BELAGAVI
An outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Bidar district has left authorities in Belagavi on high alert and plans are afoot to test the birds at all poultries in Belagavi district, especially since many poultries are also engaged in supplying birds to Goa.
About 35,000 birds have died from bird flu in Bidar district, which is about 300 kms from Belagavi district, in the past few days. Concerns have been raised especially since Belagavi district has 435 poultry units with a population of about 35 lakh birds.
At a meeting of the officials of Animal Husbandry department on Monday, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry department A K Chandrashekhar said Kwality Feeds, a private firm in Belagavi, will conduct the tests on the birds.
The test would be conducted on 50 birds from the farms having up to 1,000 birds and 100 birds in the farms having about 2,000 birds.
Dr Chandrashekhar maintained that no case of bird flu was reported in the district and that, the exercise was being carried out as a precautionary measure.
“So far, no positive tests have been reported and it seems that the district has no bird flu,” Dr Chandrashekhar added.
The talukas of Athani, Chikkodi, Raibag, Gokak, Savadatti and Bailhongal in the district have maximum poultry farms. The birds being brought to the district from neighbouring Maharashtra will also be checked at the border places of the district.
Giving details about poultries in Belagavi district, Dr Chandrashekhar said there is a daily production of about 30 lakh birds and 15-16 lakh birds are sold every day.
“About 8 lakh eggs are also produced everyday. While the chicken sale is estimated at about Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore everyday, many poultries are also engaged in supplying birds to Goa. Apart from creating awareness, the Animal Husbandry department will send blood samples of the birds to the laboratories at Bangaluru and Bhopal,” Dr Chandrashekar said.
