Cattle, chickens, birds dying from heatstroke in Gaibandha

Cattle, chickens and birds are dying from heatstroke in Gaibandha as a searing heatwave has been sweeping across the country in the last several days.

Official sources said at least 12 cows and hundreds of chickens have died from heatstroke in the district in the last few days.

Farmers are not benefitting from sprinkling water on rice to keep the house cool. Foreign breeds of cows are mostly affected. However, the Gaibandha Livestock Department is distributing warning leaflets.

Four foreign breed cows of Pratap Ghosh of North Analertari village of Kholahati Union of Gaibandha Sadar Upazila have died from heatwave. The rest of the cows in the farm are also sick. Installing multiple fans in the farm and soaking the rice with water is not working well.

The farm of Joha Mia of Vita village in North Gidari tree of Gaibandha Sadar has the same picture. Six of his cows died from heatstroke. The advice of the doctor of animal husbandry department is also not working.

Farmer Abu Taleb of Goailbari village of Badiyakhali Union of Gaibandha Sadar Upazila said, "One of my Friesian cows has stopped eating since Saturday due to intense heat." I treated but the cow died on Sunday. The three other cows on my farm are healthy.

Shahida Begum, a housewife of the same village, said that none of them were affected.

Also, one cow each of Anna Mia, Phul Mia and Nuruzzaman Mia of Masterpara village of Gidari Union of Sadar Upazila has died. More than one hundred chickens have died from heatstroke in Sundarganj, Saghata, Phulchari, Gobindganj and Sadullapur upazilas of the district. In very severe heat, the eggs are getting smaller as consumption of chickens is decreasing. So, farmers are worried about this.

Tarun Kumar Datta, a livestock officer in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, said, "We have come to know that 12 cows have died in this upazila so far due to the ongoing heatwave." "We have so far distributed 2,000 leaflets to make cattle farmers aware of the intense heat. Miking is going on so that cattle farmers can get alert during the intense heat."

"And, we offer advice on virtually any type of veterinary service," he added.

Gaibandha district livestock officer Dr Mahfuzar Rahman said cattle might die in the ongoing severe heat. Leaflets have been distributed to raise awareness among farmers.

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