One of the key focus areas of the Uganda Meat Producers Cooperative Union Ltd (UMPCU), is to increase production and productivity through the control of diseases. One of the common diseases affecting cattle in Uganda which in turn has a negative impact on farmers’ incomes is the Foot and Mouth Disease, commonly referred to as FMD.
Foot and Mouth Disease commonly referred to as FMD is a severe highly contagious viral disease which mainly affects cloven foot animals like cattle, swine, sheep, goats, among others. FMD mainly survives in the lymph nodes and bone marrow at a neutral PH (measure of acidity/basicity of a solution). In case it leaves the bone marrow & lymph nodes, the virus usually dies as conditions for its survival are not favorable.
The symptoms of FMD include but are not limited to; blisters on the foot and mouth, froth from the mouth, loss of appetite, weight loss, and wounds from blisters.
With support from the European Union, UMPCU is committed to promoting animal disease control and prevention in collaboration with other stakeholders. Through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), UMPCU recently secured 15,000 doses of FMD vaccine to help curb the disease by vaccinating cattle for its member farmers. There are continued efforts to secure more vaccines to aid in the control of FMD.
In the pictures, UMPCU Veterinary staff can be seen collecting samples from suspected FMD infected animals for further testing. There is also continued training of UMPCU members and their farm managers on disease identification. VIEW IMAGES HERE
UMPCU’s farmers are spread out in districts within Uganda’s “cattle corridor” in Bukomansimbi, Mbarara, Kiruhura, Kyankwanzi, Isingiro, Gomba, Gulu, Isingiro, Luwero, Kiruhura, Mubende, Nakaseke, Masaka, Kiboga, Mbarara, Lwengo, Ssembabule, Gomba, Masindi, Nakasongola, Ngoma, Ntungamo.