Awareness of Dairy Farmers on Foot and Mouth Disease

A Post Out-Break Study about Awareness of Dairy Farmers on Foot and

Mouth Disease in Thrissur District of Kerala State

Subin K. Mohan1 and P.J. Rajkamal2

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India- 680651

Address for communication

Dr. Subin K. Mohan

Assistant Professor

Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India-680651 [email protected]

Tel: 04872371808

Mob: 09895900936

1 ABSTRACT

A post FMD outbreak study was carried out in three selected panchayaths of Thrissur District in

Kerala. A case control design of research was adopted where in, the FMD experienced farmers had served as the case group and the FMD inexperienced farmers as the control group. Majority of the FMD experienced dairy farmers had above average awareness of FMD. But, majority of the FMD inexperienced dairy farmers had average or below average awareness of FMD. There was a statistically significant difference in awareness between the awareness of case and control groups too. However, the overall general awareness of FMD indicated that, majority of the respondents studied had only either average or below average awareness.

Keywords: Foot and Mouth Disease, Awareness, Dairy farmers, Kerala, Knowledge

INTRODUCTION

Of late, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) have assumed a greater significance and it has been realized that unless this disease is effectively brought under control, little success can be expected in the livestock industry, especially dairy industry. Data revealed that the overall loss due to FMD could be to the tune of more than 5000-8000 crores of rupees per year (Bhat and

Taneja, 2001). FMD can be controlled effectively if a strong awareness of it is created among the dairy farmers. FMD being a highly contagious and infectious disease, sufficient awareness of it to the dairy farmers is a must. In the absence of such knowledge, dairy farmers will not be able to undertake precautionary measures proactively or even during an outbreak. Thus considering the significance of FMD, the present study was undertaken.

2 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1. General awareness of FMD

1)Distribution of dairy farmers based on their awareness of FMD.

Data in table 1 shows that majority of the FMD experienced dairy farmers (53%) had above average awareness of FMD. Twenty five percent had average awareness whereas twenty two per cent had low awareness of FMD. Thirty eight percent of the FMD inexperienced dairy farmers had above average awareness of FMD. Twenty five percent had average awareness whereas thirty seven per cent had low awareness. The Z value (5.25) indicated that there is a highly significant difference in the general awareness between FMD experienced and inexperienced dairy farmers. However, while considering the experienced and inexperienced groups together, it was found that forty percent of the dairy farmers had above average awareness of FMD. Thirty nine percent of the dairy farmers had average awareness whereas twenty one per cent had below average level of awareness of FMD.

However, the overall general awareness of FMD indicated that, majority of the respondents studied had only either average or below average awareness of FMD. This is a matter of great concern when we consider the epidemic nature of FMD and its economic impact. Since FMD is a contagious trans-boundary disease, sufficient awareness of it is a must among dairy farmers.

Awareness of FMD was more among FMD experienced farmers as compared to FMD inexperienced farmers. This may be because farmers who had the experience of the disease take precautionary measures to avoid such a bad experience in future. For this, they may prefer to gather as much information as possible about FMD.

2) Content analysis of awareness items regarding symptoms and transmission of FMD

3 Content analysis of the awareness items pertaining to symptoms and transmission of

FMD revealed some facts worthy of discussion. The rapid spreading nature of FMD and its transmission through air/ wind were known to a considerable majority even as, majority were not knowing that FMD can be mechanically transmitted by human beings and it can be contracted from affected wild ruminants. This ignorance can lead to spread of FMD by virtue of ignoring precautionary measures for instance not restricting human movements and negligence in vaccinating domestic cattle kept near by a semi-wild milieu. Micro organisms as a cause of FMD were also known to many. It is rather a good indication that generally the dairy farmers studied were aware of the common symptoms of FMD like fever, profuse salivation, frequent smacking of lips, stamping of feet, protrusion of tongue and the chances of abortion. The awareness of such typical signs of disease is surely of immense importance as the farmers themselves can rightly identify FMD and also distinguish it from other diseases enabling them to report immediately to authorities concerned. Hopp et al. (2007) studied the Norwegian farmers’ vigilance in reporting sheep showing scrapie associated signs were correctly checked by 34% -

69% of the farmers.

3. Content analysis of awareness items regarding awareness of first aid and disease management.

Content analysis of the awareness items pertaining to first aid and disease management showed that only a few of the dairy farmers knew that there was no specific treatment for FMD. This lack of knowledge will invariably result in ignoring vaccination, which is the important prevention strategy. Nevertheless, a large majority had realized the importance of ring

4 vaccination around the point of outbreak. Similarly, there had been a realization that visitors should be restricted during outbreak in the vicinity.

4. Content analysis of awareness items regarding awareness of prevention and control of

Content analysis of the awareness items pertaining to prevention and control of FMD had indicated that many dairy farmers knew the importance of preventive vaccination and that unvaccinated animals should not be taken to cattle fairs. Many were aware that Government of

Kerala had undertaken a campaign to prevent & control FMD in the name ‘Goreksha’ project. A majority of the dairy farmers were informed of the safer period of gestation to vaccinate against

FMD and that calves should not be allowed to suckle infected mothers. It is also worth mentioning here that few farmers were only aware of the fact that feed and fodder should not be brought from an FMD infected region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

General awareness in the present study context meant the awareness of symptoms and transmission, first aid and disease management and prevention and control of FMD. The awareness items of measurement selected consisted of twenty-eight items. The items were either multiple choice or true / false type. By adding the scores of the individual items, the total score of the respondent was obtained. Based on the total scores obtained, the respondents were categorized following Dalenius Hodges cumulative root F method into three groups namely above average, average and below average. The awareness of both FMD experienced (whose

5 cow(s) contracted FMD) and inexperienced dairy farmers (whose cow(s) never contracted

FMD) were calculated separately apart from their general awareness.

CONCLUSION

A post FMD outbreak study was undertaken among the dairy farmers of three selected panchayaths of Thrissur district to assess the awareness of FMD. Majority of the FMD experienced dairy farmers had above average awareness of FMD. But, majority of the FMD inexperienced dairy farmers had average or below average awareness of FMD. There was a statistically significant difference in awareness between the above two groups as well. However, the overall general awareness of FMD indicated that, majority of the respondents studied had only either average or below average awareness of FMD.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. T. S. Rajeev, Dr N. Vijayan, Dr K. A.

Mercey who helped me a lot to complete my research on this particular topic.

REFERENCES

Bhat, P.N. and Taneja, V.K. 2001. Foot and Mouth Disease- Is it an international concern now?

Indian Dairyman, 53(5): 5-8

Hopp, P., Vatn, S. and Jarp, J. 2007. Norwegian farmers’ vigilance in reporting sheep showing

scrapie- associated signs. BMC Vet. Res. 3: 34

Assistant Professor1, Professor & Head2, Assistant Professor3, Department of Veterinary and

Animal Husbandry Extension, and Professor4, Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy.