Mysuru: A shortage of veterinarians and support staff is affecting livestock care services across Mysuru district. Against the 139 sanctioned veterinary posts, only 112 are currently filled, exerting pressure on existing personnel.The district has an estimated livestock population of 9.5 lakh, increasing the demand for veterinary services.Officials and farmers said the staff shortage has affected the timely delivery of treatment, disease monitoring and animal healthcare programmes.Livestock owners have urged the authorities to fill vacant positions and strengthen veterinary infrastructure.Experts say adequate staffing is essential to maintain animal health, support rural livelihoods and improve productivity in the livestock sector.Mysuru district has 205 veterinary hospitals, clinics spread across nine taluks. According to norms, a veterinary doctor needed to take care of 5,000 livestock, but the scarcity of staff has severely affected delivering services to the public for the existing population of livestock, farmers complained.Among the sanctioned 139 veterinarians posts, currently 112 are working, including 10 appointed on an outsourcing basis. The department is facing a shortage of 27 veterinarians as of now.The district has a population of 9,33,298 livestock, according to last year’s census. This includes 4,92,589 cattle heads, 21,682 buffaloes, 2,03,643 sheep, 2,08,206 goats.Shortage of D Group staffApart from veterinarians, the district is also facing a shortage of 168 D Group staff, including technical staff, drivers, attenders, veterinary inspectors. Driver recruitment remained vacant for many years in the veterinary department.Deputy director of animal husbandry and veterinary sciences Dr C Nagaraju said that the department is handling the situation and taking care of livestock, utilising its existing veterinarians and staff working on an outsourcing basis without causing any hindrance to farmers. We have also conducted a vaccination drive successfully for prevention of lumpy skin disease, foot and mouth disease, and other diseases to the crops.Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene vice-president Kiragasur Shankar urged the govt to take up the recruitment of veterinary staff urgently to take care of livestock population as agriculture is mainstay for farmers and dependent upon dairy farming.
