Hundreds of cattle dead, people suspect cold weather

• Several milch cows with calves were among the dead   

By Sithum Chaturanga   

Hundreds of cattle including buffaloes in Kilinochchi area had died. Residents of the area pointed out that more than 165 milch cows with calves were among the dead cattle.   

Disaster Management Officer said the temperature had declined to Celsius 17 and that it was unprecedented and that this extraordinary weather condition had affected the entire North, leading to the deaths of livestock animals.    

They said the death rate of animals could increase by a large percentage. They said several milch cows in Ponnagar, Nachchikudah, and Kaudarimunai areas had died of chill and that the death rate of animals could further increase. Furthermore, they said 75 milch cows in Kaudarimunai alone had died and that several others had taken ill.   

Livestock farmers said the death of cattle would incur heavy losses for them at the crucial hour of economic constraints. They said they informed Kilinochchi Government Veterinary Office in this regard.   
 Asked for a comment, Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Jagath Jayasekara said he was unaware of the incident, but the sudden drop in temperature could trigger such deaths of animals otherwise used to hot climate conditions.