Beef supply in Goa to be severely impacted due to livestock import ban, prices likely to shoot up

Panaji: According to a Times of India report, the North Goa collector has totally banned the import of livestock into the district from other states and regions to prevent the spread of lumpy skin disease (LSD).

As a result, the availability of beef may be drastically affected in Goa and prices are expected to shoot up in the coming days, due to the prohibition on the entry of livestock into North Goa.

Goa imports nearly 80 per cent of its daily requirement of beef from Maharashtra and Karnataka and other parts of South India and nearly 12 to 16 livestock are brought in each day for slaughter.

During the peak tourism season months of December and January, Goa brings in more than 20 livestock each day, depending on other states for 90 per cent of its daily requirement.

TOI quoted North Goa collector Mamu Hage as saying that according to the director of animal husbandry and veterinary services, LSD is a contagious viral disease that primarily affects cows and buffaloes, and spreads rapidly through vectors.

As per the order of the North Goa collector the entry of livestock “such as cattle and buffalo, from other states of India into the North Goa district, either directly or indirectly” is prohibited from 23rd September.

Meanwhile beef and meat traders are up in arms against this order of the North Goa collector as the tourism season in the coastal state will begin from next month.

The meat traders want the authorities to permit the entry of healthy livestock and claim that all the animals are inspected by veterinary doctors and are fit for slaughter and hence the entry of healthy, disease-free animals should not be banned in the state.