ome Eid Al Azha, sacrificial animals being paraded on the roads by elders, with excited children in tow, is a common sight. However, livestock experts highlight certain precautions and standard operating procedures for dealing with animals.

“Eid Al Azha is a festival of sacrifice and gratitude,” says Dr Muhammad Ramazan, the communications and extension director at the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development, Punjab. “It’s a time when you pay back the farmers who’ve tended livestock for us.

“Farmers brave the toughest conditions to bring their yield from farms to sale points in cities so that we can perform the ritual of sacrifice. The festivity generates massive economic activity for various sectors. The festive joy and economic activities can go on smoothly, if the public follows suitable precautions.”

The department has set up camps at every animal sales point across the Punjab. Here, animals are sprayed upon arrival in order to get rid of ticks that can cause the Congo virus, a zoonotic disease that is transmissible to humans. In this connection, the department has also set up checkposts at various inter-district and inter-provincial points.

In recent years, Congo virus has become a growing concern. According to Dr Faiza Aslam, a livestock expert, the virus causes infectious diseases like Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in humans. It mainly spreads through the bite of an infected tick, particularly of the Hyalomma specie.

Symptoms of Congo fever include sudden headache, high-grade fever, backache, joint pain, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, red eyes, sore throat and red spots on the body. Those at high risk of contracting the virus include the cattle-managers, veterinarians and their staff, agriculture workers and workers at butchers’ shops and slaughterhouses.

Since most people like to purchase animals several days ahead of Eid, they need to be on the alert too, says Dr Ramazan, adding that Congo virus “can be avoided by taking precautionary measures when handling the animals.”

He urges on people not to take children with them to the cattle markets. Moreover, they must wear light-coloured, full-sleeved dresses.

In order to prevent the spread of virus, the Livestock and Dairy Development Department has issued certain SOPs for the public. Before making a purchase, you must ensure the animal’s health and sex; avoid weak and emaciated animals; buy an animal that is a voracious eater; check for flat, shiny hair and smooth skin; and make sure the animal is free of ticks and dirt.

There are SOPs with regard to transportation and housing of the animals also. These include moving the animal comfortably on foot or in a vehicle; keeping the animal in an open and clean place, protected from extreme weather; examining their skin for ticks; providing them with clean water and fresh air; and tying them in a shady place during the day and a safe place at night time.

Goats must be fed 8-10 kg of green fodder and 0.5-1 kg of wanda, while cows and bulls should be fed 40-50 kg of green fodder and 1-2 kg of wanda. Feeding them wheat or pulses should be avoided.

When purchasing a goat, it should be ensured that the animal is at least 6 months old and has cut two teeth. Similarly, for cow or calf, the desired age is 2 years, while the camel must be 5 years old.

The feast calls for a great number of butchers. While trained butchers often cannot fulfill the demand, several quacks surface on the Eid day. Animal owners should guide them about skinning. The hide is a precious item. It is believed that a great deal of animal hides is wasted at the hands of untrained butchers.

One can do well by telling the butchers not to leave any cuts on the animal skin. Once the skin is removed, it should be placed on the ground for a few hours with generous amounts of salt thrown on it.

The department has also issued a number of precautions for the farmers. For instance, they must use sprays or effective drugs to eliminate fleas in animals; ensure cleanliness of animal enclosures, fill cracks well and spray them; wear full body shirts and socks while working with animals; avoid removing ticks by hand or burning them; and sprinkle lime on the farms.

There are guidelines for livestock dealers and vets too. For instance, they should use gloves when examining the animals and take proper precautions when injecting and disposing of the needles.

Side by side, the Punjab Cattle Market Management and Development Company (PCMMDC) has launched a digital portal for buying and selling animals in the province. According to the company CEO Taseer Ahmed, the platform facilitates the public and livestock owners by offering them a convenient and transparent way to deal in animals. Through the portal, you can browse and purchase animals from the comfort of your homes, reach a wider market, access a vast network of buyers and sellers, get updates on market trends and prices, and enjoy a secure and reliable transaction process. They call it e-cattle market.

Ways in which Congo virus can infect humans

* By biting the scab on the body of an infected animal

* From person to person through infected blood or bodily fluids

* Through the blood, secretions or tissues of an infected animal

* Improper cleaning of medical equipment and supplies, reuse of contaminated injection needles

— Source: Department of Livestock and

Dairy Development, Punjab

Ahsan Malik is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship