Reports of large scale of sheep locally called 'kuji mendha' have poured in from Subala village under Mahakalpada police station jurisdiction in Kendrapara.
The animal husbandry department has received official reports of nearly 60 cases of death from the said village, Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Chaitnya Kumar Sethy said.
However no sheep death has been reported so far from other parts of the district, he said.
As the death is localised in nature with occurrence confined to one village, it could mean that things have not assumed epidemic shape, he said adding the department is keen to curb sheep mortality in the village as the breed was conferred 'rare and singular species' tag by Union Government last year.
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Veterinary surgeons have rushed to the village to take stock of the situation and collected blood and stool samples of the animals for laboratory test.
The stool samples would be tested at Kendrapara laboratory while blood samples are being sent to College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Sethy said.
As a precautionary measure, the animals are being vaccinated to enhance their disease immunity. In winter, the sheep are mostly afflicted with worm infection, foot and mouth and septicaemia diseases.
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"We have initiated measures to stop spread of sheep
death to other parts," Sethy said.
Because of multiple-birth characteristics, rearing of 'kuji' sheep is a profitable livelihood source.
The district animal husbandry department has begun awareness drive to sensitise sheep farmers on commercial viability of sheep-rearing, the official said.
A sheep farmer from Subala village said "I have lost a dozen of sheep. I earn my livelihood from rearing kuji mendha. If mortality continues, I will be on streets".