Cattle cull raises infection fears in EP

(MENAFN- Arab News) Cattle farms in the Eastern Province have carried out a cull of 237 cattle infected with a skin disease under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture prompting many fearful residents to stop eating beef.
However the ministry and cattle breeders say there is nothing to fear and stressed that all meat delivered to the market is 'subject to very strict and precise health controls.'
The 'preventative' cull took place over the past month after the outbreak of an inflammatory skin disease. Specialists have been assigned to inspect and determine the financial value of the infected animals. Owners would get compensation of up to 80 percent of their losses.
The decision which was far more stringent than past measures has sparked fears among families in the province. Many particularly in Qatif have stopped purchasing beef particularly after photographs of infected cattle were posted on Twitter and WhatsApp.
Abbas Habeel the owner of a cattle farm on Taroot Island confirmed that some cattle have been infected with a skin disease mostly in Qatif but could not specify the number culled so far.
He said the ministry has temporarily halted its cull to isolate unaffected cattle that would be distributed as charity and to allow a committee to determine compensation. The value of animals range between SR3000 and SR10000. He said owners have welcomed the compensation plan.
Khaleel Ibrahim Al-Jassem a director at the ministry in the Eastern Province said all livestock farms are subject to constant monitoring and health inspections. He said 37000 animals have been examined with 36607 immunized. A total of 237 infected cattle out of 502 suspected of having the disease were put down.
The Eastern Province municipality said all slaughterhouses employ veterinarians who are in charge of inspecting livestock before they are slaughtered. This applies to cattle camels and sheep he said.