Transporting cattle, selling beef temporarily prohibited in NCP
March 14, 2014 04:43 pm
Transporting cattle, slaughtering
cattle for meat and selling beef have been temporarily prohibited in the North
Central Province owing to reports of the spread of Foot-and-Mouth disease.
Incidents with regards to the disease
have been reported from several areas in the island, North Central Province
Agriculture Minister R.M.P.B. Rathnayake stated.
Reports indicate that the disease has
spread most in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts.
Rathnayake said that the decision was
taken in order to prevent the possible spread of the disease adding that around
400 cows had fallen victim to the disease.
Hoofed animals such as goats and pigs
are also susceptible to the disease while authorities are taking steps to
implement a special programme to control its spread.
Selling the meat of hoofed animals
has been temporarily banned in the North Western Province.
