|
FROM
CUBA
Drought threatens cattle herd in Las Tunas
HAVANA, July 7 ( Ariel Delgado Covarrubias
/ www.cubanet.org) - An expert from the
Agriculture Ministry who recently visited
the province of Las Tunas said the situation
of the cattle herd in the province was "critical"
due to drought.
"The real conditions of the drought
in the province have exceeded worst case
scenario projections that had been made
in previous years, and measures taken have
been insufficient," said the ministry
official, who asked to remain anonymous.
Losses in the province have been estimated
at 15 million pesos so far this year, and
a deficit in milk production of at least
one million liters.
"The cows are very thin. When the
animals don't have enough water, they become
more susceptible to disease. Add to that,
the lack of feed, and in this case we have
lost to disease or hunger about 6,000 head,
of which 30% were calves," said the
expert.
Hay and other usual feeds have been exhausted
in the cattle breeding areas, and workers
have been providing alternatives, such as
crop refuse, banana leaves, and others.
"Due to deteriorating conditions,
some 3,500 head have been taken to other
areas, but that causes other problems,"
said the expert. "The productive system
gets out of kilter, the milking and the
transportation of the milk, they all influence
the losses."
According to a recent report, 956 sources
that used to provide water for cattle have
dried. In many cases, the water is now trucked
in, but that has a cost in fuel, which is
also in short supply.
Versión
original en español
|
