Analysis of foot and mouth disease in dairy animals: an assessment of cost and loss from sample farmers

Response from 60-farm owners was analyzed to assess the economic impacts of foot and mouth disease. Data were recorded through personal interview methods during 2006-07 from small farmers across the villages of Pune region. The loss in terms of reduced revenues and cost as extra resources used for treatment were quantified and aggregated. The estimated production loss to the tune of Rs. 3184.00 in crossbreeds cows and Rs. 3062.50 in buffaloes, whose share was 74.31 and 81.69 per cent, respectively. The major loss component was reduction in milk yield, accounted Rs. 894.60  and Rs.510.00, represents 20.88 and 13.60 per cent of the total loss in crossbred cows and buffaloes, respectively. The cost of treatment was worked out to be Rs. 1313.80 in crossbred cows and Rs. 645.63 in buffaloes. The cost of medicine alone had constituted around 50 percent of total cost component, reflecting a tune of Rs. 675.60 in crossbred and Rs. 281.25 in buffaloes. The expenses were worked out to be Rs. 5598.80 in crossbred and Rs. 4394.38 in buffaloes per animal, which shows the expenses due to the disease, was comparatively higher in the crossbred cows. Movement of animals was ascertained to be the reason for spread of this disease in 80 per cent farm perception.