Asturias

Begoña Fernandez In his house in Purón, in Llanes, he keeps the cowbells of Corza, Cotera, Pe and Chamo; three cows and a bull that died from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHE) days ago. Yesterday afternoon, he added another one: that of Bereza. “I am overwhelmed, we need a vaccine now for our animals. A rancher for thirty years, she explains to this newspaper her helplessness and concern.. And of pain in the face of a cruel disease that causes great suffering to sick cows.

Two weeks ago, the culicoid-type mosquito that transmits the disease inoculated misfortune in its organic livestock farm, of animals from the Asturian mountain breed. Of the 60 he had, five have already died and another four managed to recover from the disease, but he has another ten that present apparent symptoms.

“It is a terrible disease for animals. Since they began to be affected it seemed that the day after they got better, but the next day some snot began to fall, and the next day their mouths filled with sores. They are like tremendous fevers that “They hit them inside,” explains the rancher. “I’m overwhelmed,” she repeats. “In addition to working with the cattle, I have to treat the affected cows, and make sure I don’t find any more sick cows.”

It all started fifteen days ago, when he missed the mother of a calf just over a month and a half old, who was missing from the meadow.. “I thought he was drinking at another farm, but when he didn’t show up the next day I was already upset.” After the search she found her in a sorry state: “she was staggering, with a quarter of her tongue hanging out of her, she couldn’t eat or drink, with cramps in her legs.” Then two others and the bull died.

Bego Fernández, with one of his cows on his back. Ana Paz Paredes

“The vet gives them anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Let’s see if they can withstand the strain and can move forward! But it’s hard. Now I’m going to see what happens with the other ten,” he explains. Added to the painful disease for the animal is the effort for cures: “Their mouths get sore, their tongue swells and stays out, and on top of that, their mouth cracks because they don’t salivate. They have to be cured.” sores every day and fight for them until the end. What we are experiencing is hard, both because of the tremendous economic loss and because of what the animals suffer,” he details. For her, “the big thing started to come after San Miguel and the Pilar bridge, with enormous heat. Let’s see if the ‘bichu’ dies with the cold,” she says, hoping for the change in weather..

The disease appears to have spread faster than authorities are able to detect. Bego Fernández corroborates this. He belongs to Granagri, a group of 74 ranchers and farmers from Llanes, Ribadedeva and the two Peñamelleras. A few days ago, in the WhatsApp group they asked how many ranchers they thought had cases. Twenty-six responded affirmatively. “Doing the calculation, it turned out that there could be 161 animals with symptoms; of them, 79 serious and 82 mild. 24 deceased animals were counted, of which 15 were reproductive, 4 non-reproductive, and there were 5 abortions.” And he adds: “In fact, in Purón alone, there are five people with livestock, and four are affected to different extents.”

The discrepancy with official figures is evident. According to the latest data provided by the Principality, there are officially 15 positive cases and 13 negative cases in Asturias, and we are waiting to know the results of another 60 tests.

In addition to the cost of treatment and economic losses, concern for the future of the sector increases in the face of this new situation. Farmers demand aid, not only economic, but also logistical and health. “We ask the administration to take measures of all kinds, and to start looking for a vaccine now,” insists Bego Fernández. Although it is already late, those affected hope for a solution for next year, since it is assumed that the presence of the mosquito in Asturias is due to the anomalous heat of weeks ago, “unthinkable years ago.” The rancher considers it “babayada” to compare the disease with covid. “It has nothing to do with it, this is transmitted by a mosquito,” she emphasizes.

The situation has canceled livestock events such as those in Corao, in Cangas de Onís and Porrúa, in Llanes, on November 11 and 18, and has postponed the National Auction on November 26, in Cangas de Onís. In Purón, five cowbells remain hanging, silent.

The Principality warns professionals: “They must trust the veterinarian”

Mariola Riera

“They should trust the vet.” This is the message from the General Director of Livestock and Agrarian Health, Rocío Huerta, who this Thursday held a meeting with those responsible for the College of Veterinarians of Asturias. “It is essential to be in contact,” said Huerta, who wanted to emphasize that EHE does not entail “risk in the diet and milk and meat can be safely consumed.” The Director warns that in order to collect compensation for affected animals in the future, it must be a farm veterinarian who does the sampling that is then sent to the laboratories. “It must first be accredited correctly and then the corresponding aid will be paid.” The Asaja organization in Asturias has requested compensation from the affected farmers to be able to face the extra costs they are assuming to face the EHE.

2023-11-03 03:02:33
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