MULTAN, April 4: A large number of cows imported from Australia by a multinational company engaged in milk processing have fallen sick after the attack of a ‘fatal’ parasite. Over 2,500 cows known for better milk production were distributed among 50 major livestock breeders by Nestle Pakistan some two weeks ago on the condition that the breeders would give the company their milk (free of cost) for a certain period to recover the price (Rs115,000) of each animal.

Livestock experts say the import was carried out despite their opposition that the Australian breed would not survive in local conditions. The company on the other hand blames poor look after of the animals by local breeders.

Sources said the company got the specimen of infected animals examined from the Lahore Veterinary Research Institute and the National Veterinary Laboratory, Islamabad. The result confirmed the presence of Theleriosis and Babesiosis which spread through ticks and flies.

The company then hired two foreign livestock veterinary consultants to control and treat the disease. Sources said that a number of imported cows had already died.

The experts said that the import of Australian breed was against the policy of the provincial government of conserving local Sahiwal breed in six districts of Muzaffargarh, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Okara and Faisalabad.

According to Dr Muhammad Farooq, deputy district officer, livestock, the veterinary experts were against the import of Australian cows because they could not exist in local environment.

He said that mastitis and heat and humidity stress were other diseases these cows were suffering from. He said that balanced fodder was not available here for these cows.

A farmer from Harrapa, Sahiwal, said seven of the cows had died for want of treatment.

Dr Ashraf, veterinary consultant and head of Nestle Pakistan livestock section, confirmed that cows were suffering from some diseases and their treatment was on.

Answering a question, he said the cows were vaccinated before their shipment.

He said another load of such cows was expected by October next. He said that cows had fallen ill due to the ignorance of breeders because they had kept them in old cattle pens. “Many cows recovered when they were kept in new and clean pens.”

Punjab Livestock secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad told Dawn that his department had not opposed the import of these cows. He was not aware that cows were suffering from different diseases.