam, Yemmiganur, Kodumur, Alur, Aspari, Pathikonda, Devanakonda, and Dhone segments, where crops were dried up in both the seasons, are selling their cattle for lesser price. The middle men, knowing about the pathetic situation, throng the village to buy cattle for throwaway price. “We have no other option but to sell the cattle to the slaughter houses.

There is no adequate fodder due to lack of crops for the last couple of years. Last year, the Irrigation Department has not released water to Kurnool-Cuddapah (KC Canal) due to which paddy was not sown,” said a farmer. “Our financial position is poor to buy fodder as a tractor load fodder costs between Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000,’’ said Samson, a farmer from G Singavaram village. 

Another farmer B Naveen of Devanakonda said it has become difficult task to feed the cattle due to high cost of fodder. Several fire mishaps took place at Devanakonda where the procured fodder was reduced to ashes.

“There are no proper water supply facilities in these areas. Even, we are forced to purchase water tanks for drinking water. As per the norms, the government has to supply the fodder to the cattle free of cost. But there are no such initiatives being taken by the Agriculture Department,” Naveen alleged.